The stopping gap at an intersection depends on

• A. The weather
• B. The color of traffic lights
• C. The time of day
• D. The size of the intersection

Answer: (D)

The stopping gap is the space you need to stop safely before entering an intersection. This gap grows with the size of the intersection because a larger crossing creates more potential conflict with cross traffic and pedestrians, so you need more distance to stop in time and avoid being stuck in the intersection if the light changes or if another vehicle makes a turn. Weather, the color of lights, or the time of day can affect how quickly you can stop or react, but they don’t change the amount of space required—the physical size of the intersection does.