Fewer than half of drivers know the traffic light sequence, according to a poll yesterday.

Asked to name the signal that appears after the amber light shows, only 48 per cent of drivers correctly said red, the survey by car retail company Autoquake.com revealed.

As many as 39 per cent reckoned an amber light meant the signal was about to change to green.

And seven per cent expected green and amber next, while six per cent thought red and amber would appear.

Drivers in the East Midlands were the most knowledgeable about the correct sequence, with 64% correctly choosing red as the next light after amber.

Welsh drivers were the most "colour blind", with only 40 per cent correct about what appears after amber.

"We're surprised that so few drivers remember the traffic light sequence correctly," said Autoquake.com's chief executive Dermot Halpin.

He went on: "It's amazing that so many drivers think an amber signal is about to change to green. Drivers should remember that an amber light means stop unless it is unsafe to do so.

"As pedestrians we're worried that so many drivers expect to see a green and amber signal since this doesn't exist."