What are the rules regarding right of way when the traffic light at a construction site is flashing yellow and pedestrians are waiting?

Summer in Zug, the sun is shining, ice cream is melting and… the roads are torn up again. Welcome to the roadworks season! Anyone who has recently driven along General-Guisan-Strasse, for example, will be familiar with the scene: roadworks barriers, a yellow flashing light at the traffic lights and, in the middle of it all, a pedestrian waiting at the zebra crossing. But who actually has right of way?
At first glance, everything seems clear: the traffic light is flashing yellow: that means ‘proceed with caution’. No red, no green, just a yellow ‘you may proceed, but think carefully!’. But this is exactly where the misunderstanding begins.

 

Flashing does not simply mean drive on…
Anyone who drives through the aforementioned construction site every day, and many do, has probably noticed how vehicles continue driving without hesitation, even though pedestrians are standing at the crosswalk ready to cross. True to the motto: ‘The traffic light said I can go!’ But wait it’s not that simple.
There is a reason why the traffic light is not green, but flashing yellow. The flashing light signals to motorists that this is a construction site area where increased caution is required. This applies to construction workers and their vehicles. Or, as in the case of General-Guisan-Strasse, especially to pedestrians who have the right of way.

A particularly tricky case
The situation on General-Guisan-Strasse is particularly tricky, as the pedestrian crossing is located directly after the construction site traffic lights. In the mornings and at lunchtime, schoolchildren, commuters and parents with prams bustle about here. They stand there visible, waiting, sometimes even waving. And what do the cars do? They drive on far too often, unfortunately.
But the rule is clear: if the traffic light is yellow and someone is standing at the pedestrian crossing, you must stop. And no, this is not a voluntary gesture of kindness. It is the law. Anyone who drives on risks not only a guilty conscience, but also a fine. And in the worst case an accident.

A wave with impact
So what should you do? It’s simple: brake, wave friendly, make eye contact and clearly signal to the pedestrian: ‘You may go.’ It doesn’t take a heroic gesture, just a little attention and respect. Because anyone who has ever been in the role of the waiting pedestrian knows how unpleasant it is to be ignored despite having right of way.

Conclusion: through the construction site together
Yes, construction sites are annoying. Yes, they slow down traffic. And yes, we are all looking forward to the day when everything is open to traffic again. But until then, keep your eyes open, take your foot off the gas and be considerate. Because that’s the only way we’ll get through the summer in the beautiful canton of Zug safely and with a little smile on our faces.

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