Do you stop at yellow lights?

Question

When the light turns yellow, do you stop? Or hit the gas? A three-year-old boy once told me.. “Daddy says green means go, red means stop, and yellow means go like hell!” Never forgot that. 🤣

ChrisMaster69 · Accepted Answer

Depends a lot on distance from lights when it changes from green to Amber.

i do tend to read the rode ahead a bit and if there are lights I drop my speed by 10 mph ish

road conditions also play a huge part, I know I can stop very quickly, far quicker than a family car, I do not want to brake and the clown behind me shunting me across the junction.

The following is an approximation (stolen from elsewhere)

An amber dwell time of 2.9 secs. equates to a distance of
127.6 ft at 30 mph, and
170 ft at 40 mph.
According to the Highway code, your stopping distance (thinking + braking) is
23 metres (74.7 ft) at 30 mph, and
36 metres (117 ft) at 40 mph.

decent paper on Amber dwell times.

http://www.jctconsultancy.co.uk/Symposium/Symposium2016/PapersForDownload/Effects%20of%20the%20length%20of%20amber%20times%20at%20signals.pdf

https://www.royalsom.co.uk/blog/accelerating-through-a-yellow-light

For me I assume it’s a clown coming the other way driving an old shed and drive my car accordingly.

This is another reason I get pissed off with anyone travelling to close behind me in town etc.

basically stop if you see an Amber, but only if safe to do so.

never assume the car behind you will stop in time, however always assume the car from your right / left will hit you.

HighlyVolatile · Accepted Answer

It's case-by-case for me. I factor in my current speed, the duration for which the light was yellow, if there are vehicles actually trying to cross the road, etc. It's a split-second calculation I can make but I factor in a lot.

Perhaps a litmus test that simplifies things which I rely on most is that I always try to ease very gently into my brakes if I can help it and bring the vehicle to the smoothest stop. That not only reduces wear and tear on brake pads and parts but I think it also maximally communicates my intentions to any vehicles behind me.

That involves a quick distance calculation which I've intuitively developed based on my current speed and vehicle I'm driving as to how much distance I require to bring the vehicle to the smoothest stop. If the estimated distance required to bring me to a smooth stop during a yellow light would put me in the middle of the road, then I generally avoid the brakes. If the estimated distance would have me stopping before the light, then I generally stop.

Flower7 · Accepted Answer

Yes, usually.

In my city, most intersections are big, so I wouldn’t want to get caught in the middle after it has turned red.

There are also a lot of red-light cameras here that electronically take a photo of any car that’s still passing through the intersection after the light has turned red. They then receive a ticket in the mail.

douride2 · Accepted Answer

It all depends on where I am how the surrounding traffic is & if it is safe to stop when it goes yellow. Like if there is a big truck on my ass no way will I pile on the brakes to stop.

humanearth · Answer

No yellow means I stop in the middle of the intersection and block traffic in all directions

But seriously, for me it all depends on the timing. Most of the time I don't speed up to try and beat the light.

Most of the time If I see the light is about to change. I pop the car in neural and coast to a stop.

I believe if you pop the car in neural every time you come to a stop. You save wear and tear on your transmission. That goes for both stick shift and automatic transmission controlled vehicles.

I think I got this idea from my old high school automobile shop teacher. I been doing this since about high school.

ArrowheadSW · Answer

Depends on how long it has been yellow really.

The first time I got a moving violation, I was going through a city where the yellow lights didn't stay yellow for long. What would have stayed yellow here, turned into a red light there. I've been through that town numerous times since, and I always notice that and I make sure I stop early.

WhiteSteve · Answer

It’s situational for me.

If I’m going a considerable speed, relatively close to the light, and I’d be coming to a screeching halt, potentially past the stop line, I’ll go through it.

If I think the driver behind me is too close and/or is one of those idiots that’s going to try to piggyback me as the-last-idiot-through-light-but-whoops-not-really-there’s-one-more-even-though-it’s-red-now, I’ll go through it, rather than risk being rear-ended.

