Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting the words “go”, “caution” or “stop”, or exhibiting different colored lights successively one at a time, or with arrows, the following colors only shall be used and the terms and lights shall indicate and govern the drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows.
(A) Green alone or “go”.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the above traffic 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 such signal is exhibited.
(2) Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(B) Yellow alone or “caution”, when shown following the green or “go” signal.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal is thereby warned that the red or stop signal will be exhibited immediately thereafter and such vehicular traffic shall not enter or be crossing the intersection when the red or stop signal is exhibited.
(2) Pedestrians facing such signal are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway and any pedestrian then starting to cross shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles.
(C) Red alone or “stop” or when shown with yellow or “caution” and there is posted a “no right turn” sign as provided by G.S. § 20-158.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if no crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until green or go is shown alone.
(2) No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless he or she can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.
(D) Red with green arrow.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing such signal may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within a crosswalk, marked or unmarked, and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(2) No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless he or she can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.
(E) Flashing red (stop signal). When a red lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at a limit line when marked or, if none is marked, then before entering the intersection and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
(F) Flashing yellow (caution signal). When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed into the intersection or past such signal only with caution.
(2005 Code, § 46-89)