Why is the middle light on stop lights amber?

quantumrift

William Potts is credited with inventing the modern, three-color traffic light, and it was based on railroad control lights of the day (1923). Yellow was in use and he incorporated it into his design as the 'warning' color in timing the lights. So you'd have to go back to railroad control lighting to find out why yellow was uses. It's a very bright color for warning.

Horrorgasm

Yellow is generally known for caution, as well as the fact that yellow shows up better for those that are colourblind.

mama

well its supposed to be yellow.. Yellow means caution.

TheHumbleOne

It is bright and gets your attention.
Violet is not bright and a rather calming color.

Dustin R

It's been said that a vibrant colour reacts to the human brain better. Hence yellow, to grab your attention when its needed.

JOHN M

Because the dude that invented the stop light ran out of red and green!

reggin

amber/yellow is associated with caution just like traffic signs or wet floor signs. its bright enough to get a driver's attention and alert the driver.

Mel

Amber is the universal signal for caution.

fiona

Red has always been the colour of danger (remember the days when motor vehicles had to be preceded by a man carrying a red flag)

Green likewise was the colour of proceeding.

Amber was chosen because it contrasted with both Red and Green, and would therefore stand out.

steven m

because it is clearly different from Red and Green

xwdguy

Originally, it was just red and green. Then, a buzzer was added to warn of impending change. History does not detail why yellow/amber was chosen, just that it has become standardized internationally. The first three-color light was used in Detroit in 1920.

And violet would probably be harder to see lit up.

Sky Flying Gorgon Witch

Yellow is usually a neutral color.

johnski415

It is the color of caution

Uni Guy 28

Because it is a mixture of red and green.It is not ment to be yellow like the others above have said.Just check your highway code and it is always referred to as amber,so that is rubbish!
Red is a warning light,green is a good light usually meaning something positive or meaning it's ok.So amber is between the 2 and simply a 'caution' light.So you have-warning,caution and go!

rockyfella25

it's to help people who are colored blind

Xedr Z

yellow is to inform u...like all other yellow traffic signs....

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