NEXT

B.18   AMBER  means Stop!

Many driver's think amber means simply caution! An amber (or orange or yellow) traffic light means - Stop! It is, of course, not always possible or safe to stop on amber. 

Judgment, a skill learned by experience, is the key. 

Factors to consider before sudden braking are: 

1. The vehicle speed

2. The condition of the road surface

3.  Traffic behind

4.  Efficiency of the brakes

 

You can't stop on amber if you are already in the intersection, Waiting to turn on green, carefully watch for the amber light. You must complete your turn - and do it quickly. Be sure all oncoming traffic is slowing.

On a wet road, depending on your speed, you may also decide to proceed, if safe to do so. But numerous rear-end crashes occur, because the third factor is ignored: Braking sharply without checking the rear-view mirror. Two errors lead to serious collisions at amber traffic lights:

 

1. Don't speed up to move through the intersection on the amber light - but then change your  mind!   Traffic behind may think your are moving through on amber and wanted to travel through the intersection with you. Instead a rear-end collision occurs.  >		2. Don't start to brake, then change your mind and continue through the intersection. An oncoming vehicle, waiting to turn right, may interpret your slowing down, thinking you will stop. A head-on collision may occur.