When driving, it’s important to know what traffic light signals mean and what happens if you’re in a car accident. Knowing about yellow blinking lights is essential to your safety and rights. We have tips and advice about when you see a yellow flashing light.
What Are Yellow Flashing Lights?
According to the California Driver’s Handbook, a yellow flashing signal means to proceed with caution because the light is about to turn red. A driver should stop if they can safely do so. If drivers can’t stop safely, they should cautiously cross the intersection. A steady yellow or yellow arrow warns that a red light will soon shine.
Crossing a Yellow Light
Drivers can legally cross during a yellow light, but it is not advisable to do so. Crossing at an intersection during a yellow light means drivers might come into conflict with other vehicles, such as yours, and get into an accident. Drivers should slow down and stop at a flashing yellow light rather than risk injuries to you or other people.
Is It Illegal To Run a Blinking Yellow Light?
While it is not illegal to run a blinking yellow light, drivers might misjudge the time it takes to move through the light and run a red light. Going through a red light is illegal, carries penalties, and is dangerous.
Costs of Running a Yellow Light
Crossing a flashing yellow light creates the risk of a red light violation. These violations carry penalties in California. The base fine for a red light violation ranges from $35 to $100, depending on the severity of the violation and additional fines. Depending on different county fees, drivers going across a red light can add fees and pay more, with some fees costing nearly $500.
Drivers who plow through red lights may also cause a Hayward car accident with serious injuries. Reckless drivers who injure you with red light violations can be liable for your injuries. Red light violations can also carry one point on driving license records. The driving points accumulated can also affect insurance premiums.
The Points System
Many states use a points system for their driver’s licenses and infractions. The California drivers’ points system allows motorists to receive negative points when they commit driving offenses. When a driver has a certain, legally determined number of points, the driver faces license suspension or revocation.
Multiple minor offenses may accumulate, or drivers may have large offenses that collect more points. In California, a driver may face driver’s license suspension or revocation if they accumulate four points within 12 months, six points within 24 months, or eight points within 36 months. These points accumulate on the driver’s license on the date of conviction, not on the date of violation.
Don’t Beat the Light
While drivers might feel the temptation to beat the light at a yellow signal, they should stop. A little perceived saved time is not worth the time they’ll spend in regret. Trying to go through a yellow flashing light is dangerous. A yellow light, according to Section 21457 of the California Vehicle Code means drivers need to proceed with caution. This caution means that when a driver approaches a flashing yellow light, they should slow down and be aware of other traffic. For example, a flashing yellow light means that other drivers are going through green lights in oncoming traffic. Having patience, being cautious, and waiting can save drivers heartache later.
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