How to drive through Intersections

You just step on it, right?

Green for go and red for stop......is it more than that?

There are rules for intersections with stop signs; who goes first etc.  This is not that. By using some knowledge and restraint, you can make intersections safer for other drivers and pedestrians, as well as keeping you out of trouble.

Awareness is important as intersections are some of the most dangerous parts of any road.  First, because traffic is crossing and two objects - whether a person or another car, cannot occupy the same space at the same time.

As you approach the intersection, even if the light is green, you cannot assume that the intersection will be clear by the time you get to it.  Normally, the speed limit for the road is the same for the intersection, but my suggestion is to consider the surroundings.  If it is flat and you can easily see through the intersection and the side roads, driving at the SPEED LIMIT is usually safe.  However, if there are buildings and trees which could hinder your sight, the proper action is to look in your rear mirror and if it is safe to slow down.

One of the things I was taught in Driver's Ed was to consider the condition of my light when approaching an intersection.  If the light had been green for a while, I should consider it a "stale" green and expect it to change.  If I had been traveling OVER the speed limit, I should anticipate it changing and slow down.  

The Yellow light time is set up to allow cars to reasonably stop if going the speed limit.  If you are going over the speed limit and the light turns yellow, if you are in the area called the decision zone, you will not have time to stop.  If lucky, you will get through the intersection while still yellow.  If not you may end up running the red light.  Now imagine there is a impatient driver waiting for the light to turn green.  He takes the green to be like a dragstrip light and takes off without looking and now you have the ingredients for a crash.

One trick on some intersections is to watch the pedestrian crossing light.  Before the light turns yellow, the light will turn from white to red and either flash or count down.  This piece of information will help you prepare for the changing of the light.  However, remember that the two actions you should take are to slow down or hold your speed.  The one things you do not want to do is to speed up going through and intersection.  Here is why.

Pilots say when flying, you can never have too much altitude or too much fuel (the latter unless you are crashing).  The idea is that altitude gives you time and fuel gives you the ability.  In driving, the corollary is less speed and space.  Less speed gives you more time to react and space, more options to maneuver.  By slowing down, even slightly, you give yourself more time to react to a pedestrian darting out in traffic or a car blowing through a red light.  

So the first thing to be safer when driving through intersections is to watch your speed and be aware of the surrounding traffic.  

To be continued...