Cyclists could be fined up to £1,000 for creeping over stop lines at traffic lights
BRITISH cyclists could find themselves on the wrong end of a hefty penalty for making this common mistake when stopped at traffic lights.
Any rider who creeps over a white stop line at a red light could be given a Fixed Penalty Notice.
Just as motorists can be slapped with a fine and three penalty points for rolling over the line, cyclists are also bound by the same laws.
As set out in the Highway Code, cyclists are legally obliged to obey all traffic lights and signs or face penalty under the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Yet riders all around the country regularly creep ahead of the stopping zones to try to get in front of traffic and a quick getaway at the lights.
Set out specifically for cyclists, rule 71 of the Code states: "You MUST NOT cross the stop line when the traffic lights are red.
"Some junctions have an advanced stop line to enable you to wait and position yourself ahead of other traffic."
This means that while you may be allowed to move ahead of the traffic where there is an advanced stop line, if you move past this point or try to push ahead of traffic at a normal red light, you could be fined by police.
Cyclists are likely to be hit with an on-the-spot fine between £50-£100 - but if they choose to take the case to court, this could increase to as much as £1,000 if they aren't successful in their appeal.
Close to two million Brits cycle every day, with the number of riders slowly increasing.
With so many bicycles now on the road as part of regular traffic, it's even more important that cyclists are aware of the road rules.
Riders are bound by the Road Traffic Act 1988 and can be punished for offences such as careless or dangerous cycling, which carry fines of up to £2,500.
the road laws you need to know
Rebecca Ashton, IAM RoadSmart Head of Driver Behaviour, said: “The rules in the Highway Code are there to help keep all road users safe and should be followed; creeping over stop line by any means of transport could result in catastrophic results, surely no journey is important enough to risk endangering their or someone else’s life.
"Unfortunately with the lack of resources for monitoring and prosecution, a potentially dangerous tactic is becoming the norm for some road users.
"Stop lines are positioned for a reason, and some have been modified to allow cyclists to position themselves in the advanced area, but we would encourage anyone doing this to make sure they stay within this area until the lights change and you can see it is safe to proceed.”