I considered it once myself, a Judge told Tuam District Court when dealing with a motorist who nipped into a residential area in order to get past a set of traffic lights.
The traffic lights in question are at a pedestrian crossing at Abbey Trinity, Tuam within metres of the town’s Garda Station. There is an entrance to a small residential area just before the traffic lights with a local road running parallel to the N17 and an exit at the Garda Station.
James Glynn solr. (defending ) told the Court that it was quite common for motorists to use this ploy of getting around the lights. His client admitting making the manoeuvre but strenuously denied he was speeding while doing so.
However, Judge James Faughnan, who admitted that he had thought of the move once himself, told the defendant that he was charged with driving without due care and attention, not speeding.
The prosecuting Garda explained that it was the nature of the driving which concerned him as when the defendant exited from the rat-run he pulled out in front of other drivers obeying the signals to exit from the shopping centre.
Judge Faughnan said that public safety comes first but allowed the defendant to avoid a conviction provided he make at €250 donation to Tuam Lions Club.
