4 ms·

A yellow light is not a stop sign, you are allowed to drive through it if you can make it. And it is safer to do so than to slam on the brakes, which might caus

by notJim 5y ago

A yellow light is not a stop sign, you are allowed to drive through it if you can make it. And it is safer to do so than to slam on the brakes, which might cause the car behind you to hit you.

recursive 5y ago
in the USA, it's just the reverse. You must stop for a yellow (amber) light if it is safe to do so.
- djcapelis 5y ago
  Nope. States vary somewhat in their laws, but in my home state of California, the laws state only: California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 21452(a): "A driver facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is, by that signal, warned that the related green movement is ending or that a red indication will be shown immediately thereafter." CVC Section 21454: "When lane use control signals are placed over individual lanes, those signals shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles as follows: (a) Green indication: A driver may travel in any lane over which a green signal is shown. (b) Steady yellow indication: A driver is thereby warned that a lane control change is being made. (c) Steady red indication: A driver shall not enter or travel in any lane over which a red signal is shown. (d) Flashing yellow indication: A driver may use the lane only for the purpose of making a left turn to or from the highway." A yellow light on a traffic control signal in the state of California only indicates an upcoming transition to a red light, which a driver must stop for. There is no requirement that a driver must stop for a yellow.
  - recursive 5y ago
    Thanks for the citation. I'm hereby wrong.
  - mulderc 5y ago
    States vary significantly on this one. Oregon expects you to stop unless it is unsafe to do so. This difference is part of why we hate California drivers. https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_811.260 https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_811.260
- throwaway0a5e 5y ago
  The fact that you say "in the USA" on regarding an issue that did not exist in the 18th century and is not one of the handful of things we have chosen to federally regulate since is a massive red flag that you're wrong. And FWIW the driver's manual for my state offers no guidance and simply says it indicates the light will soon be red. Since the other person who replied said their state on the other side of the country does this I suspect it's one of those things where there's a federally issued suggestion (probably from the NHTSA) that some states implement and some don't.

by notJim 5y ago

A yellow light is not a stop sign, you are allowed to drive through it if you can make it. And it is safer to do so than to slam on the brakes, which might cause the car behind you to hit you.

recursive 5y ago

in the USA, it's just the reverse. You must stop for a yellow (amber) light if it is safe to do so.

djcapelis 5y ago
Nope. States vary somewhat in their laws, but in my home state of California, the laws state only: California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 21452(a): "A driver facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is, by that signal, warned that the related green movement is ending or that a red indication will be shown immediately thereafter." CVC Section 21454: "When lane use control signals are placed over individual lanes, those signals shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles as follows: (a) Green indication: A driver may travel in any lane over which a green signal is shown. (b) Steady yellow indication: A driver is thereby warned that a lane control change is being made. (c) Steady red indication: A driver shall not enter or travel in any lane over which a red signal is shown. (d) Flashing yellow indication: A driver may use the lane only for the purpose of making a left turn to or from the highway." A yellow light on a traffic control signal in the state of California only indicates an upcoming transition to a red light, which a driver must stop for. There is no requirement that a driver must stop for a yellow.
- recursive 5y ago
  Thanks for the citation. I'm hereby wrong.
- mulderc 5y ago
  States vary significantly on this one. Oregon expects you to stop unless it is unsafe to do so. This difference is part of why we hate California drivers. https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_811.260 https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_811.260
throwaway0a5e 5y ago
The fact that you say "in the USA" on regarding an issue that did not exist in the 18th century and is not one of the handful of things we have chosen to federally regulate since is a massive red flag that you're wrong. And FWIW the driver's manual for my state offers no guidance and simply says it indicates the light will soon be red. Since the other person who replied said their state on the other side of the country does this I suspect it's one of those things where there's a federally issued suggestion (probably from the NHTSA) that some states implement and some don't.