Can You Be Fined for Driving Through a Yellow Light?

Surely you have found yourself in this situation at some point. You are approaching a traffic light and just before passing it the green light changes to yellow or amber. In a few seconds generally drivers decide to accelerate before it turns red, although you should never accelerate towards a hazard, and risk a possible fine or, after checking that there is no other vehicle too close, brake safely.

But the question is, can you be fined for driving through the yellow light?

Well, the first thing we are going to do is go to article 146 of the General Traffic Regulations, which is where the operation of “circular traffic lights for vehicles” is specified. This is where we find the two possible assumptions that we must take into account, because with one we can be fined and with the other we cannot.

“A flashing yellow light or two alternately flashing yellow lights force drivers to exercise extreme caution and, where appropriate, give way. Furthermore, they do not exempt from compliance with other signs that require stopping.”

“A steady yellow light means that vehicles must stop under the same conditions as if it were a steady red light, unless, when it is turned on, the vehicle is so close to the stopping point that it cannot stop before the traffic light in sufficient safety conditions.”

Therefore, if we encounter the first case in which the traffic light intermittently shows the yellow or amber light, what we should do is reduce speed and check our surroundings, because it is probably enabled for pedestrians to cross the road. Remember, the rule says, “give way” and so pedestrians in this situation have priority. The light can also be used to warn of other reasons such as construction work.

But if it is fixed, we must act as if it were red, with the exception indicated above. If you do not heed this warning, the regulations indicate that it will entail a fine of 200 euro and the withdrawal of four points from your licence.

The excuse of not being able to stop must be quantifiable however, you cannot just drive through the yellow light and hope that you can use that get out without just reason.