* An “Amber Gambler” refers to a driver who recklessly accelerates to beat a yellow/amber traffic light instead of slowing down, stopping safely, and not taking a risky chance that may cause an accident.
The Amber the Traffic Light: I have a problem, Car Driver. I think you misinterpret what I stand for. It seems you ignore me when all I’m trying to do is help you.
The Gambler: Ignore you, Amber? How?
Amber the Traffic Light: Isn’t it obvious? When I shine orange, I’m inviting you to slow down…to prepare to stop. That’s my job, and I’m not sure you understand this. It’s as if you’re wrongly wired so that you can’t see me.
The Gambler: Honestly, Amber, I see you, I really do, but you are just so liminal—neither stop nor go, and your irrelevance always creates a brief moment of ambiguity in my mind. You know how humans dislike ambiguity, right?
Amber the Traffic Light: Ouch! That hurt, and no, I didn’t know that humans have a problem with ambiguity. Tell me more.
The Gambler: When we’re faced with ambiguity, our instinct is to resolve it quickly. We don’t hang about us humans.
Amber the Traffic Light: Oh! So that’s why you accelerate when I shine. How interesting that my shining orange light pushes you toward rapid decisions.
The Gambler: You could say that. I don’t want to make excuses, but your orange light makes drivers feel a little unsafe, so we act hastily to escape the feeling. This desire to escape happens a lot in our busy lives. Last week, I rushed to buy some stuff in an online countdown sale. I couldn’t live with the discomfort so had to make a decision in haste.
Amber the Traffic Light: Wow! I didn’t realize humans were so complicated. But then again, I’m just a traffic light.
The Gambler: If I’m honest, Amber, drivers would be happier if you and your friend Red didn’t exist. You’re a real pain to tell you the truth, an enormous inconvenience. Think about it. Slowing down and stopping punishes me and other drivers with relentless delays. You may think we’re reckless and irrational when we jump the lights, but the light system is to blame for our ‘misbehavior.’ As far as I’m concerned, your glowing light triggers me to go, go, go, to save time before Red shines.
Amber the Traffic Light: Oh, right, I get it…By speeding up and jumping the lights, you are rewarded with more time. I suppose time matters in your world: it sounds like a rare and precious thing, but what about the rules?
The Gambler: The rules?
Amber the Traffic Light: Yes, Driver, the rule that says slow down and get ready to stop as soon as the light turns yellow or orange, or whatever gamboge color combination you have in mind.
The Gambler: Ha-ha! But you’re forgetting the ‘proceed if necessary’ rule. You know the one that says if you’re already in the intersection or too close to stop safely, you should continue.
Amber the Traffic Light: Seriously, Gambler, my electrical circuit is about to blow. You appear to have overlooked the ‘no accelerating rule’ of never speeding up to beat the red light.
The Gambler: Amber, it’s a risk I’m happy to take, especially if I can get away with it and beat the system. If I get it just right, the payoff of having more time, and the instant dopamine fix make it worth it.
Amber the Traffic Light: The system? I don’t follow…What do you mean by the system?
The Gambler: I don’t expect you to understand, Amber, but I don’t want to be controlled by a lifeless object like you. I want the power over my own destiny, and I don’t need a light telling me what to do.
Amber the Traffic Light: I don’t appreciate your condescension and overconfidence, Driver. Listening to you, it’s clear you are conditioned to believe that acceleration is good, hesitation is wasteful, and stopping is a failure, which is clearly foolish thinking that will cost you dearly one day.
The Gambler: Not yet it hasn’t!
Amber the Traffic Light: Go ahead, be my guest and follow your cultural script, but mark my words, Driver, you will eventually collide with another version of yourself sooner or later. I see your sort every day. Your entire society is a speed-worshipping machine, and all this rushing about can only lead to burnout and more stress.
The Gambler: Why should you care, Amber, especially if the gamble is always with me? Amber the Traffic Light: Driver, you shouldn’t need an orange traffic light to tell you that it’s not just about you. What about pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers? You must know that short gain thinking with its perceived incentives can only lead to risky driving behavior. Go ahead and roll the dice, see if I care.