What is the correct reaction to a red light at an intersection?

The appropriate reaction to a red light at an intersection is to come to a complete stop and wait for the light to turn green. This is a critical traffic rule designed to ensure safety at intersections, where the risk of accidents is higher due to multiple vehicles and pedestrians potentially occupying the same space.

When you see a red light, it indicates that your direction of travel is prohibited from proceeding. Stopping completely allows you to assess the situation at the intersection, ensuring that no vehicles are running the red light from cross streets, and giving pedestrians the chance to cross safely. This practice helps maintain order in traffic flow and minimizes the risk of collisions.

While options like speeding up or proceeding with caution may seem tempting in certain situations, they can lead to dangerous outcomes, particularly if others are not following the rules or if there are unseen hazards. Making a right turn without stopping might be permissible in some locales when there’s a stop sign and if the path is clear, but it still requires careful consideration of traffic laws specific to that area. Prioritizing a complete stop at a red light is fundamental to promoting road safety and complying with traffic laws.