Many drivers who are scrupulous about stopping for a red traffic light nevertheless see a yellow light as a cue to speed up and race through the intersection before the light turns red. Yet, the law in most places provides that a driver must stop for a yellow light unless she is too close to the intersection to safely stop. The Idaho traffic manual states:
Yellow light means caution. An amber or yellow circular
indication warns that the signal is about to change to red.
If you have not entered the intersection and can come to a
safe stop, you should do so. If you are already in the intersection,
you should continue moving and clear it safely.
One rule of thumb that can be followed, although not infallible, is that if you are closer than 100 feet from the intersection, you can continue to proceed if the light turns yellow. It is also important to be aware of the distance from your vehicle to the vehicle behind you, so that your deceleration is not so abrupt as to cause a crash. Traffic engineers generally design yellow light time frames to be optimal for the speed limit for each road. Although one might think that longer yellow light times are safer, studies have instead shown that, if yellow light times are too long, drivers will simply ignore them.
Keep in mind that, regardless of your response to a yellow light, you may not exceed the speed limit in approaching and proceeding through the intersection.
If you are injured in an intersection crash, obtaining money damages in a personal injury case will depend upon proving that your light was not red when you entered the intersection. This may be difficult to prove unless the intersection is equipped with 24/7 video cameras. At trial, the driver who struck you may lie and testify that he is confident that your light was red when you entered the intersection and his light was green.
Therefore, even if you believe you can safely enter an intersection when the light is yellow, it may be more prudent to nevertheless slow down and stop at the light. This form of defensive driving can also protect you against Coeur d’Alene drivers who are anxious to “jump the gun” and reckless enough to drive through an intersection just seconds before a light turns green.
Contact James Bendell if you need help or have questions about your injury claim at or by filling out the contact form.