What is the primary purpose of traffic signals?

The primary purpose of traffic signals is to regulate vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow at intersections. This function is crucial for ensuring safety and efficiency on the road. Traffic signals help to manage the interactions between different types of road users—such as vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians—by controlling when they can proceed or must stop. By doing so, traffic signals reduce the likelihood of accidents and improve the overall flow of traffic, creating a more organized and predictable environment on the roadways.

While enhancing aesthetics or providing information on weather conditions can be beneficial in certain contexts, they are secondary roles and not the fundamental reason for the existence of traffic signals. Directing emergency vehicle traffic is also important; however, this is often a specific function rather than the primary purpose of all traffic signals. Thus, the regulation of traffic is the core responsibility of these signals, making it the correct answer.