Head of PSTEB Says Motorists Must Obey Traffic Lights at Intersections

Motorists are being reminded that they should adhere to the traffic lights that govern intersections.

Head of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Gary McKenzie, explained that the amber light is often misinterpreted by drivers.

Mr. McKenzie gave clarity while speaking on the Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA) podcast, ‘Pon Di Corner’, recently.

“The simplest one is that you may see an amber light along a roadway where you have some construction or some detour, or it is sometimes at pedestrian crossings, especially late nights, that means that you are to proceed with caution,” he pointed out.

He further explained that there appears to be confusion on how to interpret the amber at intersections.

“Green means go if the way is safe, and amber can be best described as the alert signal. It means that you are to prepare to stop, because the next thing you will get is the red light, which means to stop and remain in the stop position until the light then changes to green. So, amber is not a licence to step on the accelerator,” ACP McKenzie indicated.

He said the Police do not expect you to step on your brakes if the amber comes on while you are very close to the intersection.

“You have to observe it very carefully. If you are very near to the intersection, some 10 metres away, and the light changes to amber, no one is saying you should jam on your brakes, because at that point you would be very near to the intersection. But if you are up to 20, 25 or 30 metres away and the amber comes on, then you are to slow down and brake, because by then the red light would come on,” ACP McKenzie said.

“If you are travelling at your normal speed, depending on what the road is, and the amber comes on, then you are to decelerate and apply your brake, because the anticipation is that the red light will come on,” he added.