What is the difference between the flashing red, and the flashing yellow traffic lights?

Flashing red means to treat it as a Stop Sign.

Flashing yellow is “proceed with caution”.

Flashing yellow = proceed with caution.
Flashing red = Stop, then proceed with caution.

Do you know what a flashing green light means?

Now this one I have only seen in eastern Canada, do you know what a rapidly flashing green light means?

Both have different meanings.

@SQUEEKY2 I have not seen that pattern in this area. I recall some place that had a flashing green which meant “advance green”: You have right of way. The lights in the opposite direction are still red.

Here is an excellent article about traffic lights and patterns around the world. Their patterns and meanings vary from country to country.

@LuckyGuy That is right about the rapidly flashing green light.

The just flashing green light at least here in western Canada means controlled by pedestrians.

Oh! Well! I will remember that @SQUEEKY2!

So, regarding the yellow flashing, if you don’t stop then how do you do the caution part? Don’t we all stop first anyway even if it’s green light?

I’ve seen flashing green when the system is out of order,

@flo You continue and watch for traffic that might cross your path.
I don’t stop for green lights because I have the right of way. If you cause an accident when you have the right of way, you can be held responsible for the accident.

One time all of the traffic lights on Main street went out. My God. People just lost their freaking minds. They didn’t know WHAT to do, except take the right of way. That was just great. 30 people demanding the right of way all at the same time.

Flashing yellow just means be extra aware @flo because that intersection is especially dangerous for some reason. It doesn’t mean to stop. And no. I do not stop at green lights unless I’m turning left. Do you stop at green lights?

By the way by “Don’t we all stop first anyway even if it’s green light?” I was thinking of pedestrians. I didn’t specify it in the OP but even there I was thinking of pedestrains, as in you don’t step into the street without stopping, looking all around anyway regardless what the color is, or whethere it’s flashing or not.

@kritiper I suppose you’re thinking of drivers, not pedestrians, by “I don’t stop for green lights because I have the right of way”, right?

@flo I thought we were talking about driving.
I don’t know about where you live, but where I am, pedestrians have “walk/don’t walk” signals, not green lights, or yellow lights, or red lights.
Being cautious as a pedestrian is something I do ALL the time, lights or no lights, walk signals or no.

I thought we were talking about driving too. Yes. We have different rules here as @kritiper.
Pedestrians do have the right of way, generally speaking, but that’s no excuse for not taking responsibility for their own safety. A whole bunch of people don’t seem to grasp that concept any more.

@kritiper Some intersections (maybe rare) have no peredstrians traffic lights (walk/don’t walk). They just have the flashing lights. I still don’t know the difference between flashing red and flashing yellow, if either way everyone is supposed to first make sure it’s safe to proceed.

Thanks for the helpful answers, esp. @LuckyGuy with the link.

A flashing red means you must come to a full stop, then proceed with care in case some idiot shows up in the intersection and you have to maneuver or stop to avoid an altercation. That is what “caution” means. WITH CARE!
A flashing yellow means you don’t have to come to a stop, but you must proceed WITH CARE (caution) as I mentioned in my prior paragraph in this post.

Consult your driver’s handbook.