Jared J Pehrson | July 18, 2025 | Arizona Law
When you arrive at an intersection controlled by a traffic signal, typically, that traffic signal glows steadily; however, while driving in Phoenix, you may also occasionally come across some flashing traffic signals. When this happens, if you don’t know what to do, your actions could result in you or someone else suffering a catastrophic injury. Keep reading to learn more.
What To Do At A Flashing Red Light
Flashing red lights are the easiest type of flashing light to deal with. When you see a flashing red light, you should treat the light as if it were a stop sign. This means you should stop before entering the intersection and wait to proceed until it is safe to do so.
When deciding whether it is safe to proceed, try to determine whether the perpendicular lane has flashing red lights or flashing yellow lights. If it has flashing red lights, then the intersection is effectively a four-way stop, and you should give right-of-way to other drivers in the same way you would at that type of intersection.
However, if the crossing lane has flashing yellow lights, you should treat the intersection as one where your road has stop signs and the other road does not. Depending on traffic, this may require you to wait a significant amount of time before it is safe to proceed.
Always take flashing red lights seriously. If you run a flashing red light, you may be required to attend Arizona Traffic Survival School. Failing to complete the class can result in a license suspension.
What To Do At A Flashing Yellow Light
While the text of the regulation regarding flashing red lights is quite verbose, the text for flashing yellow lights is just a single sentence. In simple terms, it says that you may proceed through a flashing yellow light intersection with caution.
You should treat a flashing yellow light the same way you treat a yield sign. Slow down as you approach it and look in all directions for danger. If another vehicle or a pedestrian is entering the intersection and would present a risk of a car accident, you should slow down or stop as needed to avoid a collision.
What To Do At A Flashing Green Light
Flashing green lights aren’t used in the US. However, they are used in Canada, which means that some traffic signals may have this functionality. If you see a light flashing green, you should contact the local non-emergency number for the police immediately to report a dangerous situation.
Because the US doesn’t use flashing green lights, there is no rule for how to proceed through an intersection with this type of light. Every driver who tries to use the intersection may treat the light differently, meaning that you have no way to know what right-of-way rules others are respecting.
After reporting the intersection, the best thing you can do to protect your safety is to avoid using it. If there is a way to safely turn around or take an alternate route, you should. However, if you are forced to travel through the intersection, the best option is to treat it as a stop sign and turn right when you can safely, limiting your interaction with the dangerous intersection.
Contact a Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer at Impact Legal Car Accident Attorneys for Legal Help
When everybody understands how to respond to flashing lights, they are nothing more than an alternate way to control traffic. By taking the time to understand the traffic laws of Arizona regarding these lights, you can protect yourself from unfortunate accidents.
If you were in an accident because the other driver violated a traffic law concerning flashing lights, call Impact Legal Car Accident Attorneys at (602) 345-1818 for a free consultation. Our Phoenix car accident lawyers are ready to help you.
We serve Maricopa County and Arizona’s surrounding areas.
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