Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one (1) at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red, and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word legend or symbol message, and said lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
(A) Green indication.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited.
(2) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by the arrow, or any other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(3) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-controlled signal, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(4) Vehicular traffic that entered an intersection on a circular green or yellow indication is allowed to complete a left turn during the red indication.
(B) Steady yellow indication.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow 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) Pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-controlled signal, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.
(C) Steady red indication.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing a circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, then before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until a green indication is shown except as follows:
(a) The driver of a vehicle which is stopped as required by division (C)(1) above with the intention of making a right turn, may make the right turn, after stopping, unless an official sign has been erected prohibiting such movement, but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic lawfully proceeding through the intersection.
(b) The driver of a vehicle which is stopped as required by division (C)(1) above whose vehicle is in the left lane of a one-way highway with the intention of making a left turn onto the left lane of another one-way highway with the flow of traffic, may make the left turn, after stopping, unless an official sign has been erected prohibiting such movement, but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic lawfully proceeding through the intersection.
(c) In instances where there are two right or left turn lanes, an allowable turn under this section may be made from either lane unless a regulatory sign specifically prohibits it.
(2) The city may, by ordinance, prohibit any such right or left turn against a steady red signal at any intersection, which prohibition shall be effective when an official sign prohibiting the movement is erected at the intersection.
(3) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal, pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone shall not enter the roadway.
(D) In the event an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable 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.
(KRS 189.338)
Cross reference:
Penalty for violation, see § 40.999