A flashing yellow traffic signal at an intersection means:
- You should treat the signal like a stop sign.
- Stop. Yield to all cross traffic before crossing in the intersection.
- Slow down and be alert at the upcoming intersection. ✓
Answer: C. Slow down and be alert at the upcoming intersection.
A flashing yellow traffic signal means you slow down and stay alert as you approach the intersection.
Why this is the answer
The handbook describes a flashing yellow light as a warning to proceed with caution, telling drivers to slow down and be alert. It also says plainly that you do not need to stop. That is different from a solid yellow light, where you stop if you can do so safely. So the flashing yellow is a warning to watch carefully, not a command to halt.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. You should treat the signal like a stop sign. — A flashing yellow light is not a stop sign; the handbook says it is a warning to proceed with caution and that you do not need to stop.
- B. Stop. Yield to all cross traffic before crossing in the intersection. — Stopping and yielding to all cross traffic describes what you do when a traffic light is not working and the intersection acts like all-way stop signs, not a flashing yellow signal.
Remember it
Flashing yellow is a warning, not a command: ease off the gas and keep your eyes moving.