Why Drivers Speed Through Yellow Lights in Tempe—and What It Means Legally

We’ve all seen it—maybe even done it. The light turns yellow at the intersection of Mill and University, and instead of slowing down, the driver ahead hits the gas. They make it through just before it turns red, but not without risk. In Tempe, where major intersections meet busy campus zones and downtown nightlife, yellow light behavior is a legal gray zone with real consequences.

Understanding what yellow lights mean under Arizona law—and how they’re interpreted after a car accident—can make or break your injury claim. If you were T-boned by someone who ran a yellow or struck in a confusing multi-lane intersection in North Tempe, here’s why the color of the light isn’t the whole story.

Arizona Law Doesn’t Ban Entering on Yellow—But It’s Not a Free Pass

Let’s clear up a common misconception: it’s not illegal to enter an intersection during a yellow light in Arizona. Under ARS §28-645, a yellow signal is a warning that the light is about to turn red—not a signal to stop.

However, this doesn’t mean speeding through it is always lawful. If the driver accelerates aggressively, blows through a stale yellow just as it turns red, or fails to yield to vehicles already in the intersection, it could be considered reckless behavior.

And if a crash occurs—especially a T-bone accident—that decision to “beat the light” will be scrutinized under Arizona’s comparative negligence standard.

Why So Many Yellow-Light Crashes Happen in Tempe

Tempe’s unique infrastructure plays a role. The city is packed with:

• Wide intersections with long signal cycles

• Campus crosswalks near fast-paced roads

• Events and festivals that disrupt normal traffic flow

• A high concentration of distracted or impatient drivers

Add to that the fact that many Tempe intersections, like Rural & Apache or McClintock & Broadway, have poor visibility or unclear signage, and yellow-light behavior becomes more of a gamble.

A significant number of distracted driver crashes involve intersections, and yellow lights are often the flashpoint where hesitation or miscalculation leads to impact.

What Happens If a Crash Occurs During a Yellow Light?

If you’re involved in a crash and the other driver claims the light was yellow—not red—the legal focus shifts from the color to the context of the maneuver.

Were they speeding?
Did they fail to yield to traffic already turning?
Did they enter the intersection too late in the yellow cycle?

These factors determine whether the driver acted reasonably or violated their duty of care under Arizona tort law.

Even if no traffic citation was issued, you can still pursue damages through a civil claim—especially if the other driver’s behavior was unreasonable or aggressive.

You can learn more about how fault is handled in civil claims on azcourts.gov.

How Insurance Companies Use Yellow Lights Against Victims

Let’s say you were making a left turn, and someone coming from the opposite direction sped through a yellow and hit you. If the police report is vague or says “both had yellow,” insurers will often:

• Claim you were turning against oncoming traffic

• Suggest you “should have waited”

• Argue that no clear fault can be determined

This is a common tactic used to reduce or deny payouts under Arizona’s comparative fault system.

If you're unsure how to navigate these issues, the Tempe car accident attorney homepage provides helpful starting points for understanding your legal options.

Video Evidence Often Decides These Cases

One of the best things you can do in a yellow-light crash case is to preserve video evidence. Tempe has traffic cameras at many major intersections, and nearby businesses or rideshare vehicles may also have recordings.

This kind of footage can help prove:

• The color of the light

• The speed of both vehicles

• Whether one party entered illegally or recklessly

• Pedestrian presence or traffic congestion

Act fast—many systems overwrite their data after a few days. Tempe.gov has information on requesting city footage, and your own dashcam or that of a nearby driver could be vital in establishing fault.

Police Reports Might Not Tell the Whole Story

Tempe police often respond to crashes involving yellow light disputes, but they usually arrive after the fact. Unless a witness clearly saw the signal change or there’s camera footage, reports tend to include:

• Conflicting driver statements

• No firm conclusion on signal color

• No citation issued

This ambiguity is often used by insurance companies to deny liability, especially in hit-and-run or rideshare collisions where driver behavior is disputed.

Don’t rely on the report alone. Supporting documents—photos, timestamps, and medical records—will often carry more weight.

Injuries from Yellow-Light Crashes Can Be Serious

These aren’t always low-speed accidents. In fact, yellow-light crashes often involve:

• High-speed impact from drivers trying to beat the red

• Angular collisions with door-side trauma

• Late turns that catch the front corner of vehicles

Common injuries include whiplash, fractures, spinal injuries, and TBIs. You can find post-crash treatment options and next steps through resources on az.gov.

Even if you walked away feeling okay, make sure to document pain or limited motion within the first 48 hours. Injuries like soft-tissue damage or internal bruising often take time to show up—and could be dismissed later if not promptly recorded.

Final Thoughts

Yellow light crashes in Tempe are more than just timing errors—they’re legal battles waiting to happen. If you were injured by someone who floored it through a fading signal, Arizona law gives you the right to hold them accountable. But proving fault in these cases depends heavily on details: speed, timing, visibility, and documentation.

The best time to start preserving your claim is immediately. If you’re unsure where to begin, the Tempe legal help hub can walk you through the process.

Remember: yellow may not mean stop—but it doesn’t mean ignore the law either.