How to read traffic lights
Traffic lights are an important part of urban traffic management. They are not only related to traffic order, but also directly affect driving safety and pedestrian traffic. With the development of intelligent transportation systems, the functions and rules of traffic lights are also constantly optimized. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to analyze the basic rules, common misunderstandings and latest technology trends of traffic lights for you.
1. Basic rules of traffic lights

Traffic lights usually consist of three colors: red, yellow, and green, with each color representing a different instruction. Here are the basic meanings of traffic lights:
| Traffic light color | meaning | Driver/pedestrian action instructions |
|---|---|---|
| red | stop | Vehicles must stop within the stop line and pedestrians are not allowed to cross the road |
| yellow | warning | Vehicles should slow down and prepare to stop, and pedestrians should stop passing |
| green | pass | Vehicles can pass and pedestrians can cross the road |
2. Common misunderstandings and precautions
Although traffic light rules may seem simple, there are still many misunderstandings in practical application. The following are frequently asked questions recently discussed by netizens:
1.Can I speed through a yellow light?The yellow light is a warning signal, indicating that the red light is about to turn on and vehicles should slow down and stop rather than speed through. In recent traffic accidents in many places, collisions caused by running at yellow lights have occurred frequently.
2.Do I need to look at the traffic light to turn right?Some drivers think that right turns are not restricted by traffic lights, but in fact they need to follow the intersection signs and traffic lights. Some intersections are equipped with special right-turn arrow lights, which must be strictly observed.
3.Pedestrian lights are out of sync with vehicle lights.The green light time for pedestrians at some intersections is shorter. Pedestrians need to pay attention to avoid being trapped in the middle of the road due to lack of time.
3. Recent hot topics: Intelligent traffic light technology
With the application of artificial intelligence and big data technology, intelligent traffic lights have become a hot topic recently. The following is the hot content about smart traffic lights on the Internet in the past 10 days:
| Hot content | Technical features | Application city |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive traffic lights | Adjust the green light duration based on real-time traffic flow | Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen |
| Pedestrian priority signal light | Use cameras to detect pedestrians and extend green light time | Hangzhou, Chengdu |
| Networked signal light system | Vehicles communicate with traffic lights to optimize traffic efficiency | Guangzhou, Chongqing |
4. How to respond to traffic lights correctly
1.Observe in advance:When approaching an intersection, you should observe the status of the traffic lights in advance to avoid sudden braking or rushing.
2.Note the auxiliary flags:Some intersections are equipped with countdown displays or voice prompts, which need to be comprehensively judged based on the traffic lights.
3.Observe special signals:If you encounter special vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances, you should give way even if the light is green.
4.Note for pedestrians:Pedestrians should walk on zebra crossings and obey dedicated pedestrian signals. Recently, "button-type" pedestrian signals have been promoted in many places, which require active pressing to trigger the green light.
5. Conclusion
Traffic lights are an important tool to ensure road safety, and both drivers and pedestrians should strictly abide by their rules. With the development of intelligent transportation technology, the functions of traffic lights will become more user-friendly and efficient. Each of us should become a participant and promoter of civilized transportation and jointly create a safe and orderly travel environment.
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