A Green Light Doesn't Always Mean Go

The next time you are at the front of the lineup waiting for a green light, watch the driver beside you. Many times when the traffic signal turns green they will immediately proceed without looking to the left or right for hazards or traffic already lawfully in the intersection.

A Green Light Doesn't Always Mean Go

Just because the light has turned green, it does not mean that you can go. It may be unsafe to proceed or you may still have to yield right of way to other traffic already present in the intersection.

There are three situations where drivers facing a green light must not proceed immediately. Most people already follow these three exceptions, but failing to take them into account can cause confusion or a crash.

Obey Turn Controls

The first of the three is a situation where turning direction controls are in place. The driver may only proceed as indicated by these signals.

Yielding to Pedestrians

The second is where there is a pedestrian lawfully in the intersection or adjacent crosswalk at the time the signal is green. Drivers must yield to these pedestrians.

Cross Traffic Still Present

The final situation is where a vehicle has entered the intersection waiting to turn and has been unable to do so before the signal goes red. Cross traffic on the new green signal must yield right of way to allow the first vehicle to clear the intersection.

180 Degree Scan

Always do a 180 degree scan of any intersection before entering it. Unless you are turning left, you must be able to clear the intersection before you proceed. Don't be pressured by other drivers to go before it is safe.

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More and More People Run Red Lights

As usual I concur but would like to suggest one other good reason to exercise caution upon the green light; depending on the location, there are more and more people that accelerate on amber and actually run red lights. Taking a split second to check for red light runners could save your life or the life of a loved one. Most T-Bone accidents that occur due to red light runners can be extremely serious for the struck car. So pardon me as I take an extra half second to look for red light runners.

Here's another one:

Here's another one: "Sneak-a-lefties"

Some drivers in the on-coming lane will try to beat the on-coming traffic and a make a left turn in-front of the pack.

Happened in the first accident I was involved in (as a passenger), our vehicle was coming up to a red light, travelling in the right lane, no cars at the stop line; light turned green and our driver proceeded to keep momentum ~25km/h and drove into the intersection, immediately colliding with an on-coming left turner who gunned it in-front of the opposing traffic.

Lots of damage to my friends brand new car, good thing we had a Police cruiser following us not far behind - he saw the entire thing and made a testimony to ICBC as to what really happened.

Running red left turn arrows

At intersections with a left turn arrow, if there are any drivers waiting to make a left turn, you can be sure that they will run that red light. Not just entering the intersection when the arrow is yellow but doing so when the arrow is red. This is particularly dangerous for those in the right lane, cyclists (going straight), and pedestrians going in the direction of traffic.

A new driver trick I have seen drivers start to use involves advance walk lights for pedestrians (where the walk light comes on a few seconds before the main green goes on). Some drivers have figured out what is happening and are starting to use this as a functional advance left turn signal.

First In, First Dead

As a retired firefighter, one of our sayings was ”first in, first dead.” When possible, I always let the car beside me proceed first (much to the chagrin of the driver behind me who, like you said, starts moving as soon as the light changes).

The MOST dangerous thing I see is pedestrians stepping off the curb when they get a light, (far more often now that cellphones are thing) regardless of what is in the intersection. Quite often I hear ”pedestrians have the right of way” so they are unaware that if the vehicle was already in the intersection, they indeed do not!