Discussions

Yesterday the Traffic Lights on 18th St at the Sobey's turnoff were flashing yellow for North & South bound traffic and flashing red for East & West bound traffic.  
I always thought the flashing yellow light warns you to be careful. Slow down and be especially alert for vehicles that have the flashing red to finishing either turning or going across the intersection.  
I was going south bound in the west lane when the vehicle beside me in the east lane came to a complete stop at the flashing yellow as there was a vehicle stopped at the lights in the Sobey's lot waiting to cross 18th St to head north.  
I slowed down to go through the flashing yellow but because the vehicle beside me had stopped, the car that was turning to go north proceeded.  
There was no accident but if I wasn't paying attention...very well could have been.  
I did mumble to myself as to why the vehicle stopped and I guess the driver noticed my mumble and raced up beside me a gave me a gesture as if I was in the wrong.  
Maybe I was and I don't understand the rules of the road as well as I thought I do.  
What is the actual rule when it comes to flashing yellow/red lights...are the vehicles with the flashing yellow to come to a complete stop if the intersection is clear?

Stopping for a flashing amber is dangerous!!!

From the driver handbook:  
 
Flashing Red — Come to a complete stop, proceeding only when safe.  
 
Flashing Amber — Slow down and be prepared to stop. You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.

the lights aren't just both put flashing red! It would be a four way stop then. Drivers get too confused at the flashing amber/red. You really got to be cautious when approaching that hot mess, lol

I do believe if all 4 are flashing red, then temporary signs need to be placed which lets all traffic know that it is a 4-way stop. Otherwise drivers need to see that all lights are flashing red.

How does a person that is arriving at a flashing yellow situation know for sure that cross traffic has a flashing red unless you had been there before? If cross traffic also has flashing yellow because of a malfunction in traffic signal, everyone yields like a 4 way stop?

Brandon went to the traffic circles over flashing yellow after peak traffic hours. Now I know!!

but I think the lights by default flash yellow on the main route and yellow for cross traffic.

I know what you meant. Just shows that everyone and everything can malfunction. Red for cross traffic.

Thanks

I was stopped at the flashing red light facing west intending to turn south. I continuously had to wave people through because they kept stopping at the flashing yellow light. Luckily, everyone I waved through understood quickly and I didn’t get any bad looks or honks. I then turned when the traffic was clear in both directions, which is the correct way.

It was not till I came to Brandon that I ran into this. Lived in Winnipeg for a long time. Everyone knew that flashing yellow meant to proceed, with caution, and stop IF NEEDED. At no point should cross directions have flashing yellow. Flashing red meant stop. Everyone having flashing red means it is a 4 way stop.  
 
Then I came here. Seems like half the people stop at the flashing yellow. Those saying it is confusing need to brush up on their driver's handbook. You can get them at any Autopac agent. I think they are 5 or $10. In Winnipeg, there are some intersections that do this every night, at a certain time. Usually around schools, or businesses that have light and are closed.

Called slowing down and looking. How else would you see it. You can look around.

need to park their cars if they don't know the basic rules of the road which includes what to do at a flashing amber light.  
I went through that intersection twice today and both times some driver is stopped and trying to wave the stopped vehicle through!!! Both times almost causing a collision. I am a senior and have driven for over 50 years and have never seen so many people in one community who don't seem to have a clue about how to deal with a flashing traffic light. Take some lessons or park it.

only second that. Can be extremely frustrating driving in this city.

If you have a yellow the other way will always be red.  
 
Would only have flashing red both ways. Which is then a 4 way.  
 
It's not as terrible on a 2 lane traffic. But once you get 4 lanes it becomes a s*** show. No matter what the lights are flashing.

I grew up and learned to drive in Winnipeg. It drives me absolutely crazy. And there's been like 50 ebrandon threads over the years about this, lol.

There are so many people in Brandon that complain about driving in Winnipeg. I find it is easier to drive in Winnipeg as they will let you merge, get into traffic from a parking lot, and know the rules for emergency vehicles.  
 
There is also a major problem when it comes the shoppers mall parking lot where they will not let pedestrians cross the crosswalk. Or the be in the right lane and they will turn left.  
 
Sometime I don't know how they got their drivers license.  
 
And remember... PUT DOWN THE CELLPHONES!

100% with you on the merging. If it is done properly, traffic will flow. Brandon drivers can't seem to figure that one out either. I find Brandon drivers aren't very courteous when it comes to the merging. Any given day the line up of cars in the left hand lane heading north extends well past the University and the right lane is generally clear. But try and merge ahead of someone...look out!!!

By that same logic, how do you know when you come to a green light that it is red in the opposite direction and not malfunctioning? Should you stop at green and check?  
 
Flashing Amber - slow down and proceed with caution  
Flashing Red - stop until it is safe to proceed.

Seem to indicate that I’m the only one that questions the possibility of a malfunction . Logic wasn’t the reason I posted that. I was just questioning whether some of our drivers are thinking that it might happen. Also some drivers think they are being courteous while in fact they are being dangerous and not following rules of the road. My point being that you have to drive defensive at all times.

I just can't believe the crisis situation this city goes into when there is a situation with the lights.  
 
Just shows that that there are a lot of people that need to pick up a drivers ed book.

I don't know why this is so complicated.  
 
We all know that red means stop, and amber basically means proceed with caution (prepare to stop).  
 
When they're flashing, they still essentially mean the same thing.

I know that flashing yellow means I can go with caution, but if EVERYBODY is treating it as a four way stop then I am obligated to do the same, otherwise I will be the one causing an accident, simply for doing something different.