NIP letter over level crossing - Unsafe to stop!

[kodiplod]

Hi, hopefully this is the right place to put this!

 

today I received a letter from the BTP with a NIP asking for name and address of driver.

 

It states

'This offence can be supported by photographic evidence from an offence detection device.

The driver of vehicle *my vehicle* is alleged to have committed an offence

contrary to one or more of the following offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1968.

Failure to comply with a red traffic light signal at Nutbourne Level Crossing'

 

I was driving with my boyfriend in the car also,

as we were approaching the level crossing the light turned orange

but it would've been too dangerous to stop (I was driving within the speed limit).

 

 

We both only saw an orange light and no red light.

 

I have never had any driving convictions etc, am a mental health nurse

and points on my licence would not be great for me,

especially for something that I do not think is fair as I mentioned,

stopping would've been more dangerous.

 

Just looking for any sort of guidance/help with what I should do!

 

Thanks!

[BankFodder]

I think that the best thing you can do is to comply with the notice and then if there is a prosecution, you can either put your hands up or you can plead not guilty and go along and say exactly why you consider that it might have cause an accident if you had stopped on the yellow light.

[Bazooka Boo]

I know the crossing you're on about, the cameras were installed last year by Road Safety Support

http://www.chichester.co.uk/news/cameras-to-catch-red-light-jumping-at-nutbourne-level-crossing-1-6691592

 

Amber means stop, unless you've crossed the line or it's unsafe to do so?

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/level-crossings/using-level-crossings/level-crossings-for-drivers/

 

But you may have mitigating circumstances??

[Ford]

as we were approaching the level crossing the light turned orange but it would've been too dangerous to stop (I was driving within the speed limit).

agree with bank, orange means stop and you saw the light. how wld it have been unsafe/dangerous to do so (you were within the speed limit, and anyone behind you shld be at a safe distance), prob more unsafe not to do so