What should you do to ensure safety when approaching an intersection?

When approaching an intersection, prioritizing safety is crucial. The correct practice is to look left, then right, and then left again. This method ensures that you have a comprehensive view of the traffic coming from all directions before making any decisions, as vehicles can come from either side.

The first glance to the left allows you to check oncoming traffic that may be moving toward the intersection. The subsequent look to the right helps you assess if any vehicles might be crossing, especially if you are at a stop sign or are yielding. Finally, looking left again enables you to confirm that it's still safe to proceed. This three-step scanning process is essential to avoid collisions and ensures you have up-to-date information about your surroundings before entering the intersection.

Other options may confuse or distract from this fundamental safety behavior. For instance, accelerating to beat other drivers can cause reckless behavior, increasing the risk of accidents. Waiting for traffic to clear before proceeding may lead to unnecessary delays and isn’t always practical or safe in busy intersections. Yielding to the vehicle on your right could also be misleading, as it does not always apply if traffic signals or other road signs dictate otherwise. Thus, looking in all directions as recommended is the safest and most effective strategy.