Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers | October 10, 2025 | Car Accident
Most drivers know what to do at a standard intersection. However, you might be less sure of yourself if you come upon an intersection with flashing lights.
Before you get on the road again, consider what to do at intersections with flashing lights in Maryland.
What Does a Flashing Red Light Mean?
A flashing red light may look alarming if you’re unfamiliar with what it means. However, you should treat these lights like stop signs.
If you come upon one, take the following steps:
- Come to a complete stop
- Check the intersection for cars, cyclists, and pedestrians
- Yield to vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians in the intersection
- Proceed through when the intersection is clear
Flashing red lights are commonly found at two-way stop intersections, where drivers on one road must stop while those on the cross street have the right of way.
However, if you encounter an intersection with a flashing red light in every direction, you should treat it as a four-way stop.
In these cases, follow these right-of-way rules:
- The first driver to come to a complete stop is the first to proceed
- If two vehicles arrive roughly at the same time, the driver on the right goes first
- Drivers making right turns may proceed simultaneously—provided their paths do not intersect—or alongside a driver going straight
- Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming traffic and to vehicles going straight
You might wonder why some intersections have red flashing lights if they mean the same thing as a stop sign.
There are a few different reasons:
- Flashing red lights capture the attention of drivers and reduce the risk of car and pedestrian accidents
- If a traffic light malfunctions, it may temporarily be set to flash red lights
- Some areas program traffic signals to flash red during low-traffic hours
Maryland laws clarify that the typical rules for flashing red lights do not apply at railroad crossings.
If you see the lights flashing at a railroad crossing, it means a train is approaching. You should stop, wait for the train to pass, and only cross after the gate rises and the lights stop flashing.
What Does a Flashing Yellow Light Mean?
At an intersection, a flashing yellow light means you may proceed through the intersection with caution.
You aren’t required to come to a complete stop, but you must slow down enough to make sure the intersection is clear. You should yield to vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists already in the intersection.
A flashing yellow arrow has a similar meaning. If you can safely make a left turn without interfering with traffic approaching from the opposite direction, you may do so.
It’s important to use caution when flashing yellow lights are on. If you don’t correctly gauge the speed of an approaching car, there’s a chance that a speeding driver could hit you.
Flashing yellow lights are sometimes installed at low-traffic intersections. Like flashing red lights, they may also be used during low-traffic hours or when a traffic light malfunctions.
Keeping Yourself Safe on the Road
Taking a moment to brush up on your knowledge of traffic signals is never a bad idea. However, when approaching an intersection with flashing lights, you should always be prepared to encounter confused drivers.
If someone approaching an intersection doesn’t know what to do at a flashing yellow light, they can inadvertently cause an accident. When you understand Maryland traffic laws and do what you can to avoid car accidents, you’ll help keep the road safer for everyone.
Contact the Prince George’s County Car Accident Attorneys at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured in a crash caused by a negligent or confused driver at an intersection, you don’t have to handle the aftermath alone.
For more information, contact an experienced car accident lawyer at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
Our attorneys can review your case, explain your legal options, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
For more information, please contact Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a confidential consultation with a personal injury lawyer. Our team is available to assist clients in Lanham, Frederick, Rockville, Waldorf, Annapolis, and Lexington Park, Maryland.
We proudly serve Charles County, Prince George County its surrounding areas. Visit our law offices at:
Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers – Waldorf Office
8 Post Office Rd Waldorf, MD 20602
(301) 932-9997
Available 24/7
Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers – Lanham Office
4600 Forbes Blvd Ste #200 Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 936-0011
Available 24/7