How long is the yellow traffic light?

Answer 1

Depends on the intersection you are at. Most are usually 2 to 3 seconds while some can be as high as 6 seconds. DON'T ATTEMPT TO TIME THEM HOWEVER. Yellow means slow down and prepare to stop. You aren't required to stop on yellow although for some idiot drivers yellow = red but if you can beat a yellow light without flooring it or doing something unsafe by all means cross the intersection.

I'm really not an unkind person, but wanted to say this is an answer that's full of contradictions.

1) yes it depends on the intersection.

2) most? you know what most are? did you do a study? could you sight your references? Who knows what most are please tell...

3) in Capital Letters: DON'T ATTEMPT TO TIME THEM.

4) And then you go on to say "but if you can beat a yellow light without flooring it or doing something unsafe by all means cross the intersection". HOW IN THE WORLD IS THAT NOT TIMING THE YELLOW?

If it's a yellow light you've never been through before, and you don't know how long it stays yellow, THEN YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY TIMING IT!

Right now there are lawsuits all over the country because of red light cameras and cities shortening the "normal" yellow light time of 1 sec for ea 10mph the speed limit is. so instead of you being use to a 4.5 sec yellow in a 45mph zone, they change it to 3 secs and you get a ticket for going through a RED with the red light camera.

There needs to be a standard across the country of MINIMUM time a yellow light stays on for a given mph zone. It could be extended due to circumstances, but never shortened.

Currently there are counties and cities that are raking in hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions per year by shortening the yellow light times on red light camera intersections.

Answer 2

Yellow lights typically last for 1 second for every ten miles an hour of the posted speed limit. So if the posted speed limit at the intersection is 40 mph the yellow light will typically last for 4 seconds.

Several years ago I received a ticket for running a red light. I went back to time it and the light lasted for 3 seconds. I thought this was a bit too short. I then began to do research at that time. A national organization for traffic engineers recommended that lights be set for 5 seconds. I contacted the local traffic engineers office. They told me that they were in the process of setting signals around town for 5 seconds. In addition they told me that they were also in the process of setting signals so that the light for the opposing traffic would not turn green for two seconds after the light turns red. Reason, some folks jump the signals and actully go before the light turns green. I can not find any information on federal law regarding the length of timining on yellow lights

Answer 3

It all depends on the traffic intersection it can last up from anywere form 3 to 6 seconds at a time.

Added: The general rule of thumb is that the amber light is displayed one second for every ten miles an hour of the posted speed limit, in order to allow for sufficient driver reaction time. HOWEVER: This is NOT a hard and fast rule - do NOT rely on it.

Answer 4

The periods vary depending on the speed limit in the area and the volume of traffic on the intersecting streets.