When should you make a decision?

Once again the idea of “when to make a decision” came across my radar. I belive that it is correct to delay making a decision to the last responsible moment.

Suppose you are driving a car and see a traffic signal in the distance. When should you decide to stop or go at that signal? As soon as you see the signal you can either make a decision immediately or postpone making a decision. Unless you were asleep at the wheel, you should obviously defer the decision until you are closer to the intersection. Deciding right away would be recekless.

When I was learning to drive my instructor explained you can look at the road and estimate a point that would be the latest you can comfotably stop the vehicle, if the light is still green when you cross that point, keep going. If the light is now yellow, you should stop. A practice like this is a way to separate the decision from the process of arriving at a decision. You are pulling forward unknowns - “At what point could I safely stop on this road in this conditon?” and defering the decision.

Unfortunately many people make decisions as soon as they become aware of them without even considering the optimum time or the process between now and making that decision.