Traffic lights

Traffic lights have three lights – red, amber and green – that change in a set cycle

• red
• red and amber together
• green
• amber
• red.

What the colours mean

• Red – stop and wait at the stop line.
• Red and amber – stop and wait. Don’t go until green shows.
• Green – go if the way is clear.
• Amber – stop, unless
  • you’ve already crossed the line
  • you’re so close to it that pulling up might cause an incident.

Approaching traffic lights

Use the Mirrors – Signal – Manoeuvre (MSM) and Position – Speed – Look (PSL) routines as you approach the lights. Pay attention to lane markings and get into the correct lane in good time. Keep your speed down and be prepared to stop.

If the lights are showing green, don’t speed up to ‘beat the lights’. Be ready to stop, especially if the lights have been green for some time.

Green filter arrow

A green arrow in a traffic light means you can filter in the direction the arrow is pointing, even if the main light isn’t showing green. Don’t enter this lane unless you want to go in the direction shown by the arrow. When turning left or right at traffic lights, take special care and give way to pedestrians already crossing.

If traffic lights fail

If the traffic lights fail, proceed with caution. Treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction.

Advance stop lines

At some traffic lights there are advance stop lines to allow cyclists to position themselves ahead of other traffic.

When the lights are amber or red you should stop at the first white line and avoid the marked area, which is reserved for cyclists only. However, if you’ve crossed the first white line at the time that the signal changes to red, you must stop at the second white line even if you’re in the marked area. Allow cyclists time and space to move off when the lights change to green.

In some areas there are bus advance areas. These should be treated in the same way as those provided for cyclists.

Special traffic lights

These are often used to control traffic where low-flying aircraft pass over the road, or at swing or lifting bridges, or other special sites such as fire stations.

They may either be

• normal traffic lights (red, amber and green) – follow the normal rules
• double red flashing lights – stop when the red lights are flashing.

School crossing warning

At some busy locations, two amber lights flashing alternately warn traffic of a school crossing point ahead.

Keep your speed down and proceed with great care.