When a traffic light changes from green to amber?

Question

Is that a signal for a car to speed up? Or should they slow down?

My own personal experience is that most drivers speed up, and think it is OK to "nip through" if the lights have just changed to red, and that it is still ok to "nip through" if the lights were on red for the car in front.

Is this right?

Answer 1

The amber indicates that the red is about to light up and traffic should stop. However if you are too close to the lights to stop normally you should proceed through the amber signal. Some traffic lights have an amber phase that is too short to enable you either to proceed through at the speed limit or to stop safely with out doing an emergency stop, I would think that most of these are sited to make revenue with cameras.

Answer 2

Unless you would cause an accident you should stop.I know a lot of drivers do this I just hope that they get "caught" in the process and not to cause an accident!

Answer 3

i've thought about this as well, i know how you feel, you are at a pedestrian crossing was green you arrive at flashing orange you prepare to cross, only to be nearly killed which is the reverse of your question

but from green to amber,  means stop, and only go through if you can't stop safely in time, which means you should cruise through at the same speed at which you were going

however, most drivers, speed up so they miss the red,

Answer 4

When the traffic light changes to amber it is an indication to on coming traffic that the lights are changing to red (STOP).

I have seen drivers speed up to try and beat them only to be involved in a horrific accident .Sometimes fatal.

The trouble is people are always sorry when it is to late.

Some traffic lights now have cameras which record the offence breakers.It is not a big brother thing but purely brought about by the inconsideration some people have for the law.

Answer 5

Rev up

Answer 6

it means slow down & come to a stop  most people are too much in a hurry these days & go through them or red ones

'this is why so many cities have the red light camera & if you get caught then they mail you the pic along with a speeding ticket

Answer 7

It means prepare to stop!

Answer 8

Amber or yellow light means CAUTION. You must stop if you can, not speed up and blow through the intersection. Slow down and stop, the life you save may be your own.

Edit: As a pedestrian, you should always keep your eyes open too. Don't walk with your head down or looking at the ground. Don't assume that just because the light is green for you that the other guy will stop. Look ALL ways before crossing any street. An amber/yellow light means CAUTION for everyone.

Answer 9

it means slow down or stop whichever is safer.never put your foot down if they are on amber.all to often drivers make this mistake and cause accidents.don't be one of them.

Answer 10

They should slow down, but generally don't.  I nip through a just amber one but wouldn't dream of doing so if it was nearly red.  I have noticed three and sometimes more cars follow behind me then!!

A lot have sensors on round our way, never heard of anyone being prosecuted, but then again not heard of them not either.

Pedestrians need to heed the lights too, it's not just up to the motoris to keep each individual safe, it must be up to the person themselves to take responsibility as I have seen far more pedestrians cross when their light is red than cars do.

Answer 11

means slow down and prepare to stop..kind of a warning for you to sotp...you should obey ti unless you're in a rush

Answer 12

In the U.K. an amber traffic light means 'Stop', unless:

1)  Doing so would put yourself or other road users at risk, or

2)  You have already crossed the solid white 'Stop' line when the signal changed to amber.

Answer 13

Steady amber means STOP.

At least that is what the highway code says.

However the vast majority of drivers seem to think it means " Put your fut down and try to beat the red light"

Answer 14

It is illegal to go through a red light. And motorists love to stop at them. But some have a very poor view, litter, grimy buildings, grafitti and so are less fun to stop at. So drivers are very fussy at which ones they stop.

Many motorists have their favourites. Usually, rather than stop at the nearest red light most motorists always prefer to stop at the next one. They risk their licence and public safety and rush to get to their vantage point to wait and stare the following red light.

Answer 15

I have seen a number of cretins jumping traffic lights who have been very close to a collision.

Answer 16

Keep an eye out three lights ahead of you so you can see how long they have been green etc. Watch the walk signs. If they are green your clear. If you cannot stop safely go forward.

Answer 17

Hi

As a pedestrian You should slow to stop at red if you go through on red, you have committed a felony and could kill someone! because of your stupidity what kind of life will your family have while you are in jail, and pilloried by everyone you know  for a stupid callous act. Think no job, no life, IS IT WORTH IT.

Answer 18

The highway code is quite clear.

Amber means stop, unless you've already gone over the stop line (obviously).

However, if you are charged with going through an amber light, you have a defence if you can show that stopping would have caused an accident.

You should read the highway code - it's for all road users, not just drivers.

Answer 19

its a sign 2 say its changing and i go through as you could also case a crash if u stop suddenly?

Answer 20

There used to be an advert on the telly saying 'Don't be an amber gambler'!

Stuck in my mind, but I'd say about 70% of drivers I see go even as they are just turning red.

Answer 21

i think you should buy a highway code only red means stop at all times you may go through lights on amber but not red  you should be ready to stop when lights change from green to amber but only stop if they change to red

Answer 22

It means begin slowing down, ready to stop to let pedestrians cross.

It is not okay to nip through a traffic light that is going red.

Its dangerous for anyone about to cross, and it is dangerous for the driver as well.

Answer 23

Amber means the light will soon be red.  If you are NOT in the intersection, DO NOT ENTER.  It's the same as running a red light if you do.  If you are in the intersection when it turns amber, proceed but be careful because some idiot is going to try to get through before it turns.  If the intersection has a red light camera, and you enter on amber, you will be flashed and sent a ticket by mail.

Also, if you are turning left at an uncontrolled intersection, one without a left turn only arrow, DO NOT enter the intersection unless you are sure you can clear the intersection no matter the light color.

Answer 24

ARE YOU CRAZY MAAAAAAN???

IT MEANS TO PREPARE TO STOP!

IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, AND EXPERIENCES OF THOSE I KNOW, WHEN THAT LIGHT SAYS AMBER, IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY IN THE INTERSECTION, AND IT'S SAFE TO DO SO, SLOW YOUR A** DOWN, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME STUPID DRIVERS OUT THERE, WHEN THEY HAVE THE RED LIGHT AND YOU'RE TRYING TO "NIP THROUGH" WOULD CLAP YOUR CAR TO SMITERINES....SOOOO, SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU SEE AMBER MAN.

AND FURTHER MORE, IN THE EVEN OF AN ACIDENT, AND THE POLICE COME AND ASK YOU WHAT THE LIGHT WAS ON, IF YOU SAY AMBER DUDE, THAT'S IT. YOU HAVE NOTHING MUCH TO PLEA ON...

Answer 25

Slow down stop.

Answer 26

It means 'prepare to stop', you can legally go through an amber light, but it is illegal to go through a red light so you have to be careful. Most people will speed up and nip through an amber light although some will emergency stop for some reason lol

Answer 27

Law says to slow down or stop because we all know it is going to go red. But if the driver is unable to stop and is almost ontop of the intersection anyway they should just go through if the light just turned yellow. If it changed to yellow 3 seconds ago, and they were like a football field away, they shoulda stopped.

Answer 28

slow down.

Answer 29

The amber signal stands for clear the intersection.  If your braking distance allows the driver to slow down then they should.