What should a driver do when approaching an intersection?

When approaching an intersection, decreasing speed is crucial for ensuring safety and effective decision-making. Slowing down allows a driver to carefully assess the traffic situation, observe any signs or signals, and make informed judgments about their next actions, such as whether to continue through the intersection, yield to pedestrians, or stop for other vehicles.

Reducing speed can also help prevent accidents, as intersections are common places for collisions due to the convergence of various vehicles and pedestrian traffic. By approaching the intersection at a reduced speed, the driver has more time to react to unexpected occurrences, such as other vehicles running a red light or a pedestrian stepping into the crosswalk.

Maintaining the current speed can lead to dangerous situations, especially if the driver encounters a stop sign or traffic signal changing. Similarly, attempting to increase speed or make a sudden stop could result in losing control of the vehicle or not being able to stop in time, creating a higher risk for accidents. Therefore, decreasing speed is the safest approach when nearing an intersection.