What should you do if a traffic light turns yellow as you are approaching an intersection?

When a traffic light turns yellow as you approach an intersection, it signals that the light is about to change to red. The appropriate action is to prepare to stop if it is safe to do so. This means assessing your surroundings, checking the distance between your vehicle and the intersection, and determining if stopping can be accomplished safely without risking a rear-end collision.

Choosing to prepare to stop is important for maintaining safe driving practices, as a yellow light indicates that vehicles should be getting ready to halt their motion rather than accelerating to beat the light change. This helps ensure the safety of all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists who may be waiting to cross the intersection.

Other options, such as speeding up to cross the intersection before the light turns red or continuing at the same speed, can lead to dangerous situations and potential accidents, as it increases the likelihood of running a red light. Similarly, slowing down to turn right might not be the best course of action unless you are certain that it is safe to do so at that moment.