Driving through amber light sent me spiralling

[BeBlueAnt]

I'm a new driver, having only passed my test in August last year.

Today I drove through an amber light and was able to get halfway across the junction before it turned red. I usually always anticipate to stop but I panicked today and drove through. I can't stop worrying about it and thinking I'm an unsafe driver.

I've seen mixed thoughts on amber lights.
I usually always stop as I've been told they mean prepare to stop.
However other people say you can go through if you are travelling at speed.

I was only doing 17mph but still went through.

Have you done it before?
I'm feeling like such a POS.

Why are you spiralling? You haven’t done anything illegal. DD’s driving instructor is ex police and actively encouraged going through amber lights rather than having to break quickly.

I disagree - I got a ticket for going through an amber once. Based on his attitude I think he was just having a rough night, but it has made me super paranoid about amber lights!

You were halfway across the junction before it went red - that was totally fine to go through (assuming no hash zones or junction blocking was going on!). Amber = prepare to stop, you are only committing an offence if it's safe to stop and you just decide not to.

Amber gambler. Don’t do it if you can’t stop safely.

I would’ve challenged that ticket!

This.

I should have! Especially as there was an error in the code used anyway so it would have been dismissed on that technicality. I was young and much less assertive!

You need to calm down. No harm no foul.

You've done nothing wrong. More harm is likely to be caused by doing an emergency stop if the lights start changing as you arrive at them.

Calm down. Take some more lessons, post passing, to stop your anxiety.

This is a disproportionate response