In Video: Traffic Department warns of 5-second alert before signal change

The General Directorate of Traffic has renewed awareness campaigns regarding the pre-alert system for traffic lights, through an explanatory video released by the Ministry of Interior, which outlined the system’s mechanism, the meanings of the green and red flashing lights, and how drivers should respond to signals before they change. This clarification is part of efforts to enhance road safety and reduce accidents at intersections by alerting drivers in advance to impending signal changes and preventing sudden reactions.

The Directorate explained that the system provides drivers with a five-second warning before a signal changes, allowing them adequate time to prepare to stop or proceed appropriately, thereby curbing abrupt maneuvers that could lead to accidents, particularly rear-end collisions. It clarified that a green flash indicates the need to gradually and safely prepare to stop before the signal transitions to yellow and then red, emphasizing the avoidance of sudden stops. Conversely, a red flash signals drivers to prepare to proceed while remaining stopped until the light actually turns green.

The Directorate stressed that the flashing light serves as a pre-alert to drivers and does not constitute an independent signal for movement or stopping. It urged drivers to handle the flashing lights calmly and attentively, refraining from moving during the red flash before the green light appears, in order to safeguard their own safety and that of other road users.

It is worth noting that last August, the Ministry of Interior announced the activation of the pre-alert light feature in traffic signals, aiming to provide drivers and pedestrians with sufficient time to prepare for signal changes, thereby contributing to enhanced safety and improved traffic flow at intersections.