What should a driver do if they encounter a traffic signal that is not functioning?

When encountering a traffic signal that is not functioning, a driver should treat it as a stop sign. This approach is essential for ensuring safety at intersections where the usual rules of traffic control are disrupted. By treating the broken signal as a stop sign, the driver must come to a complete stop, check for oncoming traffic from all directions, and yield to other vehicles and pedestrians that may have the right of way. This action helps to minimize the risk of accidents and promotes safe merging of traffic from all approaches.

In cases where drivers proceed without stopping, they may endanger themselves and others, as there is no traffic control to guide their actions. Similarly, driving cautiously and yielding to the right does not adequately address the need for a complete stop and could cause confusion among drivers approaching the intersection. Calling the police is appropriate in some situations, but it does not resolve the immediate need for safe navigation through the intersection. Therefore, treating the non-functioning traffic signal as a stop sign is the most responsible and safest course of action.