If I’m not being tailgated and I’m not in a particular hurry, I just come to a stop. Gives me a chance to check my phone, search for a song I want to hear, etc.

Friendlybro79 · Answer

You don't stop at yellow lights. I do look at how far out I am. If i can't get through it before it's red I stop. Otherwise you'd need to lock your breaks at times to not go through a yellow that just randomly pops up.

Stopping at a yellow light could get you rear-ended. Slowing down when you see a yellow because you can't safely get through it before turning red is the goal.

DonkeyDan · Answer

Well as you know I don't drive, but if I'm on ny bike I'll stop, I don't want to be like those other jerk cyclists that always go through a traffic signal becuase they feel "entitled".

Bratsondanielle · Answer

Well it'd depend where my ram is when it turns yellow. If I have to punch the brake sending cups and cans flying through the cab then I go through, before it turns red ofc but if I'm at a reasonable stopping distance, I'll stop. I mean that's the law too I think, and the reason for yellow lights 🤔 💛 😳

cookiecrusher · Answer

Some intersections have a very small or now interval time delay.

Meaning it will be yellow on both stoplights at once.

Seems like a dumb reason to get yourself killed over.

Check every intersection, no matter the light. My friend got hit bad, had green for him. Didn't matter.

I don't care about the light, if it's clear i go.
Busy street, wait for green, check and go.

wheresmrcunnunglis · Answer

Depends how close to the light I am and how heavy incoming traffic is. If I'm riding my bike and I'm super close to the yellow light and traffic is light. Im zooming my ass through that light. If I'm driving, then I'm automatically slowing down to adhere to the yellow and incoming red light. I'm not taking my chances. I want to live.

Kkstarzz96 · Answer

I stop when I'm trying to do this one quick thing with one hand and it's not working so I need a pause while driving, other than that, I usually go and I'm very guilty of doing right turn on red as fast as I can cause it's not so much the going part that gets me anxious it's the fact I just need to be like 5 feet away in the other direction and I'm so much closer to where I'm going

DarkCarousel · Answer

Depends on how close I am to the light, the speed at which I’m driving, and how close another car is following behind me.
Typically, I think of it as an indicator that a red light is coming and to observe surroundings to continue through or prepare to stop.

KatieB713 · Answer

Depends of the speed I am going and whether I can break and slowdown with enough time to stop before the line. If not it is safer for the flow of traffic for me to carry on so not to risk an accident if I hit the breaks and someone behind can't stop in time

TrueConfection · Answer

I won't slam on the brakes for yellow like they do in B. C. eh 😉

I slow down a tad before every light so I can either stop in time of it changes or speed up to get through before the light changes without going above the posted speed limit.

I have heard that saying too. "Red means stop, green means go, and yellow means go faster." 😬

DermalPunch · Answer

It really depends how close I am to the intersection and my mood. If I'm just relaxed and more than a few car lengths then I will just roll to a stop and give my foot a rest. If I am on my grind and I am heading into the intersection, I'll giv'r and barrell through. It depends how major of an intersection it is. I do tend to be on the speedy side but I am not reckless.

SinceYouAsked · Answer

It depends on how fast I'm going and whether I can get my car stopped without standing it on its nose. Also, can I get through the intersection before the light turns red? Generally, if it turns yellow early enough that I can get the car stopped safely, I do so. I DON'T run the light red. I see that a lot around here.

Likes2drive · Answer

It depends where I am in the intersection and how long it was yellow, if it just turned yellow and I’m almost at the intersection I keep going because I don’t want to jam on the brakes and someone rear end me but I don’t cut it too close either because of red light cameras

CaptainLegal · Answer

Yellow light means that you should start braking if your close and you can't stop then you may pass the yellow light but if you have time to brake and distance then you should start braking if a police officer sees that you had time to stop and you didn't they will probably give you a fine

blackgaletiger · Answer

If I see it in time then I kick it into 10th gear as long as there is no car making a turn at the lights. If I am a bit away from the lights and I can see the counter in its last few seconds then I wouldn't either bother.

