Understanding Ontario Traffic Signals: A Guide for Future Bus Drivers

When you're on the road, especially as a future bus driver in Ontario, understanding traffic signals is absolutely crucial. You know what they say: safety first! But have you ever wondered what you should do if those traffic lights go haywire? Picture this: you’re approaching an intersection, and the traffic lights are completely out of order. What’s the first thing you should do?

Here’s a little quiz to jog your memory: if the lights aren't functioning, should you:

• A. Proceed with caution
• B. Yield to vehicles on your left
• C. Yield to vehicles from your right
• D. Stop indefinitely

The right answer? It’s C: yield to vehicles from your right. When lights are down and nothing seems to be working, guess what? You treat that intersection like a four-way stop. So, why is yielding to your right the golden rule? Let’s break it down.

You see, in situations where traffic signals fail, safety takes priority. Vehicles approaching from your right have the right-of-way. Picture a busy intersection with cars coming from different directions—it can get chaotic in a flash! By yielding to vehicles on your right, you help to maintain order, avoiding potential collisions that could happen if everyone just blazes through, right?

Now, you might think that just proceeding with caution (option A) would be enough. But honestly, while caution is great, it doesn’t give you a strategy to follow. Without yielding, you risk finding yourself in an unfortunate accident. Could you imagine? All that trouble just because you weren’t sure of the rules!

Option B can confuse many new drivers. Yielding to vehicles on your left? That’s a no-go. In this case, they simply don’t have the right-of-way. And let's not even think about option D—stopping indefinitely. Sure, stopping is a fine instinct in many situations, but at this intersection, you only stop to yield momentarily, and then proceed with care.

As you prepare for your knowledge test, keeping these rules front and center can make all the difference. Remember, a non-functioning traffic light means it's time to treat it as if it were a stop sign, and always yield to your right! In addition to helping you ace that test, practicing these rules on the road could save lives.

And let’s not forget: the road can change in an instant. Understanding how to respond when traffic signals are out of commission will not only help you pass your exam but could prevent serious accidents down the line.

So, when you think about traffic lights, just keep this in the back of your mind: when they’re out—stay alert, be cautious, and always yield to the right. That knowledge will keep you and your future passengers safe. Happy studying, and drive safe!