Is it legal to run a yellow light?

[Vic]

The laws vary by state. In most west coast states, it is illegal to still be in the intersection when the light turns red, except when you are yielding at an unprotected left turn.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Everytime I go under a light and go "man that was kind of bad, I shouldn't of done that." I look in my rear view mirror and see 3 cars behind me that went too.

that happened to me this morning. i pushed a yellow real hard where i should have stopped and looked in my mirror and some dufas followed me through, it had to be red before he even entered the intersection

 

[Zenmervolt]

Technically, the wording for yellow lights, at least in Ohio was "clearance for vehicles within intersection". Essentially, if you're already in the intersection or obviously cannot stop in time, you are premitted to do so. If you can stop and choose not to, theoretically you could receive a ticket.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: clickynext
So basically the law and consequences are not clear or consistent.

Just wondering because today I went through an a big intersection on yellow because I would have had to brake hard to stop, but the car turning left on the other side started turning while I was coming and the light was yellow. I had to swerve to avoid them because by the time I saw them start to move it was too late to stop. I guess if I hit them the fault would probably fall on me.

Nope, they would be at fault for turning left in front of you. Happened to my mother (she was making a left turn on yellow and the other driver T-boned her), mom was at fault for the accident because the driver going straight had the right of way.

ZV

EDIT: Mom's accident happened in Ohio. Laws vary by state.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: Vic
The laws vary by state. In most west coast states, it is illegal to still be in the intersection when the light turns red, except when you are yielding at an unprotected left turn.

In California you can be in the intersection while red (provided you entered BEFORE red), but not blocking the intersection. So if you can't make it through, don't go.