Goodbye to flashing amber: DGT brings order to traffic lights

Published on 2026-07-01 | Translated from Spanish

Since October, the DGT has eliminated the intermittent amber light at traffic lights to prevent drivers from advancing while pedestrians cross with a green walk signal. Now, vehicles can only proceed with a steady green light. Ignoring a red light will cost 200 euros and 4 license points. The measure aims to protect vulnerable pedestrians, such as children and the elderly, and requires respecting signals without excuses.

crosswalk at a modern urban intersection, a semaphore with a fixed green light illuminating an empty crosswalk while a red light glows above a stopped car, a pedestrian with a cane stepping onto the zebra crossing, another car approaching from distance with brake lights on, clear traffic light lenses showing no amber flashing, technical diagram overlay showing the removed amber phase with a red X, cinematic photorealistic rendering, high-contrast street lighting, wet asphalt reflecting signal colors, precise engineering visualization of traffic control hardware, safety-focused composition

The technical change: smarter traffic lights for less confusion 🚦

Eliminating the intermittent amber light involves reprogramming traffic controllers at thousands of intersections. Technicians must adjust light cycles so that the pedestrian green walk signal only activates with the vehicle's steady red light. This requires synchronizing timers and presence sensors, preventing a driver from interpreting the amber as permission to cross. The system prioritizes binary logic: green means go, red means stop. A simple code change that improves road safety.

Drivers, get ready to wait like the rest of us mortals 🚗

That traffic lights no longer flash amber is a hard blow for those drivers who used the intermittent light as a wildcard to skip crosswalks. Now they have to brake and watch enviously as pedestrians cross calmly. Of course, if they used to complain about traffic jams, now they'll have plenty of time to study the asphalt. The DGT gives them patience; they get 200 euros less.