In the United Kingdom, what should a driver do when a traffic signal shows amber?

In the United Kingdom, a driver should stop unless doing so would be unsafe when a traffic signal shows amber.

British traffic-light rules treat amber as a stop signal, not as permission to speed through the junction. Drivers should stop at the stop line unless they have already crossed it or are so close that stopping could cause a collision or other danger.

The amber phase normally appears between green and red. It warns that the signal is changing and gives road users time to clear the junction safely. In the United Kingdom, red and amber together appear before green, telling drivers to remain stopped while preparing to move.

This differs from some countries where amber is described more broadly as a caution signal. The exact legal wording and exceptions are set by the UK’s traffic regulations and Highway Code.