Amber light and point of no return.

I find that a lot of amber lights are very short and I was always taught that if the light goes yellow you are suppose to stop if you can, and if you cant you keep going, but you are suppose to make it through the intersection before the light goes red or it's the same as running as red. IDK, I find that with some amber lights that they are way to short to make a safe stop, but if you dont, the light may go red before you make it through the intersection (going straight). Anyone have any idea here, cause I stop if im able to, but cause its winter obviously there are times u cant. but thats not what im worried about, its when the weather is good.

I'm asking because I'm going for my full G soon and I was told that you would fail if the light goes red before you get across the intersection, but most amber lights are like 2 or 3 seconds, so you aren't given much stopping distance. I stop if I can, but sometimes it feels like your testing your brakes and are praying that they don't fail you lol. Whats the best thing to do, cause i know amber means stop if its safe to do so, but sometimes its not safe to do so and the light may still go red before you get across and you are doing the speed limit. I find this annoying because apparently you would fail your road test and you could get a ticket.

Device timing can be found over at this link http://www.ontariohighwaytrafficact.com/post18159.html which MTO manual states 1.5-2 second is minimum time of amber.

Now a hint on majority of traffic, lights, while approaching and scanning the intersection you can see the pedestrian signals, if signal is a "don't walk" the amber light is close to follow.

Omega_Gin wrote:

I was told that you would fail if the light goes red before you get across the intersection

Well I'm not really sure that's true.

First of all, "running a red light" has two categories:

- Red Light - Fail to Stop

- Red Light - Proceed Before Green

If you are in the intersection when the light turns red, well, that doesn't really matter. As long as you are in the process of clearing the intersection, you're fine. "Running a red light" is only if you ENTER the intersection on a red. Canada's Worst Driver, for example, repeatedly gets this wrong. In their "final challenge," if one of their drivers is in the intersection when the light turns red, they say this is running a red light. That is incorrect. Same thing for an amber. If you can stop prior to the intersection on amber, stop. If not, proceed with caution. Again, this is only for ENTERING the intersection. The situation you describe is nothing to stress over.

The traffic light cycles are set up to make sure drivers can stop before entering the intersection when the light goes red. If you're already in the intersection, again, it doesn't matter - provided that the intersection wasn't blocked.

Radar Identified wrote:

"Running a red light" is only if you ENTER the intersection on a red. Canada's Worst Driver, for example, repeatedly gets this wrong. In their "final challenge," if one of their drivers is in the intersection when the light turns red, they say this is running a red light. That is incorrect.

I would think the examiner would fail you in this situation, if the light turns and your in intersection, probably have blown a "amber" light.

Another helpful hint, aside from watching the pedestrian signal is on approach to traffic lights, say to yourself, "can I stop", I repeatedly say this in my mind, (yes, sounds weird), so when a amber does display I have a pretty good idea what is my ability, roads, vehicle and "can I stop". I now subconciously do this all the time, whether it be going for groceries (putting along) or responding priority to a call (still must obey traffic lights), soon as I clear one light already doing the same steps for next light I can see.

hwybear wrote:

I would think the examiner would fail you in this situation, if the light turns and your in intersection, probably have blown a "amber" light.

Too many variables to really give a definitive black-and-white answer, I'd say.

I'd argue that it would depend on the speed limit, length of the traffic light on amber, and the width of the intersection. There are a couple of lights in my neighbourhood which are good examples. If you're going the limit, you'll be able to stop at the stop line before the red, but if you enter on amber where you had no chance of stopping, you'll still be well inside the intersection when the light is red. (Crossing six lane road on a 40 km/h road.) The light goes all-ways-red for an extra couple of seconds to compensate.

The only way you'd fail in that situation is if you could not have safely stopped for the amber light. If you could not, proceed through with caution and don't worry about it. If, however, you cross the stop line on a red light (that is, unless it is to turn right, after completing a full stop)... you fail.

hwybear wrote:

Device timing can be found over at this link http://www.ontariohighwaytrafficact.com/post18159.html which MTO manual states 1.5-2 second is minimum time of amber.

Now a hint on majority of traffic, lights, while approaching and scanning the intersection you can see the pedestrian signals, if signal is a "don't walk" the amber light is close to follow.

I know, but I'm saying that there are some intersections that are wide, so even though ur like right at the line and the light goes yellow, u dont have time to stop, but because the intersection is so wide, it goes red before u get through. The amber light is way to short, the only way to make it is to slam on ur breaks, but u would be over the line. I know about the don't wal thing and all that. I use that all the time and I know that if the light has been green for some time, it will likely change when i get there. I use that all the time when the weather is bad. Well more so when the weather is bad so that i dont end up running a yellow. In summer I do the same, but I don't worry as much cause I know I'll be able to stop if I can.

Omega_Gin wrote:

hwybear wrote:

Device timing can be found over at this link http://www.ontariohighwaytrafficact.com/post18159.html which MTO manual states 1.5-2 second is minimum time of amber.

Now a hint on majority of traffic, lights, while approaching and scanning the intersection you can see the pedestrian signals, if signal is a "don't walk" the amber light is close to follow.

I know, but I'm saying that there are some intersections that are wide, so even though ur like right at the line and the light goes yellow, u dont have time to stop, but because the intersection is so wide, it goes red before u get through. The amber light is way to short, the only way to make it is to slam on ur breaks, but u would be over the line. I know about the don't wal thing and all that. I use that all the time and I know that if the light has been green for some time, it will likely change when i get there. I use that all the time when the weather is bad. Well more so when the weather is bad so that i dont end up running a yellow. In summer I do the same, but I don't worry as much cause I know I'll be able to stop if I can.

Thanks Thats what I do. I honestly think the amber lights should be a little longer. I have never ran a red light cause I always pay attention. I just hate how short the amber lights are. XD

hwybear wrote:

Radar Identified wrote:

"Running a red light" is only if you ENTER the intersection on a red. Canada's Worst Driver, for example, repeatedly gets this wrong. In their "final challenge," if one of their drivers is in the intersection when the light turns red, they say this is running a red light. That is incorrect.

I would think the examiner would fail you in this situation, if the light turns and your in intersection, probably have blown a "amber" light.

Another helpful hint, aside from watching the pedestrian signal is on approach to traffic lights, say to yourself, "can I stop", I repeatedly say this in my mind, (yes, sounds weird), so when a amber does display I have a pretty good idea what is my ability, roads, vehicle and "can I stop". I now subconciously do this all the time, whether it be going for groceries (putting along) or responding priority to a call (still must obey traffic lights), soon as I clear one light already doing the same steps for next light I can see.

That's what I do too. lol