Without-style
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There is a traffic light on a dual carriage way I regular pass, the speed limit is 50mph (use to be 60 though it was changed) I’m building up my speed to 50 and then, right in front of me a traffic light changes to red, the pedestrians expect to walk out because the light is now on red and their signal would be automatically activated! Can I stop in time? Most likely not. The amber light shows before the red-light therefore giving me enough warning to slow down in time.
Amber also aids the drivers that are stuck in the middle waiting to turn across the road which is a common occurrence since most of Britains roads are poorly designed, or is it just my area where they let people who don’t drive design roads? |
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azitnay
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I believe the signal between red and green is to inform the drivers to prepare for the light to change to green soon. Besides keeping the drivers aware, it allows people driving manual transmissions to shift into gear, etc.
I wish we had them here in the USA... It would avoid the trouble of having to watch pedestrian signals and cross-traffic signals to try to figure out when the light is going to change. Of course, it would probably just confuse the bad drivers even more. |
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yprifathro
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There's no point to it. Officially one isn't supposed to move off until the light changes to green, but in practice everyone treats red-and-amber as if it WERE green. |
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Geeza Sooka Yerlips
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When red and amber show together the next light is green,
when amber shows by itself the next light is red. |
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Guy U
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its so you can prepare yourself!
Next you'll be asking why we have roundabouts! |
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jono
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its a warning colour, to get ready to go on green, and as far as i know most places use the system. |
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des c
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Its giving you a moment to put your car in gear, have the handbrake off and ready to move off. |
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John S
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Its so if you see an amber light you know red in next. |
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Penfold
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It is to advise the driver that traffic is move. It will give the driver the chance to get into gear, release the handbrake and assess the traffic around him before he moves. It also gives the traffic at the junction a moment to clear before the light turns green. |
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manhattanmaryanne
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we have red... yellow.... then green in the states....
the point of the yellow ( amber) is a warning that the red light is next. |
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Rachel
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so that the changing to green doesnt take anyone by surprise, thus having people honking their horn behind you like in most other places |
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dels replies
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Read the Highway code. The reason is to create a pause while the traffic in the direction that green allows is advised that the lights are changing by the amber light coming on and the traffic stopping before the red actually lights.In the other direction the halted traffic is advised that they are about to change by the display of red and amber together.This is not a signal to proceed, only to get ready. When the green appears you can go ahead.If there was no amber there would be far more accidents at traffic lights as the traffic being stopped could not be instantaneous and in the meantime if the traffic in the halted direction were to get away quickly as the light went green ther would be numerous collisions.The use of the amber light pause prevents this.You cannot of course legislate for drivers jumping the lights and causing accidents. |
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ph
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So all the boy racers can rev the nuts out of their engine and wheel spin away with the furry dice swaying in the wind !!! |
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mercedesMEDIEVAL x
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Red means STOP
Amber means GET READY (like taking off the hand break and stuff)
And Green means GO!
Hope that helped! :) |
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witch_dr
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No...not everywhere the lights are as such. At places where the lights go amber first before going to green, it means pedestrian can still cross and drivers are meant to give way -until all of them are across. |
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dave_uk06
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amber is obviously a warning that the lights are about to change . if lights automatically switched from green to red who would have the right of way on a crossing, the pedestrians halfway across or the car at the lights. amber is a safety net altho legally amber means stop! |
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tina k
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gives you time to put your phone down, and start revving the engine and slipping your foot on the clutch pedal (well, that seems to be the impression lots of drivers have!) |
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barn owl
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to give you a chance to tell which way they are changing red and amber means they are changing to green amber means changing to red if you did not have an amber light which means stop if safe to do so a sudden change from Green to red would mean some people doing emergency stops which could result in an accident or running a red light while someone pulling away immediately on green could cause a collision |
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Sarah
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It's because most people in England don't have an automatic transmission and there are hills, so getting ready to go takes a bit longer. The rule is RED/STOP, YELLOW/GET READY TO GO, and GREEN/GO. Yes, you should definitely read the highway code, as someone else mentioned! |
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