Can you legally drive through a yellow light in Kansas? What the law says, when to stop
You’re driving along, going the speed limit while approaching an intersection when the green light turns yellow.
Do you speed up and make it through, perhaps keeping the driver behind you happy, or do you take the yellow light as a sign to stop before it turns red?
Here’s what Kansas law says about traffic lights and the yellow signal, plus some driver safety tips.
Is it legal to drive through a yellow light in Kansas?
Kansas law doesn’t explicitly say you can’t run a yellow light.
The law states: “Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection.”
Kansas statute 8-1508 goes on to say the yellow light is an indication to drivers there is insufficient time left to cross the intersection. Depending on the speed limit, federal regulations say yellow lights have to be lit for three to six seconds.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, wrecks involving a driver running a red light are more likely to cause an injury compared to other types of crashes. Additionally, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which analyzed U.S. crash data, reports 1,109 people died from crashes involving running a red light in 2021, with an additional 127,000 people injured.
Looking at Kansas specifically, the state Department of Transportation reports right-of-way violations caused 10% of accidents in 2021, the third most common type of wreck.
Safety tips regarding yellow lights
While some peoples’ initial reaction is to hit the gas the second a light turns yellow, remember the indicator is not a sign to speed.
Instead, it’s a sign it is almost time to stop. DriversEd.com, which provides courses in more than 30 states, encourages all drivers to stop when a light turns yellow unless it’s impossible.
If you’re close to the intersection and cannot stop in time safely, be sure to keep an eye on vehicles on all sides when crossing.
