When approaching a red traffic light, what should you do?

When approaching a red traffic light, preparing to stop is crucial for ensuring both your safety and the safety of others on the road. A red light signals that vehicles must stop and remain stationary until the light changes to green. This rule helps in managing traffic flow and prevents accidents at intersections, where a failure to stop could result in collisions with cross-traffic, pedestrians, or cyclists.

Speeding up to beat the light not only disregards traffic laws but also increases the risk of accidents. Looking for pedestrians only, while important, is insufficient because it neglects the overall responsibility of obeying traffic signals. Making a right turn without stopping can be permissible under certain circumstances, but only if it is safe and legal to do so; however, approaching a red light mandates that the driver come to a full stop first. Thus, preparing to stop is the appropriate action to take when confronted with a red traffic signal.