What is the difference between a solid yellow light and intermittent yellow light?

Most of us know what a yellow light means, but what if the yellow light is flashing? Do you hurry up and go, stop, or proceed when safe? Understanding these subtle differences in traffic signals is very important to ensure you're staying safe out on the road. That's why we include topics like these in our driver's ed coursesDrivers EdDrivers Ed. So what's the difference? Here's what you need to know. 

What Does a Solid Yellow Light Mean?

When the traffic light turns solid yellow, it means that it's going to turn red in three to six seconds. This signal is a warning that the green "go" signal is ending and your flow of traffic is going to temporarily stop. In most cases, this means to slow down and come to a stop. However, if you traveling at a high speed and are unable to stop safely, it could mean you're one of the last cars to go before the light turns red.

What Does a Flashing Yellow Light Mean?

When a traffic light is flashing yellow, it has a different meaning than the solid yellow light. Instead of warning you that the red light is coming, it means that you can proceed when safe, knowing cross-traffic has the right-of-way. Often, this signal is used for a dedicated left-turn lane. When the yellow light is flashing, you must yield to oncoming traffic from the other direction but can go ahead if you can make the turn safely.

Can You Get a Ticket For Running a Yellow Light?

Running a yellow light is not illegal. However, running a red light is, so where is the line drawn? In most cases, as long as the light is yellow when you enter the intersection, you won't be violating the law. Note, the light may turn red before you are across the intersection, but as long as you entered the intersection on yellow, you will typically not be at risk for a ticket. Rather than take the chance, it's often a better idea to slow down for a yellow light as long as you can do so safely. 

Why Are Flashing Yellow Lights Used?

You may be more accustomed to the yield-on-green traffic signal where the light is solid green but there is a sign to yield to oncoming traffic before turningTrending Right Way Use Your Turn Signals Defensive Driving. However, a national studyOnlinepubs Nchrp Impacts NCHRPImpacts_493.pdf Onlinepubs.trb.org showed that the flashing yellow signal was easier to understand. Further, it reduced the number of mistakes drivers made and helped to decrease delays during times of light traffic. Why? The flashing light differentiates itself from other signals for clarity and provides more opportunities for a left turn. That's why you may see this more often on the roads.

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