Practice question

How should you respond if traffic signals are not functioning?

  1. Treat the intersection as a four-way stop.
  2. Proceed through the intersection without stopping.
  3. Honk your horn to signal your presence.
  4. Follow the last signal given if it was green.

Answer: A — Treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

When traffic signals are not functioning, the correct response is to treat the intersection as a four-way stop. This approach is established to ensure safety and maintain order when standard traffic signals are inoperative. By treating it as a four-way stop, all vehicles and pedestrians are given equal opportunity to navigate through the intersection based on the rules of right-of-way, helping to prevent accidents and confusion. In a situation where traffic signals fail, proceeding through the intersection without stopping could lead to collisions, especially if other drivers do not stop as well. Honking your horn to signal your presence is not a standard or safe practice for navigating an intersection without functioning signals; it may confuse others and does not replace the need for careful observation and judgment. Lastly, following the last signal given, particularly if it was green, can be dangerous. Other drivers may not be adhering to this logic, creating risk in the intersection. Hence, the safest and most responsible action is to treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

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