The delay between amber and red is supposed to be set up in such a way that you will either:
[ul][li]be able to stop safely before crossing the line (and without braking unduly hard)[/li][li]Be sufficiently close to the line that you will pass through the junction before the signal turns to red[/li][/ul](assuming, of course, that you are not exceeding the posted speed limit).
There should be no need to increase speed (although I think almost everybody does); you’ll either see the signal go amber from a distance sufficient to stop, or you’ll pass through on amber, that is all.