Final answer:
You can lose the right of way when entering an intersection by not obeying traffic signals, speeding, or not yielding to pedestrians. Traffic signals are crucial for vehicle and pedestrian safety, and disregarding them can lead to serious accidents.
Step-by-step explanation:
You can lose the right of way when entering an intersection if you do not adhere to the traffic signals or posted speed limits. For example, if you speed through an intersection, you are not only breaking the law but also increasing the risk of an accident. Traffic signals are put in place to manage the flow of vehicles and to ensure pedestrian safety. Disregarding them can lead to serious consequences such as traffic accidents, some of which may result in fatalities.
When pedestrians are present, especially students coming to or leaving campus, they have the right to cross the street safely. A traffic signal allows pedestrians to cross at appropriate times, ensuring their safety by providing clear signals to drivers when to stop or yield. Failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk can also cause you to lose the right of way.
Lastly, an unexpected emergency, like a pregnant woman about to give birth in the backseat of a vehicle, may prompt drivers to consider running a red light if the road is clear and no other option seems viable. However, this is an exception and typically against traffic laws. Ordinarily, following traffic signals will always be the safest and legally correct option to maintain the right of way.