Yellow Light, Wet Junction, and a Following Car
You approach a signalised intersection at about 50 km/h in the right lane. The light turns yellow when you are roughly 25 m from the stop line. The road is wet. A car is following you closely, about 10 m behind. To your right, a pedestrian is waiting at the edge of the crossing but has not stepped off. Your car's stopping distance on this wet surface at 50 km/h is estimated at around 30 m including reaction time. The intersection is clear of cross traffic.
1. Can you stop safely before the line? What is the correct action and why?
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No - a safe stop is not achievable. Your total stopping distance (~30 m) exceeds the 25 m to the line, and the wet surface plus the close follower make a hard stop hazardous: the car behind at 10 m has even less room to react and stop.
Correct action: proceed through the intersection, since you cannot stop safely, the junction is clear, and no pedestrian has entered the crossing. Do not accelerate aggressively; maintain control and clear the junction. A yellow signal means stop if it is safe to do so; when stopping distance and following traffic make it unsafe, continuing is the lawful and safer choice. Do not swerve or brake abruptly.
2. If instead you had been 60 m from the line at the same speed, how would your decision change, and what would you do about the following car?
Read the worked answer
At 60 m you have roughly twice your stopping distance, so stopping is feasible and is the required action. Apply brakes progressively, not in one stab, so the follower has time to react; brake early and firmly enough to stop before the line, and check your mirror briefly to gauge the follower. If the follower is clearly unable to stop, you may need to release slightly and roll forward, but only if the crossing remains clear. The pedestrian at the edge reinforces stopping: a stopped vehicle at the line is the safest configuration when someone may step out.