Light question

kenny11

When parked first at traffic lights yesterday waiting to turn left I had a red light with a flashing left amber filter light, the car behind was beeping and the driver was waving at me. My understanding is that the flashing amber filter light tells me to give way for pedestrians and that i must wait for a green light to proceed.

Am I correct in saying this?

Hagar

Not entirely, when turning you must always be prepared to yield to pedestrians already crossing the road you are turning on to. A flashing amber filter light gives you the right to turn if it is safe to do so.

kenny11

I wasn't sure either but because I had two lanes of traffic coming from my right I decided to be cautious.

milltown

Flashing amber is basically a Yield sign. You can go, but you don't have right of way. In my experience, lights with a flashing amber arrow never actually have a green filter light.

Wishbone Ash

kenny11 wrote: »

Am I correct in saying this?

No - you were impeding the progress of the other motorist, hence the horn.

If you had to wait for the green light, why then would they put a flashing amber light there?

kenny11

Wishbone,


Is this correct? even though I had two lanes of traffic coming from my right?

Wishbone Ash

kenny11 wrote: »

Wishbone,


Is this correct? even though I had two lanes of traffic coming from my right?

Yup!

Rules of the Road - page 83 (Traffic Lights and Signals)

A flashing amber arrow pointing to the left can appear at a junction. It means that you may move on past the traffic light, but only if you first give way to traffic already coming through the junction from the other road.

kenny11

duely noted. The junction is the one right outside Cork University Hospital and is always very busy so that's why i elected to wait.