Don't Block the Box: Stopping at an Intersection

 

It's construction season, and tempers can flare high when it takes longer to get where you need to go. We've reinforced that it's important to respect work zone employees (always give the green and orange some space!), slow down when there's a lot of work going on around you, and to refrain from distractions inside your vehicle.

Here's a phrase that might not be as familiar, even though every driver has almost certainly been affected by it: Don't Block the Box.

This is talking about when you have a green light but traffic is moving slower than molasses. It's our instinct to keep close behind the car in front of you, but in an intersection that could spell trouble if the lights start to change. If you don't have clearance to make it through an intersection, remember:

Don't block the box. Stay behind the intersection until you have clearance to make it through. 

Here's a video that goes over this in more detail. 

This is something to always keep in mind, but it can become more common when construction limits traffic down to one lane. Ignoring this rule impedes traffic moving the other way, and could spell real trouble if emergency vehicles need to make it through.