Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting colored lights or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time, or in combination, only the colors green, yellow and red shall be used, except for special pedestrian control signals carrying a word legend and the lights indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians.
(A) Green Alone.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either turn. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles to bicycles, to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited; and
(2) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal, pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the street within any marked or unmarked crosswalk and after entering the intersection shall walk as rapidly as possible in order to clear the intersection.
(B) Green with Green Arrow.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed through the intersection, make a right turn, or proceed in the direction indicated by the green arrow, but shall not move in any other direction. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles, to bicycles and pedestrians legally within the intersection at the time the signal is exhibited; and
(2) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal, pedestrians facing the green signal may proceed across the street within any marked or unmarked crosswalk and after entering the intersection shall walk as rapidly as possible in order to clear the intersection.
(C) Green Arrow Alone.
(1) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a green arrow, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection; and
(2) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal, pedestrians facing a green arrow may not proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk until a steady green circular signal is again shown.
(D) Steady Yellow Arrow or Circular Yellow.
(1) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection.
(2) No pedestrian, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal, facing the signal shall enter the roadway until the green is again shown.
(E) Steady Red.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the crosswalk, on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no crosswalk, then before entering the intersection shall remain standing until green is shown. However, if there is no sign prohibiting a right turn on a red light, such vehicle may turn right into the nearest right lane as practicable after standing until the intersection may be entered safely, provided that such vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians, bicycles and other vehicles lawfully in or approaching the intersection.
(2) Left Turn on Red Light. When a sign is posted at the intersection allowing a left turn on a red light, vehicular traffic in the lane closest to the left curb may turn left into the nearest left lane as practicable after standing until the intersection may be entered safely, provided that such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians and vehicles lawfully in or approaching the intersection.
(3) Pedestrians. No pedestrian facing the signal shall enter the roadway until the green is shown alone unless authorized to do so by a pedestrian "walk" signal.
(F) Red with Green Arrow.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by the arrow, but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection; and
(2) No pedestrian facing the signal shall enter the street unless he can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic, and upon entering the intersection, shall walk as rapidly as possible in order to clear the intersection.
(G) Traffic Control Signal not at Intersection. If an official traffic control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall apply, except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking, the stop shall be made at the signal.
('74 Code, § 9-5-10.2)
(H) (1) The driver of any vehicle approaching an intersection which has official traffic control signals that are inoperative shall stop at the intersection, and may proceed with caution when it is safe to do so.
(2) When two vehicles stop at an intersection from different highways at the same time, and the official traffic control signals for the intersection are inoperative, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on his or her immediate right.
(Ord. 65-1974; Am. Ord. 67-1999)