Should you not step on the brakes for a yellow + arrow signal!?
Some traffic lights display a blue arrow signal when the light turns yellow. I have organized how you should proceed in such situations.
You feel like stepping on the brakes for a yellow light, but...
According to Article 2 of the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Order, "Meaning of Signals, etc.",
you must not proceed past the stop line. However, if you are close to the stop line when the light turns yellow and cannot stop safely, you may proceed. (*This does not mean proceed with caution.)
Because this is the meaning, you normally want to step on the brakes. However, you might be momentarily confused if a blue arrow lights up at the same time.
Signal display method with yellow + arrow
Yellow + arrow signals are found at intersections with slightly complex traffic management. For example, in central Tokyo, it can be seen heading north at the intersection that serves as the starting point for National Route 15, the Dai-ichi Keihin, and Showa-dori, near JR Shimbashi Station.
This direction uses a slightly special time-difference signal called a "separate-phase system", where the signal turns green first while the opposing direction remains red.
When the signal is green, the signal for the opposing direction is red.
Here, the "yellow + left/straight arrow" appears.
It changes to "red + left/straight arrow". The opposing signal changes to green.
The signal turns red, but because the opposing signal is "delayed," it remains green. After that, the green light for the delayed side is extended, then changes to yellow and red.
The display is as follows.
A separate-phase system that provides independent displays for the northbound and southbound directions respectively.
1φ and 5φ correspond to the green light extensions for the northbound and southbound directions, respectively.
There are also intersections where the following displays can be seen.
This is a system called the "Osaka-style arrow time-difference signal," which becomes yellow + all-direction arrows.
A "yellow + arrow" signal is displayed as a state connecting two cycles when proceeding in the direction of that arrow is permitted both before and after this cycle.
Proceed as is in the direction indicated by the arrow signal
The blue arrow signal is defined in Article 2 of the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Order, "Meaning of Signals, etc." as follows:
Regardless of the yellow or red light signal, vehicles may proceed in the direction of the arrow.
Therefore, if the signal changes from blue or red + all-direction arrow to yellow + arrow, the correct action when proceeding in the direction of the arrow is to continue without braking.
*
Please take a look at this as well.