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## driving tip 

Sometimes traffic lights stop working properly. The lights can go out, or all four lights can start flashing. Treat the intersection like a four-way stop if this happens. 

## driving tip 

If you didn’t see the light turn green, then it may be stale. You should be prepared to stop. 

## driving tip 

It is illegal to back up into an intersection or over a crosswalk. 

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## Right-of-way at intersections 

Right-of-way rules determine who must yield when more than one road user wants to move into the same space. It’s important to know these rules because they keep traffic moving in an orderly way. But remember that you can’t always count on the other person to follow the rules. And even if you have the right- of-way, it’s still your responsibility to do all you can to avoid a crash. 

For information on right-of-way rules for crosswalks and railway crossings, see chapter 6, sharing the road . 

## Intersections controlled by traffic lights 

Most people know who has the right-of-way at intersections controlled by traffic lights, but they may not understand how to correctly respond to these lights. Here are some pointers that will help you stay safe at intersections: 

steady red light  — a red light means that you must come to a complete stop. You must wait for the light to turn green before you go straight ahead. 

After you have stopped and made sure the intersection is clear of all vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, you may turn right or turn left onto a one-way street. Watch for signs prohibiting you from making these turns on a red light. 

steady green light  — green means go only if the intersection is clear, and it is safe to do so. 

• stale green light — a stale green light is one that has been green for a long time, and is about to turn yellow. If you didn’t see the light turn green, then it may be stale. Look for additional clues: 

– are there a lot of cars lined up on the cross street waiting for the light to change? 

– in many areas, the crosswalk signal will change from a white figure to an orange hand just before the light turns yellow, or will show how many seconds are left before the traffic light will change. 

• point of no return — as you approach a stale green light — taking into consideration your speed, the road conditions and the traffic behind you — decide on a point where you will no longer be able to stop safely. This is sometimes called the point of no return. When you reach this point, keep on going even if the light changes to yellow. You need to judge accurately so you won’t be in the intersection when the light turns red. 

