A yield sign indicates that a driver must do what when approaching an intersection?

A yield sign is used to communicate to drivers that they need to slow down and be prepared to give way to any oncoming or cross traffic at an intersection. This means that when approaching a yield sign, a driver must assess the situation and be prepared to stop if necessary. If there are no vehicles or pedestrians in the intersection, the driver can proceed without stopping. However, the fundamental purpose of the yield sign is to indicate that the driver should be ready to stop if conditions require it, ensuring safe interactions with other road users.

The other options suggest actions that either disregard the requirement to yield or misinterpret the signaling nature of the sign. For instance, simply speeding up to clear the intersection does not allow for the necessary caution and does not comply with the yield sign's intent, which is centered around yielding the right-of-way. Proceeding without stopping can only be done if traffic conditions permit, but this does not capture the essence of always being prepared to stop. The option regarding stopping only at a red signal directly misrepresents the function of yield signs, which are not associated with traffic lights but with managing safe passage at intersections.