A steady yellow light means
- stop unless it is unsafe to do so ✓
- slow down and proceed with caution
- stop and proceed when safe
- you may proceed if the intersection is clear
Answer: A. stop unless it is unsafe to do so
A steady yellow light means stop unless it is unsafe to do so: slow down and stop before the intersection if you can do it safely.
Why this is the answer
The handbook lists steady yellow as slowing down and stopping before the intersection unless you cannot safely stop in time. That makes the correct choice the one about stopping unless it is unsafe to do so. The signal is a warning to prepare to stop, not a go-ahead. If you can stop safely, the handbook expects you to stop before entering the intersection; only when stopping cannot be done safely do you continue.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. slow down and proceed with caution — The handbook assigns slowing down and proceeding with caution to a flashing yellow light, not a steady yellow light.
- C. stop and proceed when safe — Stopping and then proceeding when safe describes a flashing red light, not a steady yellow light.
- D. you may proceed if the intersection is clear — Proceeding when the intersection is clear describes a steady green light, not a steady yellow light.
Remember it
Link solid yellow to the same stop-first mindset as red, with safety as the exception.