How should you approach a red traffic signal when responding with lights and siren?

• A. Stop if required by policy and proceed only when the way is clear and safe.
• B. Proceed through immediately.
• C. Ignore the signal.
• D. Reroute to avoid the intersection.

Answer: (A)

Even when responding with lights and siren, you must treat red signals as you would a written stop control. Stop if your policy requires it, then enter the intersection only when the way is clear and it’s safe. This approach keeps you and others out of harm’s way by giving you a moment to check for cross traffic, pedestrians, and any other road users who may not see you coming. Once you’ve confirmed the intersection is safe, you may proceed through with due regard and proceed through in a controlled, cautious manner.

This is the best choice because it prioritizes safety and lawful driving behavior while still allowing a rapid response when it’s safe to do so. The other options fail to address safety and legal requirements: going through immediately can cause a collision, ignoring the signal is illegal and dangerous, and rerouting to avoid the intersection doesn’t replace the need to safely navigate an intersection you must cross.