That includes giving way to any vehicle approaching the intersection from the right, as well as any oncoming traffic travelling straight or turning left if you yourself want to turn right. In these circumstances you must follow the same rules as an intersection that features only a stop or a give way sign. However, sometimes you may arrive at such an intersection before the police. Police traffic controllers are usually quick to the scene to direct traffic when this occurs. This usually indicates that the lights are not working. Occasionally you might come across an intersection where the traffic lights are flashing yellow. “Considering they are likely to have been picking up speed on their approach to the intersection to make it across in time, you can imagine the very serious collisions and injuries that can result from these decisions.” Failing to respond appropriately to a yellow light risks not just financial penalties, but also collisions with other vehicles. If a car is tailgating you, the safest decision may be to proceed through a yellow light to avoid sudden braking that could cause a collision.ĭepending on the local speed limit, yellow lights last for between three and five seconds (with higher speed limits requiring longer durations for safety reasons). How other vehicles are behaving around you may also influence your decision if the lights do turn yellow. It’s also a good idea to check your mirrors and be aware of surrounding traffic as you approach an intersection. If you can stop without having to slam the brakes, then you should not proceed. If you are so close to the intersection that you need to slam on the brakes to stop, or that braking would have you stop in the middle of the intersection, then you should proceed through the yellow light. She also clarifies the subjectivity of what counts as a ‘safe stop’ with a simple test. “Ask yourself: ‘can I safely stop before the line?’, and if the answer is ‘yes’, then you should.” “Drivers need to change their mindset from ‘can I make it?’ to ‘can I stop?’,” she says. Morris reiterates that yellow lights should not be seen as an excuse to speed up. “Because of this, learners often get into a panicked situation when they see the light ahead turn yellow and find it difficult to work out whether they should stop or continue.” “Some tell them that they should try and make it across the intersection of they have time, and others tell them they should stop if it is safe to do so,” she says. Silvia Morris, Senior Instructor at RACV Drive School, says that learners in particular can receive mixed messages from friends, family and instructors on what to do when faced with a yellow traffic light. What should I do if I see a yellow traffic light? “The only reason you can drive through a yellow light is if you are so close to the intersection that braking could either cause a crash or cause you to stop within the intersection.” “Motorists should view yellow lights as the start of the red, not the end of the green.” James Williams, Head of Policy at RACV, says that drivers should rethink how they view yellow lights. But what exactly does “stop safely” mean? VicRoads states that at a yellow light, motorists must “must stop unless you can't stop safely”. When it comes to amber or yellow lights, however, some confusion remains within the community about what the yellow light really means and the correct way to respond. Even as children, an integral part of road safety is knowing that ‘red means stop’ and ‘green means go’. Knowing what to do at traffic lights is one of the most important road rules for motorists. Do you know the correct way to respond to a yellow light? Not properly understanding this simple road rule could result in a hefty fine.
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