I always pause a second and look both ways/check the intersection before going when I'm first and it turns green - mom taught me that when I was learning to drive. If the person behind beeps, so be it. Saves a lot of t-bones from late red light runners.
Smart way to avoid the ol' "light-leaper meets amber-idiot" scenario!
My Dad taught me three things that that I always use to this day: Always speed up when entering traffic; don't swing left when making a right turn; and the most important one - always turn your head when changing lanes. That last one saved me countless times!
I once witnessed a clever and unique maneuver by a State Trooper in NJ. The entire three lane highway was rolling along at over 70 mph in a 55 zone when the Trooper pulled in front of me in the center lane. He then swerved across the highway into the left lane, then swerved to the right into the right lane, then back to the left lane and back to the right lane, effectively dividing the traffic. Those in front of the Trooper continued at 70+ mph while those behind the Trooper hit the brakes, in shock as to what the officer was doing. The Trooper then moved to the center lane and proceeded at the exact speed limit of 55 mph. Needless to say, not a soul passed him. In one swift maneuver he slowed the entire highway behind him down to the speed limit without having to pull anyone over.