AviatorTom · Answer

A Brit once told me that Amber means Accelerate.  If I can safely stop when I see the light change to yellow, and there's no car immediately behind me that will rear end me if I stop, I will stop.

ChiTown33 · Answer

This.

SnakeBoop · Answer

depends. if i can stop reasonably, then i'll stop. but if i'd have to emergency brake sort of thing, just keep going.

DJay47 · Answer

By law, you slow down and get ready to stop. Some will do the "imperfect" and hit the gas - possibly causing a terrible accident or at least getting a speeding ticket. But by law, when the lights turns yellow 🟡, it does NOT mean speed up (aka go)! Yellow means slow down and be prepared to stop 🛑. Don't speed through a yellow light trying beat the red light.

spartan55 · Answer

I've had a few cops tell me that if your vehicle enters the intersection on a red light is a violation. I won't say I never speed through a yellow intersection, but I try not to.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

As long as traffic is low and I oversee the whole situation, I hit the gas and drive through. If I have to assume I might get stuck in the middle of the junction, I stop.

Sour-rose · Answer

If i can gun it, i'm passing it. But I try not to because you never know when a cop saw you and he wants your money in tickets.

Horror_lover92 · Answer

It really depends, the distance I am towards the light, but sometimes I will if someone is literally right behind because they want to beat the light.

NathanDavis · Answer

around here... it's best not to rush nor speed, as you only increase the chances to meet your creator rather than your date or appointment... lol

Lucy68 · Answer

Yes always. I'm a cautious driver and it's best safe than sorry in my honest opinion

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, my cousin does, and then proceed with caution, If it's about to turn red we stay until it turns green.

pixie215 · Answer

yellow means proceed with caution - stop sometimes i do sometimes i dont

Jamie05rhs · Answer

That depends what I'm driving. It also depends where I am when it turns yellow.

OddBeMe · Answer

I’m one of few people who stop shopping on the Amazon app to look up and see how crowded the intersection is. I’ve also run red lights that are exceedingly long.

Dargil · Answer

My father said "yellow means 'go like hell before the red'".

exitseven · Answer

I usually floor it. Will do it more now to save gas.

Mangospacho · Answer

Depends if there’s a red light camera. If there’s a camera, I’ll slam on my brakes to stop and maybe cause an accident.

Aquariusmystery · Answer

I try my best to zoom through before it’s red🤣unless someone’s waiting to cross

CuriousMufuxka · Answer

I no longer live in East Texas, so there are no cameras to record my license plate and send me a ticket!

nawtee_me · Answer

drive like hell the light is about to turn red... lol

Anonymous · Answer

Green means go. Red means stop. Yellow means speed up.

Anonymous · Answer

It depends on how close to the light I am and my current speed. If I can safely come to a stop; I typically do that.

Yellovv · Answer

İf I can able to stop I am stopping if is not I am passing straight away...

bigpauly · Answer

Haha I’m with the kid

Dinklex3 · Answer

Depending how close i am, I'll speed up.

RawIronhide · Answer

I stop when I'm there.

Static_In_The_Attic · Answer

Yellow means GO FASTER!

BobbyC65 · Answer

Hit the gas to beat the red light.

Wise4myage · Answer

Yes, at least most of the time.

clampfan101 · Answer

Depends on how long it’s been yellow, I imagine.

sirderpsalot123 · Answer

Yellow means speed up before it turns red

Omar5881 · Answer

If its a 2 or 3 i hit the gas if a 1 i do not

legalboxers · Answer

if there is a traffic cam, you bet your life

CubaPirate · Answer

Nope I'm an Amber gambler

Guslove · Answer

Yellow means beat the red

Slartybartfast · Answer

I go really fast..

sheikalana · Answer

Occasionally LOL.

Iron_Man · Answer

Nope

Fuentes · Answer

Only if im far away

Do you stop at yellow lights?

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