Stop. Yield. Obey: Why Traffic Rules Still Matter at Every Intersection
- Karen Scheepers
- May 28
- 4 min read
Some rules are so simple, they should be second nature, like stopping at a stop sign, obeying a red light, or yielding at a traffic circle. Yet on any given day, you'll see drivers rolling through stop streets, racing the amber light, or barging into roundabouts as if they're the only ones on the road.
These might seem like minor lapses in judgment, but they come with serious consequences. Intersections are where most traffic conflicts occur. A missed stop or skipped red light doesn’t just break the rules, it breaks the flow of safety that keeps everyone on the road in one piece.
Let’s take a closer look at why intersection rules matter, and what happens when we ignore them.
The Stop Sign Standoff
Stop signs are among the most widely ignored road signs. Instead of stopping fully, many drivers slow down just enough to check if the coast is clear and then cruise on through. It’s a habit born from convenience, but it’s also one of the most common traffic violations, and for good reason.
A stop sign isn't a suggestion. It’s a signal that every driver must come to a complete stop, even if there seems to be no other traffic. The logic is simple: visibility can be limited, pedestrians may be crossing, and other vehicles might appear suddenly. By stopping properly, you give yourself the chance to look, listen, and proceed safely.
Failure to stop at these signs is one of the leading causes of side-impact collisions at four-way intersections. These crashes are often severe, especially when they involve a smaller vehicle or a vulnerable road user like a cyclist or pedestrian.
The Red Light Gambit
Everyone’s been tempted: the light turns amber, and instead of slowing down, the instinct is to speed up and beat the red. The problem? So many others are doing the same.
Running red lights is more than just illegal, it's dangerous. Intersections governed by traffic signals are high-risk zones, especially when timing is ignored. One driver pushing through the red while another begins to accelerate on green is a recipe for disaster, often resulting in T-bone collisions that can be deadly.
While some justify red-light running as “safe if careful,” the reality is that this kind of behavior contributes significantly to urban crashes. And even if you're lucky enough to avoid a collision, traffic cameras or police officers may still catch the violation and the resulting fine can hit hard.
The best practice? Treat amber as a warning, not an invitation. If you can safely stop, do so. Arriving a few minutes later is always better than not arriving at all.
The Roundabout Confusion
Roundabouts (or traffic circles) are designed to improve traffic flow and reduce collisions, but only when drivers understand how they work.
The key rule is straightforward: yield to traffic coming from the right and already in the circle. Sounds simple enough, yet confusion or impatience leads many to either stop unnecessarily in the circle (disrupting flow) or charge in without yielding (causing near misses and accidents).
In some areas, mini-circles have replaced stop streets in residential zones. These still follow the same rule: yield to the right, and if you’re not sure who arrived first, err on the side of caution.
Poor circle etiquette often turns these intersections into chaos. Drivers who don’t yield force others to brake suddenly or swerve and it only takes one moment of misjudgment to cause a crash.
Why It All Adds Up
While each of these behaviors, rolling stops, skipping reds, misusing circles, may seem small on their own, they add up to a major safety problem. Human error is behind the vast majority of road crashes, and many of these errors happen at intersections where clear rules are being ignored.
Crashes at these spots tend to be more serious than rear-end bumps or parking scrapes. They happen at speed, from awkward angles, and often involve side impacts that vehicles aren’t well protected against. Pedestrians and cyclists are especially at risk.
Beyond the safety concerns, there’s also the cost. Fines for running red lights or stop signs are steep, often in the hundreds or even thousands. If you rack up multiple offences, you may also face licence points or other penalties depending on how traffic enforcement is handled.
Responsible Driving Isn’t Optional
Obeying the rules of the road isn’t about ticking boxes or avoiding fines. It’s about respecting the shared space we all use daily. When each person does their part, stopping fully, yielding correctly, and approaching intersections with care, the entire system works better.
Intersection rules aren’t just old-fashioned regulations from a driving manual. They’re there because people got hurt and because if we ignore them, more people will.
So next time you approach a stop sign, don’t just slow down, stop. When the light goes amber, think twice before rushing. And at the circle, yield like you mean it.
To view how many accidents occur in Potch, click on the following Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/527550188069893
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