What does a flashing red light indicates?
Flashing RED traffic light (stop signal) means the same as a stop sign. You must come to a full stop and then you may go when it is safe to do so. Flashing YELLOW arrow means turns are permitted but you must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, then proceed with caution.
Flashing Red - A flashing red traffic signal light means "STOP." After stopping, you may proceed when it is safe. Observe the right-of-way rules.
A flashing red signal is treated the same as a stop sign. After stopping for the red light, a person driving may proceed through the crossing area during the flashing red light interval only when safe to do so without risk to people crossing. RECTANGULAR RAPID.
Therefore, when a motorist reaches a flashing red light, the motorist must stop prior to entering the intersection. To begin again, the motorist must yield to the right-of-way of other vehicles (such as those which have a flashing yellow light).
Explanation: These signals can be found at level crossings, some airfields, bridges and emergency access sites. You must stop if the red lights are flashing.
Flashing red light: At a flashing red light, come to a complete stop and yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians. You may go when the way is clear.
Flashing Green Lights And What They Mean
Red means stop, yellow means prepare for a red (stop if safe), and green means go.
Flashing Red Lights — with or without bells
Warns of an approaching train. When the red lights are flashing, a train is approaching. Stop and wait for the train to pass, then proceed when it is clearly safe to do so.
You MUST wait if a train goes by and the red lights continue to flash. This means another train will be passing soon. Only cross when the lights go off and barriers open. Never zig-zag around half-barriers, they lower automatically because a train is approaching.
The flashing signal means you should not begin to cross because you may not have enough time to make it to the other side before vehicles start moving across your path. If the flashing starts after you have already started to cross, you may finish crossing the street.
Why do flashing red lights at a railroad crossing indicate that you should stop?
When you approach a railroad crossing and you see flashing red lights, this means that either a train is on the tracks or a train is approaching. In either instance, you should stop. Not only is it unlawful to cross the tracks while the red light is flashing, it also could prove to be fatal.
Near Railroad or Light Rail Tracks
At railroad or train crossings: Flashing red warning lights indicate you must stop and wait. Do not proceed over the railroad tracks until the red lights stop flashing, even if the gate rises.

Red and blue flashing lights signal a police vehicle.
Flashing emergency vehicle lights are most commonly seen on police cars, ambulances, and fire engines.
Flashing Red Light: A flashing red indication means stop. You must come to a complete stop, yield to cross traffic or pedestrians, and then proceed when the way is clear.
The same thing as a yield sign. The light is about to turn green. The same thing as a stop sign. Explanation A flashing red light at an intersection means drivers are required to come to a complete stop, yield to traffic and pedestrians, and proceed when the way is clear.
Flashing can indicate the intention to overtake or pass another driver, or to signal a driver who has just overtaken that he or she can now return to the original lane. Flashing can request or insist that a leading driver speed up or change lanes to get out of the way of a faster following driver.
Flashing Yellow Light
A flashing yellow traffic signal light is a warning to PROCEED WITH CAUTION. Slow down and be alert. You do not need to stop.
A blinking yellow light at an intersection means, in most cases, that the traffic light facing the intersectional streets is a flashing red light. Unlike a solid yellow light, a flashing yellow signal does not indicate that the light is about to turn red.
While red lights often feel as though they take an eternity to change, that's not quite the case. According to the National Association of City Transportation Officials, the perfect amount of time for a light to remain red is between 60 and 90 seconds.
How should you respond to flashing red lights at a railroad crossing?
Most buses and some trucks must stop at railroad crossings. (See "Railroad Crossing Signals".) Flashing red lights, lowered crossing gates and/or a bell at a railroad crossing indicate that you must stop, at least 15 feet (5 m) from the tracks.
Flashing red lights at a railroad crossing mean STOP! A full stop is always required. Make sure that there is no train traveling on the tracks and proceed.
If the lights begin to flash or the bells begin to ring, STOP! A train is coming. You must yield to the train and remain stopped until the lights have stopped flashing and the gates have lifted. If there are multiple tracks, make sure the train you see isn't hiding another one you don't see.
A flashing red light has the same meaning as a STOP sign. You must come to a complete stop. Then, look both ways, and proceed only after the intersection is clear.
Signals for traffic going straight use standard signals, usually mounted horizontally over the road. The use of two red lights on the left turn signal allows for redundancy in case one of the red lights burns out, while saving money by requiring only one signal for left turns per direction that needs one.
Giving way to another driver or pedestrian
Perhaps the most common reason that drivers flash their headlights is to give way to other road users (e.g. stopping to let pedestrians cross the road or pulling over to allow an oncoming driver to pass).
A flashing or steady orange hand symbol means pedestrians must not begin to cross.
Flashing red (stop signal).
- Open the Settings app, tap Accessibility, then tap Audio/Visual.
- Turn on LED Flash for Alerts.
The practice, common among motorists, of flashing headlights to alert other drivers to an upcoming patrol car has been claimed as a form of expression protected under the free speech clause of the First Amendment. Thus far, courts have generally interpreted the practice as protected free speech.
What are the towers with red flashing lights?
It's likely the only time you really notice one of your neighborhood broadcast and cell towers is at night when they're lit up with conspicuous bright red lights. Those lights help pilots see the huge metal structures that can reach 1,000 feet into the air -- but they can spell disaster for birds.