My friend used to say, “Yellow light means go faster,” and she did. Zoom. Used to scare me when I was riding with her. I was also privileged to see her make a U-turn once in the middle of a busy downtown street and once on a freeway on-ramp.

Then she got busted, not once but twice, and had to pay tickets. Now she drives like a little old lady who won’t go a mile over the speed limit. Yellow light? She’ll stop way back there just to be sure.

Yellow doesn’t mean “stomp on brakes” either. It means “proceed with caution.” Depending how far one might be from the intersection might dispose one to “punch it!”

My recollection of my state’s driver’s manual is that yellow means “clear the intersection.”

Depending on the scenario, that could mean accelerate a bit, or try to stop. If it is safe to stop, do so. If it is safer to proceed, then do so….

Where I live, a yellow light means that you better hit the brakes fast!!! IF you’re seen going through a yellow light, it’s a $600 fine.

20 years ago, in Chicago, the RED light meant “4 more cars!!” . It was bad. I lived elsewhere from about 2000 to 2007, and when I returned, people had stopped running reds.

The difference? New cameras at many intersections, recording every transgression. $100 tickets go out, with a link where you can see video of your own mistake online.

People hate the red cameras but they made a huge improvement in driving habits.

Regarding the yellow, I think most people punch it occasionally. I’m a lot less likely to do so after seeing the video of my couple of red light tickets. I got scared straight. I’m about to complete my fourth ticket-free year, including simple parking tickets.

Here you best not get caught stopped in the intersection with the green against you or you’re fined for running the yellow light & another for blocking the intersection!!!

People do the opposite like @Jeruba said where I live in most of the cases!!

Here is Boston, mostly everyone speeds up or continues as is at the sight of a yellow light.

You have some crazy laws @LadyMarissa. Pretty sure a first year attorney could make a strong case against all of them.

It so totally depends on where I am on the road when the light turns. If I’m almost to the intersection I’ll likely speed up a little to be completely clear of the intersection before it turns red.
If I actually have time to stop, I do.