You are approaching an intersection when the traffic light changes from green to solid yellow. You should:
- Consider it the same as a caution sign and continue through the intersection.
- Stop immediately.
- Stop before entering the intersection, unless you are too close to stop safely. ✓
- Speed up to get through the intersection before the red light appears.
Answer: C. Stop before entering the intersection, unless you are too close to stop safely.
You should stop before entering the intersection if you can do so safely; if you are too close to stop safely, continue through carefully.
Why this is the answer
The Texas handbook describes a steady yellow light as a warning that the signal is about to turn red. It says you must stop before you enter the nearest crosswalk at that intersection when you can do that safely. If a safe stop is not possible, the handbook allows you to go cautiously through the intersection before the light turns red. That makes the safe-stop decision the correct response, rather than simply continuing or rushing.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Consider it the same as a caution sign and continue through the intersection. — A steady yellow light is a warning, but the handbook does not say to treat it as a caution sign and keep going; it says to stop before entering the crosswalk when a safe stop is possible.
- B. Stop immediately. — Stopping immediately is not required when you are too close to stop safely; the handbook allows you to proceed cautiously in that case.
- D. Speed up to get through the intersection before the red light appears. — Speeding up is not what the handbook says to do; you should stop safely if you can, and only proceed cautiously if you cannot stop.
Remember it
Treat yellow as a decision point: stop if it is safe, otherwise keep moving with care.