As you near an intersection, the traffic light changes from green to yellow. Your best action is to:
- Speed up to beat the red light.
- Apply the brakes sharply to stop.
- Be prepared to stop in the center of the intersection.
- Be prepared to stop before the intersection. ✓
Answer: D. Be prepared to stop before the intersection.
The best action is to be prepared to stop before the intersection.
Why this is the answer
The Florida handbook says a yellow light warns that the signal is changing to red, and you should stop when you can do that safely. It also says it is very risky to still be inside the intersection as the signal goes red. The green-light guidance adds that you should approach at a speed that lets you slow down if the signal changes. Together, these points mean you should be ready to stop before the intersection rather than enter it and get caught there.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Speed up to beat the red light. — Speeding up to beat the red light goes against the handbook's warning to stop when you safely can and its caution about still being inside the intersection after the signal goes red.
- B. Apply the brakes sharply to stop. — Braking sharply is not what the handbook calls for; it says to stop when you can do so safely, which points to a controlled stop rather than an abrupt one.
- C. Be prepared to stop in the center of the intersection. — Preparing to stop in the center of the intersection is wrong because the handbook warns about still being inside the intersection as the signal goes red.
Remember it
Yellow is a warning, not a go-ahead: get ready to stop safely before you enter the intersection.