The trap
Many learners think: A yellow warning light means the same as a red one: stop immediately and switch off the engine.
The rule is: /216 - only red means: serious malfunction, stop immediately and switch off the engine. Yellow does not require stopping immediately; you may continue, e.g. to the dealer, as long as not longer than strictly necessary
Challenge
Most learners say: 'a light is a light, just pay attention.' The CBR exam designer counts on exactly that. The book has no undifferentiated 'light is on' rule — it has a two-way split (function versus warning) and, within warning, two completely different actions per colour. Ignoring the colour means missing half the question.
Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Dashboard warning lights: red, yellow and green
The model
Two categories (Book p.212): functioneringslampjes (green, yellow, or blue — a function is switched on, no problem) and waarschuwingslampjes (yellow or red — never blue). Within warning, everything hinges on the colour: yellow = no need to stop immediately; red = yes.
Read this section on its own page: The model: Dashboard warning lights: red, yellow and green
Core
Functioneringslampjes (Book p.212) are green, yellow, or blue and only report that a function is switched on — the parking light and indicators are the book's green examples. They require no action. Waarschuwingslampjes are only yellow or red. With yellow (Book p.216) you do not need to stop immediately; you may keep driving, e.g. to the dealer, but not longer than strictly necessary. Engine fault, ABS, and ESP are the book's named yellow examples. With red (Book p.214) there is a serious malfunction: stop in a safe place and switch off the engine to prevent further damage and danger. Parking brake and a faulty braking system are the book's red examples. Blue never belongs to waarschuwingslampjes, even though the colour feels alarming from outside the car (emergency-vehicle lights).
Read this section on its own page: Core: Dashboard warning lights: red, yellow and green
Why it matters
Reacting incorrectly works in both directions. At a garage in Venray, learners sometimes ignore a yellow light for weeks because 'it didn't need to be immediate' — but the problem stays, and 'not immediately' is not 'never'. Conversely, on an evening drive towards Oss, some keep driving with a red light on because 'it's just a light' — while red specifically risks engine damage and endangers safety. The colour is the instruction, not the mood.
Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Dashboard warning lights: red, yellow and green
Test yourself
Early in the morning you drive across the Veluwe near Ermelo to work. Halfway, a light suddenly comes on the dashboard. You cannot immediately tell if it is red, yellow, or blue — the sun is still low and reflects on the glass. Does the colour actually matter for what you do next?
Show the answer
Two categories (Book p.212): functioneringslampjes (green, yellow, or blue — a function is switched on, no problem) and waarschuwingslampjes (yellow or red — never blue). Within warning, everything hinges on the colour: yellow = no need to stop immediately; red = yes.
Frequently asked questions
‘A yellow warning light means the same as a red one: stop immediately and switch off the engine’ – is that true?
No. /216 - only red means: serious malfunction, stop immediately and switch off the engine. Yellow does not require stopping immediately; you may continue, e.g. to the dealer, as long as not longer than strictly necessary
‘A blue dashboard light is a warning light, just like red and yellow’ – is that true?
No. Functioneringslampjes are green, yellow, or blue and only show which function is switched on; waarschuwingslampjes are red or yellow only. Blue never signals a malfunction
‘Because yellow does not require stopping immediately, you may ignore the light indefinitely’ – is that true?
No. The text explicitly states: do not keep driving longer than strictly necessary. 'Not immediately' is not 'never'; the problem still needs fixing soon
‘If a red warning lamp comes on, you can simply drive on: it is only a small lamp’ – is that true?
No. A red warning light always means a serious malfunction (Book p.214); size or feeling does not matter.
‘With a red warning lamp you may drive on to the next garage, even if it is still 20 km away’ – is that true?
No. Red has no 'keep driving a bit longer' margin like yellow does; stop immediately in a safe place