Study: Over Half of Estonian Drivers Ignore Traffic Lights – 58% Skip Yellow, 9% Run Red
A late 2025 study by the Estonian Transport Administration reveals that most drivers fail to obey traffic signals, with one in ten driving through red lights and widespread disregard for yellow lights. Compliance varies greatly by location.
The Estonian Transport Administration conducted observations at 13 locations across the country in late 2025, including intersections and regulated pedestrian crossings. The results show that, on average, 58% of drivers ignored yellow lights when they could have stopped safely, while 9% continued driving through red lights.
The highest violation rates were recorded in Pärnu, where at two intersections 38% of drivers ran red lights. In contrast, three of the observed intersections had no violations at all, and two others saw only a single infraction.
In Tallinn, disregard for yellow lights is more common than elsewhere, and last year the situation was the worst since the study began using its current methodology. However, on highways and outside the capital, compliance with yellow lights has improved compared to previous years.
The study also monitored pedestrian behavior at traffic lights, driver behavior at uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, and at railway crossings. According to Estonian traffic rules, a yellow light prohibits continuing unless stopping could cause a collision, and a red light always requires a full stop.
