Driving guide

Intersection Safety: Where Most Crashes Happen

Intersections produce a disproportionate share of crashes per mile because they are where vehicles cross paths in conflicting directions. The fix is a set of intersection-specific habits that take seconds to perform.

Cover the brake

Approaching any intersection, lift your foot off the gas and hover over the brake pedal. The reaction time saved by this small habit can be the difference between a near miss and a collision. Never coast through with your foot on the gas.

Look both ways on green

A green light means you have right of way, not that the intersection is clear. Quickly scan left and right before entering on a green; red-light runners cause some of the worst intersection crashes. The two seconds it costs you is far cheaper than a side-impact collision.

Yellow is for stopping

A yellow light means stop if you can do so safely. Do not try to beat a yellow. If you are too close to stop, continue through; otherwise, slow and stop.

Left turns from a dedicated lane

When making a left turn from a dedicated turn lane, wait until oncoming traffic clears or until your protected arrow appears. Oncoming drivers who are running a yellow are the cause of most left-turn crashes; never assume an approaching car will stop.