Judging when the green traffic light will change…
We all try to do the right thing throughout life, however sometimes our best effort isn’t always correct. I was recently driving behind a vehicle and as we approached a green light, the driver seemed to slow down. There weren’t any brake lights but it was obvious they had eased off the accelerator. I had looked ahead of them and there was ample space between their vehicle and the vehicle ahead of them. So for what I could see, there was no reason to slow down. This happened again at the next green light and the one after, and after that. Then it hit me. They were anticipating the green light changing and wanted to prepare to stop. But why slow down for green lights?
Anticipating when the green light may change to yellow/amber is a good thing, but slowing down while it’s still green may lead to confusion – not for the driver who is slowing, but for any opposing driver who may want to turn left in front of them. Slowing down may give the impression they are about to make a turn, so it leaves the door open for someone to turn directly in front of them or make a right turn into the same lane from the intersection. There is a safer way to prepare for the green light if it may change to yellow/amber.
As you’re driving along, keep looking well ahead of your current position. At least a couple of blocks can be a good start. If you notice a traffic light ahead which is green, chances are the light may change to yellow/amber before you get there. This is when you should begin to prepare to make the decision if you will need to adjust speed and slow down. But there’s more to it than that. Using the crosswalk hands or countdown as an indicator doesn’t help as much as you may think. Here’s what you can do though.
Part of stopping safely for the yellow/amber light involves a few factors. The first and maybe the most obvious
is how fast you’re driving. We all know the faster we drive the longer it will take to stop your vehicle. So a quick glance at your speedometer to ensure you’re aware of your current speed is a good start. Identifying the conditions of the road should never be ignored. Wet roads cause less traction for the tires to grip the road, plus the wet roads create less friction for the brake pads to grab, which can affect how quickly you may stop. Something all drivers should never ignore.
Finally and maybe the most overlooked is the traffic behind. Noticing how close they are following behind you but also the size of the vehicle (such as a truck or bus) can serious influence your ability to stop if the traffic lights were to change from green to yellow/amber. Braking harsh for a yellow/amber traffic light when a vehicle is following too closely behind is a recipe for a rear crash. And besides, a yellow/amber traffic light essentially means to stop if it’s safe to do so. The speed you’re traveling, the road conditions and the size and closeness of the traffic behind are all major factors with making this decision.
Once you’ve realized you’re approaching a green light which has been green for a while, check your speed, your mirror and notice the current road conditions. Keep telling yourself “If the lights were to change now, I can stop.” Once you get to an imaginary point where you say “If the lights were to change now I must go”, then do not attempt to stop if the light changes.
Making early choices approaching a green traffic light is important, but making smart choices is much better.
**Have a quick listen to this short episode of the “Speed Bumps” podcast as this topic is discussed further!
Good tips, and you mention not to look at the pedestrian countdown timer to judge when the light is going to change. That’s a good point, as some intersections have a “grace period” even when the hand signal turns solid, the light stays green a little longer. The older ones change to yellow right away.