question about American traffic lights.

[Demolition414]

here in the UK, ours goes from red, amber, green in a smooth transition, but i noticed American lights flash amber for a few seconds, what does that mean?
i know its a silly question

[Henkulles]

its not a silly question just dont know the answer me from NL and i drive on by red because i already seen that color :p

[MosGuy]

Amber means the light is about to turn red. Stop if you are able to, if not proceed through with caution.

[Knottypine]

Originally posted by Davidleblanc20:

here in the UK, ours goes from red, amber, green in a smooth transition, but i noticed American lights flash amber for a few seconds, what does that mean?
i know its a silly question

I haven't seen any flashing amber lights in the game. I'm from Canada, and I can tell you the lights don't go red, amber, then green. At least in the areas I've driving. There might be other provinces that do that. The amber light is a cautionary light that the green light is about to turn red. Then it goes directly from red to green.

Flashing amber for me means that the light will not change to green or red... but it will stay amber. You have the right of way but you must proceed with caution.

More info...
Flashing red means that the light will stay red, and you treat is like a stop sign.
Flashing green means go, you have the right of way. (note: SOME places this even means that you can turn left through an intersection because they will still have red until your green stops flashing) Gotta know local rules though since it's different everywhere.

[Demolition414]

Originally posted by MosGuy:

Amber means the light is about to turn red. Stop if you are able to, if not proceed through with caution.

ah so if you see it flashing, thats warning that its about to change to red. thanks for that.

[Knottypine]

Originally posted by Davidleblanc20:

Originally posted by MosGuy:

Amber means the light is about to turn red. Stop if you are able to, if not proceed through with caution.

ah so if you see it flashing, thats warning that its about to change to red. thanks for that.

Yes, well it will usually be a solid amber, not flashing, and you're welcome!

Also you probably already know, you can turn right on a red after you stop first of course.

[Demolition414]

Originally posted by Knottypine:

Originally posted by Davidleblanc20:

ah so if you see it flashing, thats warning that its about to change to red. thanks for that.

Yes, and you're welcome!

Also you probably already know, you can turn right on a red after you stop first of course.

i did not know that, so the red light is like stop sign for turning traffi then, stop, see if its clear, then safely pull out. we need that system here in the UK.

[Ant0n0vich]

No, flashing yellow means proceed with caution. At least that's what it means IRL. The regular lights go from steady green, to steady yellow, to steady red. Flashing yellow is usually at an intersection with a flashing red (stop sign basically) at the perpendicular road.

[vmz23]

Traffic lights usually have three lights, red green and yellow (or amber as you brits say)

Green=Go
Yellow=Stop safely or proceed through light, light is about to change to red (in real life speed in mph/10=approximate seconds of yellow)
Red=Stop (Right turns on red after complete stop allowed unless posted signage says otherwise)
Green=Go (American lights do not have a red-yellow phase before turning green again)
Flashing Red=Stop sign, yield to cross traffic
Flashing Yellow=You have right of way but proceed with caution
Out=All way stop (not applicable but no one knows this so i'd figure I'd share)

Sometimes they have a fourth arrow light
Green Arrow=Go, you have a protected turn (the right of way over oncomming traffic)
Red Arrow=Stop, do not turn even if clear

I think that covers everything in ATS, cheers!

[BigT57]

Originally posted by Davidleblanc20:

here in the UK, ours goes from red, amber, green in a smooth transition, but i noticed American lights flash amber for a few seconds, what does that mean?
i know its a silly question

Do you mean the light is red then flashes amber and then goes green? If so I have never seen that any where in the US. Some stop lights may flash amber at night but it just means to proceed through the intersection with caution.

[Shakar]

Dont forget it is allowed to turn right during red in the USA, if the amber light confuses you, you might want to know this too...

[Demolition414]

Originally posted by BigT57:

Originally posted by Davidleblanc20:

here in the UK, ours goes from red, amber, green in a smooth transition, but i noticed American lights flash amber for a few seconds, what does that mean?
i know its a silly question

Do you mean the light is red then flashes amber and then goes green? If so I have never seen that any where in the US. Some stop lights may flash amber at night but it just means to proceed through the intersection with caution.

No ours go from solid red to solid amber then solid green. No flashes except on pedestrian crossing points. Wow it shows how different they are in different parts of the world.

[JWNoctis]

Originally posted by Davidleblanc20:

Originally posted by BigT57:

Do you mean the light is red then flashes amber and then goes green? If so I have never seen that any where in the US. Some stop lights may flash amber at night but it just means to proceed through the intersection with caution.

No ours go from solid red to solid amber then solid green. No flashes except on pedestrian crossing points. Wow it shows how different they are in different parts of the world.

In my part of the world(Asia) lights actually flash green for 2 seconds before turning yellow for two more, then red. A direct development from earlier systems with no yellow lights but only flashing greens then red, for all I know.

At least the colors are the same!

[radium]

Not all states allow turning on red. Look it up.

[Orchido]

I like lists when it comes to these things. I live in Washington state by the way.

A full light cycle goes RED, GREEN, AMBER, RED

-STEADY RED = full stop, wait for green
-If turning right on RED, come to a full stop at the light, then proceed to turn right yielding to any traffic. Do not turn if signs specifically state "NO TURN ON RED."
-FLASHING RED = treat the light as a stop sign. Come to a complete stop, check for traffic as they may not be stopping, proceed with caution.

-STEADY YELLOW/AMBER = Light is about to turn RED, stop if able, if unable, proceed with caution.
-FLASHING YELLOW/AMBER = You do not need to stop. Use caution when proceeding through intersection, check for traffic as they may not be stopping either.

-STEADY GREEN = Go but always check for traffic regardless of your "right of way"

Arrows can be seen in place of solid lights and mean the same as above but apply in the direction of the arrow.

[Kami102]

Pshhh here in 'murica its

Green = GO
Yellow = GO FASTER
Red = Stop