I REFER to the article on page 49 of the Thornbury Gazette dated May 28, 2015. A few years ago I drove through the traffic lights at the junction of the A38 and the M5 proceeding northwards. My lights had changed to amber just before I arrived. I could have stopped if I had acted promptly.

However, at the other side of the junction bearing down on me from the slope was a fire engine; not flashing its emergency lights therefore not on call. This fire engine had obviously also crossed its traffic lights at amber.

At that time I had a stick change, not automatic as I have now so I pushed the stick down to three by hand and accelerated very hard. THIS SAVED MY LIFE.

I end by saying that I have never driven through amber lights again.

James Meadowcroft
Chantry Road
Thornbury