What should you do when approaching a yellow traffic light?

A steady yellow light means the signal is about to turn red and you should prepare to stop. If you can stop safely before the intersection, you should. You should proceed through only if you are already so close that stopping would be unsafe (for example, requiring hard braking that could cause a rear-end collision). The yellow light is a warning to clear or stop for the intersection, not an invitation to accelerate and 'beat the red,' which is dangerous and often illegal. Approaching intersections at a controlled speed and being ready to stop on yellow is safe intersection practice.