Prosecution for driving through amber light

This is a question that comes up more often than you might think, and the answer is more nuanced than most people realise.

The legal position:

The relevant law is the Road Traffic Act 1988, section 36, which makes it an offence to fail to comply with a traffic sign. The meaning of traffic light signals is set out in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (regulation 36 and Schedule 14).

A steady amber light means that you must not proceed beyond the stop line, in the same way as a red light. The only exception is where the amber light appears and you have already crossed the stop line, or where you are so close to the stop line that pulling up safely would not be reasonably practicable. In that situation, you may lawfully proceed.

So the short answer is yes, you can be prosecuted for driving through an amber light. An amber light is not an invitation to speed up and get through before it turns red. It means stop, unless stopping would be unsafe or impracticable given your position when the light changed.

The practical position:

In reality, prosecutions for passing through an amber light alone are rare. The vast majority of enforcement focuses on red light offences, and most fixed red light cameras are triggered only by a red signal, not amber. However, if a police officer witnesses you driving through an amber light in circumstances where you clearly could have stopped safely, you could be reported for the offence.

The offence carries a fixed penalty of three points and a fine, or if contested and heard in the magistrates court, a fine up to level 3 on the standard scale (currently one thousand pounds).

The key factual question:

If you were ever challenged, the critical issue would be whether it was reasonably practicable for you to stop safely before the stop line when the amber light first appeared. Factors that would be considered include your speed, your distance from the stop line, road and weather conditions, and the traffic behind you. If you were genuinely too close to stop safely, you have a complete defence.

If this has come up because you have received a notice of intended prosecution or a fixed penalty, it would be worth looking carefully at the exact circumstances, including any camera evidence, and considering whether the defence of impracticability applies to your situation.