When you are waiting at a set of traffic lights, as well as the lights next to your stop line, there is often another set of lights opposite you, in the road ahead. These are called repeaters, and they let you keep an eye on the traffic lights without needing to crane your neck into an uncomfortable position. Here it is on the photo, you can see the primary light and the repeater opposite.
In this video clip, you see the repeater light turn red. Now watch the van turning left: it doesn’t stop at the red light, and that’s because that traffic light is just a repeater.
But how do we know for sure that we don’t need to stop?
Here’s a close up of the repeater: note how there isn’t a stop line before it. That means we do not need to stop, even if the traffic light shows red. Beware: this can often catch you out if you are turning right, and suddenly, you catch a glimpse of the repeater on red.
Here are a couple of video clips where we turn right across a repeater on red. Look, no stop line.
However, still be on your guard. Sometimes you will turn a corner and see an independent set of traffic lights: often part of a pedestrian crossing. We do have to stop in this case: and we know this because there is a stop line before it. Here’s an example.
So just be vigilant: if you see a set of traffic lights after you’ve turned a corner, then check to see if there is a stop line or not.

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