[LCN Newscast] Broken Traffic Light Safety

[newscast@lists.lakeclaire.org]

Broken Traffic Light Safety

Recent storms have caused problems with traffic lights around
the neighborhood.  For everyone's safety, below are some
guidelines for dealing with damaged signals in the future.

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To report a broken signal in Atlanta, call:
404-65WORKS (404-659-6757)


Flashing Red Signal
    Stop.  Treat as a stop sign.  Usually the crossing
direction is flashing yellow, and has the right of way.  If
all directions are flashing red, stop, then first yield to
emergency vehicles, pedestrians, and vehicles already in the
intersection.  If two vehicles reach the intersection at the
same time, yield to the vehicle on your right.

Flashing Yellow Signal
    Exhibit caution while passing through a flashing yellow
signal; you do not ordinarily need to stop.  The crossing
direction usually has a flashing red signal and should stop,
but if you are far away, a stopped vehicle may not see you
from a distance and begin to proceed.

Inoperable Traffic Light (not working at all)
    Stop.  Treat as a stop sign.  If the crossing direction
also is inoperable, treat as an all-way stop sign.  Stop,
then first yield to emergency vehicles, pedestrians, and
vehicles already in the intersection.  If two vehicles reach
the intersection at the same time, yield to the vehicle on
your right.

Broken Traffic Light (stuck on yellow or red)
    Rarely a traffic signal malfunctions and stays stuck on
non-flashing yellow or red.  Technically, this should
probably be treated as an inoperable traffic light.  The
problem is that if the crossing direction is always green,
drivers in that direction do not know it is broken.  If you
are sure it is broken (and not just a long light) many
drivers will stop, make very certain no one is approaching
the intersection, and proceed through the intersection with
caution.


(Adapted from Georgia Code: 40-6-7, etc.)
-- LCN Webmaster