At a red light, when is it permissible to proceed?

At a red light, when is it permissible to proceed?

• A. Only when the light turns green and the intersection is clear.
• B. As soon as the light turns green, regardless of the intersection.
• C. As soon as you see no cross-traffic.
• D. Only after waiting 5 seconds post-green.

Answer: (D)

Green means you may go, but you still have to verify the intersection is clear before you enter. The best approach here is to pause briefly after the light turns green—about five seconds—before moving. That short delay gives you time to notice any vehicles that haven’t stopped, drivers who might not yield, or pedestrians finishing their crossing, so you can proceed only when the intersection is truly safe. Going the instant green can put you into conflict with cross-traffic or pedestrians, while waiting only because you don’t see any cross-traffic isn’t always reliable due to visibility limits and other drivers’ actions. The five-second buffer gives you a practical safety check before proceeding.

Green means you may go, but you still have to verify the intersection is clear before you enter. The best approach here is to pause briefly after the light turns green—about five seconds—before moving. That short delay gives you time to notice any vehicles that haven’t stopped, drivers who might not yield, or pedestrians finishing their crossing, so you can proceed only when the intersection is truly safe. Going the instant green can put you into conflict with cross-traffic or pedestrians, while waiting only because you don’t see any cross-traffic isn’t always reliable due to visibility limits and other drivers’ actions. The five-second buffer gives you a practical safety check before proceeding.