Traffic light can be a pain if you are late for work, trapped in traffic, or unable to cross the road. They are intended to increase safety by controlling the flow of traffic, and they work better when everybody pursues the rules. Save yourself from the pain of a mishap by learning the basics of what to do when approaching a traffic light in a car or on foot, like stopping totally on red light & only crossing the street in a crosswalk.
Proceed through the green traffic LED lights:
Look for bicyclists and pedestrians prior to crossing. If turning with a green turn arrow, only turn when traffic has cleared. If there’s a turn arrow, wait for it to turn green prior to proceeding.
Stop on yellow light if required:
Determine if you can stop safely behind the white line. If you will risk a rear-end collision or would stop in the middle of the intersection, keep going. If you have enough space and time to stop safely, do so.
Stop totally on red lights:
Brake slowly & steadily. Stop far enough back that you can see the rear tires of the car in front of you. Stop fully even if it is legal to turn right on red. Do not try to run red lights; it is illegal and puts you at risk for accidents and traffic citations.
Stop behind the white stop line:
It is illegal to stop past the white line or in the pedestrian crossing. If you are not the first car at the intersection, leave space between your car and the car in front of you.
Turn right on red if it’s legal & safe:
In some states, it is legal to turn right on red. Look both ways for pedestrians and bicyclists before turning to ensure their safety. Look for signs posted that may say “No turn on red” or “After stop, right turn permitted on red” before proceeding.
Do not attempt to turn left on a red light unless you are turning onto a one-way street. Be sure to keep yourself and pedestrians safe by looking both ways before beginning to turn left onto a one-way street. In some places, it is illegal to turn left on a red light.
Modern-day traffic light manufacturers are now using their creativity to supply traffic light modules that are very effective in terms of productivity. So, a safe crossover can always be expected.