Amber Means Stop
A recent incident at traffic lights in Brighton has prompted me to write this post. It would appear that there is some confusion over the meaning of our UK traffic light system.
The incident occurred on the busy Lewes road. I was approaching one of the many sets of traffic lights on this road when they changed from green to Amber. I duly slowed down and stopped at the stop line which prompted the driver of a Renault Master Van to lean on his horn and gesticulate angrily at me. He appeared to be annoyed that I was abiding by the Highway Code, stopping when the light was Amber.
In recent years I’ve observed an increase in the number of drivers who will happily drive across a junction when the lights indicate that they should stop. I’ve even seen a number of incidents where drivers have even crossed a junction when the traffic lights were red.
There is a useful guide to traffic lights in the UK on the BBC website. This makes it very clear that, when the traffic lights are amber, drivers should stop unless it is unsafe to do so. It is an offence to pass through an amber light in the UK.
As roads continue to become increasingly congested it is more important than ever that road users stick to the rules, don’t race for the lights and stop when the lights tell them to.
Andrew Flusche wrote,
We have the same problem here in the States. People typically think that orange means “floor it!” I can be guilty of it sometimes myself, but I try not to. However, there is a judgment call necessary sometimes about whether or not you can safely stop in time on the orange light, or whether you should proceed.
Link | June 20th, 2008 at 5:08 am
Branded Clothing wrote,
Yeah roads are getting dangerous places to be, and the other problem being road rage, simply by sticking to the law may enrage drivers as has happened in this instance, and we know how violent people can get!
Link | June 20th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Tim wrote,
Not only do folks get mad and wave certain fingure if you stop at a yellow light, they will also flip out if you actually stop for a stop sign instead if just rolling on through. They shouldn’t get mad at those who chose to be law abiding.
Link | June 25th, 2008 at 2:33 pm