Why European traffic lights show red and yellow at the same time – Jalopnik

At first glance, European traffic lights look the same as most American drivers’: red at the top, orange in the middle, green at the bottom (unless you’re in one of the few states where the signal is mounted horizontally). The difference is the order in which they appear. When switching from red to green, in many European countries, including Great Britain, Germany and Poland, both red and orange light up simultaneously for a short moment.

That combination exists to warn the drivers that the red phase is ending and the green phase is about to begin. It’s a ‘get ready’ warning to the drivers so they know in advance what decision they need to make. The range still uses a single amber light when transitioning from green to red, so drivers get a warning signal at both ends.

The main difference between American and European states is that in the US, regardless of whether the signal goes from red to green or from green to red, only the yellow light illuminates during the transition. With the European series, both transitions are clearly marked.

All of these steps are intended to prevent drivers from encountering what experts call the “dilemma zone.” This is when drivers often face a dilemma about whether to continue driving or stop when the signal turns yellow. The more early warning systems are deployed before this happens, the more time drivers will have to make a decision.

As drivers, we all know that we make our decisions just a few seconds before we reach an intersection with a traffic light. This makes poorly timed transitions dangerous, and they can increase the likelihood of side impacts or rear-end accidents, especially at intersections that are known to be deadly. Flashing or simultaneous lights can be a good precaution to prevent these accidents.

The reasoning of Federal Highway Administration What is given for this is that such signals “extend the ‘dilemma zone’ and therefore result in higher accident risks.” Others argue that advance warnings lead to unpredictable actions by drivers. Critics of the ban argue that this behavior is already common, and that the best way to address it is to use clearer signals. But the US appears to be moving in the opposite direction, with pedestrian traffic signals confusing motorists even more.

There is also historical inertia. The basic three-color system has remained largely unchanged for decades, even as vehicles and driving behavior have evolved. Some researchers and engineers are now exploring alternatives, including adaptive signals that work with each driver’s responsiveness, as well as vehicle-to-infrastructure communications that could provide personalized in-car alerts.