Should you Stop at Amber? Pass your Driving Test Series

How to judge whether you need to stop or go when the traffic lights go amber/orange.

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This video is a guide intended to help people who are learning to drive with a driving instructor in Great Britain, it is by no means a replacement for driving lessons with an appropriately qualified driving instructor.

Laws and driving rules may be different in your country. The makers of this video cannot be held liable for any consequences caused by any information that is in any way inaccurate, misleading or missing. The makers of this video are not liable for any person's driving other than their own, it is the responsibility of the person driving a vehicle to ensure they drive safely and within the law. The makers of this video are also not liable for any person failing a driving test as a result of the information provided in the video.

[laurafirth]

Conquer driving this always happens to me when I’m so close they always want to change to amber and I’ve slammed on my brakes a few times 😩I know it’s not a good idea to do that I’m scared in case they turn to red as I’m going through, it’s given really bad anxiety this and now I hate traffic lights I’ve only been driving a year too but this video has helped me and put me at ease a bit now 😊thanks

[stevej]

Thanks for the 3 second tip, great advice. I've been driving for years and never heard of this before. Just one comment about motorists travelling behind crashing into the back of someone slamming their brakes on. One thing I was taught was never to drive so fast so that you can't stop in the distance you can see to be clear. I believe in such an accident the following driver would be deemed at fault by insurance adjudicator's? In reality though many driver's don't keep their distance so the risk you highlight is very real! Excellent channel by the way.

[thecatfan]

I passed my practical with ZERO faults but my instructor didn't teach me well about the amber light. He taught me to treat it as red and never go through it. So once I started driving alone, in my new car, 4 days in I had my first accident :( slammed the breaks to not drive through amber and the car behind bumped into me. It wasn't a big deal car wise but it knocked my confidence completely. Instead of enjoying driving (only had the car 2 weeks now) im terrified 😨 all because this wasn't taught properly!! I need to work on the amber light alone now. Thanks for this video.

[yuminchen]

Very useful advise! I got caught out by the Amber light in my test yesterday and I slammed into the brakes. The tester said I should've anticipated the lights have been green for a while so I should've slowed down earlier

[TheDantheman]

I would love to see a video basically listing the driving skills you need to have mastered in order to pass your test.

[Dr]

Great clip Richard as always, It happens quite often to me and I wouldn't slam the brakes, this is something that the instructors would not care to tell their students that much but is important.

[johnkeepin]

Well described in less than two minutes! From time to time, there’s a bit of controversy re how to do it. The only minor thing I’d add is that road marking lines are supposed to be helpful for judging distance on the approach to traffic signals etc. That is to say, within the potential braking area the ‘warning lines’ should be long with short gaps, whereas elsewhere the ‘lane lines’ should be the other way round - short/long. All in metres - the actual lengths depend on speed limits, either <40 or >= 40 mph. All in the DfT ‘Traffic Signs Manual, chapter 5 Road Markings’ if anyone’s interested.

On familiar routes it’s wise to learn what the sensible positions are with useful objects along the road.

As your footage was shot on a wet day, the other issue is the weather itself - dry, wet, cold, ice etc, and it’s worth keeping an eye on what’s behind, and whether on the level, downhill etc.

[johndd]

Never thought of the 3 second rule - that's genius, thanks so much!! 👍👍👍

Passed my test but still learning... 😌

[snapon]

Amber means stop if its safe to do so, if your car is crossing over the white line on red that’s a fail or a fine, going through a red light, you should be travelling at a speed where it’s safe to stop.no part of you car should crossing the white line on RED.

[Kingprogamer]

This is what I failed on my test for! Very useful information, thank you :)

[EnerPlayZ]

I failed my first driving test today with only 1 minor because I passed on an amber light. I actually didn't see the light change, but I would've been able to stop safely, as I was moving slowly on approach, so the examiner gave out the serious fault. All the areas that I was anxious that I could possibly make mistakes on, such as roundabouts, went perfectly. Very frustrating, but I know I'm more than capable of passing next time. Thank you for making such helpful videos! I've watched many over the past 9 months since I've started learning to drive.

[miranakyuz]

You are legend. I was worrying since yesterday. The light was green and turn Amber while I was turning there was a traffic light camera as well. Made me worry looked my mirror nothing I havent seen hopefully I'm fine 🤞🤞🤞

[KM-]

Wow! The complete opposite thing happened to me yesterday during my test. The traffic light turned amber just as i passed the light. But apparently i should of anticipated the change and not carried on driving. Even though if i had stopped i would of been slamming my brakes. Feel really disappointed and like i was cheated.

[mandlin]

This helps, I was so confused as I have had professional lesions and a neighbour helps me and the neighbour was confusing me as she reacted to an Amber like me going through it was a big deal and I should of looked for it. But I was like 1-1.5 seconds away when it changed. I didn’t feel I could stop without slamming on breaks. The light was still amber as I passed too. So. Yeah. I did the right thing then.

She said if it’s been green for a long time slow down but I can’t just slow down every single time I see a green light, it makes sense to estimate when you’re 3 seconds away and then ignore than to just always slow down.

[WayneTulip-zmgw]

Amber is a stop signal, an amber traffic light means stop unless you’re already passed the stop line or are so close to it that stopping may cause a collision.

[dribbler]

I got noted down with minor for passing amber with 2 seconds distance after it changed from green. This video helps me feel better as I knew what I did was safe.

[donniefleuryy.]

Its all fun and games until your 35 feet away and the light turns amber.

[inninchowdhury]

Thanks so much for that bro I was really confused

[balticstain]

Amber means caution you can still drive through, flashing amber means it's about to change to red .

[devonmoon]

Thank you 👍💖🚘makes sense 😊hurrah 👌 please can we have a 45' angle reverse bay park ?Many thanks 👍🚘😘😘😘