A traffic light ahead of you is flashing yellow. What does the manual tell you to do?
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A.
Drive with caution; a stop is not required. Correct
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B.
Stop, yield the right-of-way, and go when it is safe.
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C.
Be prepared to stop, because the light is about to turn red.
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D.
Come to a full stop, because a flashing pattern means the light has failed.
The answer is "Drive with caution; a stop is not required."
The manual gives flashing yellow one instruction: drive with caution. The signal itself doesn't require a stop, but you must still slow down and be ready to stop if traffic or road conditions call for it. Choice B treats every flashing bulb as a stop cue and carries the flashing-red rule over to yellow because both patterns flash.
The traps in the wrong answers
B. Stop, yield the right-of-way, and go when it is safe.
That is the manual's entry for flashing red, which it says means the same as a stop sign. This answer groups every flashing color under one stop-and-yield habit, since both patterns flash and both sit at intersections.
C. Be prepared to stop, because the light is about to turn red.
That is the steady-yellow entry, which describes a light heading for red inside a normal cycle. This answer reads yellow as the timing cue and ignores the flashing pattern, so the steady-yellow instruction feels like the obvious pick.
D. Come to a full stop, because a flashing pattern means the light has failed.
A flashing light is working as designed; the manual treats an out-of-service or malfunctioning light as a separate case, and that is the one that sends you into stop-sign procedure. This answer assumes any behavior beyond the steady red-yellow-green sequence points to broken equipment, which is tempting if you rarely see flashing lights in daily driving.
This question tests your knowledge of Traffic Lights in New York. Source: New York State Driver's Manual, "Traffic Signals - Traffic Lights," p.31..
Related New York questions
- A traffic light is completely dark and out of service as you approach the intersection. What does state law require you to do? →
- You have stopped at an intersection where the traffic light is dark and out of service. Once stopped, how do you decide when to move? →
- A white stop line is painted across your lane at a red traffic light. Where must you bring your vehicle to a stop? →
- Aside from a light, sign, or officer requiring it, when else does the manual say you must stop at a stop line or crosswalk? →
- A white arrow is painted on the pavement in your lane at an approaching intersection. What does the arrow tell you? →
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