What Should You Do When a Traffic Light Turns Yellow?

The answer is simple: STOP! According to the law, every driver has to stop at a yellow light unless he or she is too close to the intersection to stop safely. So, how do you define “too close” to the intersection?

The Point of No Return
One rule of thumb is that if you are 100 feet or less from the intersection, you have passed “the point of no return” and cannot safely stop before the intersection. Therefore, it is best to continue at your current, legal speed through the intersection, but being very cautious as you pass through.

Be Aware of Cars Behind You
As a good driver, you should always know when you are being tailgated. As you approach an intersection tap your brakes lightly to get a tailgater to back off a little bit. (Do NOT slam on your brakes for this) You don’t want them to slam into you if you must stop quickly at a traffic light.

The Higher the Speed Limit, the Longer the Yellow Light
A common rule of thumb is for every 10 miles per hour of speed, the yellow light will last 1 second longer. However, you should always err on the side of safety. If you run a red light the police officer is not going to care that you thought you crossed the point of no return.

When you see a yellow light, don’t start driving like you stole something. Remember, if you’re caught in an intersection and the light turns red, you’re not only breaking the law; you are also creating a very dangerous situation for cross traffic, for you and for the occupants of your vehicle. It also means you were most likely driving too fast.

So, the next time you see a yellow light, remember this message, think about your friends and family, think about your safety and about the safety of the drivers in crossing traffic. Simply stop for that yellow traffic light and enjoy the rest of your drive.