Final answer:
State law requires drivers to treat inoperative traffic lights as a stop sign, stopping completely and then proceeding with caution. A traffic signal at an intersection would regulate speeding, enhance pedestrian safety, and reduce accidents, sometimes fatal.
Step-by-step explanation:
When traffic lights are out of service or malfunctioning as one approaches an intersection, state law dictates that drivers must stop as if at a stop sign. Upon stopping, drivers should proceed with caution, yielding to other vehicles that arrived first or to those on the intersecting road if they arrived simultaneously. Three key reasons justify the installation of a traffic signal at problematic intersections: to control vehicle speeding, enhance pedestrian safety, and reduce the number of traffic accidents.
Speeding through intersections poses risks, but a traffic signal enforces speed regulation. Pedestrian safety is of utmost concern, especially in areas frequented by students, where currently, they must dodge traffic to navigate intersections. Lastly, the installation of a traffic signal is underscored by increased accidents, sometimes with fatal consequences, indicating an urgent need for better traffic control.