Right. I actually wonder how self-driving Semis will handle such a situation.
Given that it's all math at that point, I wouldn't doubt if regulations surrounding minimum yellow-light timing are updated to more accurately represent the stop time of heavy loads. Otherwise it should be easy to prove in court that stopping in time would be impossible given the speed limit & weight restrictions (or lack thereof) in place at a given intersection.
You shouldn't be driving a vehicle through a non-freeway (i.e. a road with stop lights) at a speed where you can't stop in time. In many jurisdictions that is considered reckless driving. If your vehicle is too heavy then you (or the software) needs to slow it down.
I sincerely hope there will be such a technocratic solution to this problem. Recall that there was a trend in the late '00s where cities shortened the yellow light time so they could reap greater fines from red light cameras. Having a definitive length of time that yellow lights 'should' be will be helpful.
Given that it's all math at that point, I wouldn't doubt if regulations surrounding minimum yellow-light timing are updated to more accurately represent the stop time of heavy loads. Otherwise it should be easy to prove in court that stopping in time would be impossible given the speed limit & weight restrictions (or lack thereof) in place at a given intersection.