So you’ve collided with a vehicle in the middle of an intersection controlled by traffic lights.
You think you had a green light. The other driver thinks they had a green light.
Who’s right? Well, the options are:
- You had the green light; or
- The other driver had the green light; or
- You both had a green light (we’ll explain this one in a moment).
How do you find out which one is true?
Firstly… witnesses, surveillance footage and dash-cam footage can all help you find out what happened.
If you aren’t able to get an answer from any of those sources, then a traffic light sequence report might be the answer.
What is a traffic light sequencing report?
A traffic light sequence report is a record of what a set of traffic lights was doing at a particular time.
What exactly will it tell you?
We must firstly point out that what is in a traffic light sequence report depends on a few things, such as:
- Who controls the set of traffic lights (e.g. the State government, the local council)
- How old the traffic lights are
- What traffic light data is recorded at that set of traffic lights
- How the controlling body creates traffic light sequence reports
A traffic light sequence report can potentially tell you:
- What the traffic lights are programmed to do
- I.e. What lights should be green and when
- What the traffic lights were actually doing
- I.e. What lights were actually green and when
- Whether there was any fault in the traffic lights
- I.e. Whether the lights stopped working, or malfunctioned (or all lights went green!)
Where to request a traffic light sequence report
A good place to start is with the State government: the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR).
TMR controls many sets of traffic lights. Traffic lights on main roads are usually controlled by TMR.
If TMR doesn’t control the set of traffic lights you are interested in, they can usually point you in the right direction of who does. If it’s not TMR, it’s probably the local council.
Finding out what is in a traffic light sequence report for the set of lights
Before you go and request any traffic light sequence report, it is a good idea to try to find out what will be in the report. As we mentioned earlier, not every traffic light sequence report is the same.
After you find out who controls the set of traffic lights, call them to find out what sort of information they can offer.
There is often a fee for traffic light sequence reports. You don’t want to pay the fee and then realise the report doesn’t give you any useful information.
Requesting a traffic light sequence report
If the controlling body has told you what is in the report, and you believe that is the information you need, then you should request the report.
Each controlling body has a different process for requesting traffic light sequence reports. You might be asked to send an email, fill out a form, or send a letter.
Ask the relevant body how to request the report, and follow their instructions. If you are required to provide information or pay a fee, do so as soon as possible to make sure your request is not delayed.
However you make the request, make sure you include the following details:
- The location of the traffic lights
- The date of the accident
- A time frame in which the accident occurred
- The specific lights you are interested in
- E.g. Lights facing traffic travelling north on Smith Street
- E.g. Lights facing pedestrians crossing Smith Street
- E.g. All lights at the intersection of Smith Street and Flinders Street
When should you request a traffic light sequence report?
As soon as possible.
As mentioned above, look at what other evidence you have access to (like witnesses and surveillance footage). If none of those sources give you the evidence you need, then look into getting a traffic light sequence report as soon as possible.
Traffic light sequence data is sometimes deleted after a certain period of time. To make sure you don’t miss out, act fast.
If you need assistance, feel free to contact us. Our friendly team will assist however we can.