Final answer:
A solid red stoplight means you must stop. This rule is for the safety and regulation of traffic. Exceptions exist for emergencies, but typically running a red light is illegal and dangerous.
Step-by-step explanation:
At a solid red stoplight, the correct action to take is to stop. In general, traffic signals are put into place to regulate the movement of vehicles and promote safety on the roads. When facing a solid red light, it is both the legal and safe requirement to bring your vehicle to a complete halt and remain stationary until the signal changes to green or until it is safe to proceed in the case of making a permitted turn on red where allowed.
In extraordinary circumstances, such as having a pregnant woman in the vehicle who is about to give birth, one might weigh the urgency of the situation against the law. Although the general rule is to always stop at a red light, in an emergency, carefully proceeding through the red light could be considered if doing so would result in significant utility by reaching medical assistance much faster. However, it must be stressed that this is an exception to the rule, and typically, running a red light can result in severe consequences including traffic violations and endangering public safety.