Cyclists who run red lights face ‘sin bin’ punishment

Run a red light, get a roadside lecture

The City of London Police will trial the approach in areas where officers have identified frequent red-light violations. 

During these operations, cyclists will be given two options: watch a 47-second film highlighting the dangers of unsafe cycling or accept a fixed penalty notice.

Officers will create a temporary viewing area on the roadside, using a television connected to a laptop and a mat labelled “time out zone”.

The footage, reported by The Times, includes accounts from two visually impaired women and CCTV clips showing serious bicycle-related crashes.

The force has made clear that the scheme is not an alternative to enforcement in every case.

Whether a cyclist is offered the video will depend on the circumstances and the officer dealing with the incident.

Red-light cyclists told not to expect an easy escape

Sergeant Stuart Ford, head of the force’s cycle team, said the intention was to make cyclists think about how their decisions could affect other people.

“We want cyclists to stop and take a moment to see the danger, listen to the experiences of those who have been affected and think about the consequences of their behaviour,” he said.

Ford described the video as an extra tool for officers, alongside the usual penalties and enforcement measures.

He added that some cyclists would still be fined, with officers deciding when the educational approach was suitable.

The force plans to use the scheme during selected patrols and targeted operations, but cyclists who run red lights should not assume they will be allowed to watch the video and leave without a penalty.