Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different colored lights successively one at a time, or with arrows, only the following colors shall be used and such terms and lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians, as follows.
(a) Circular green (alone).
(1) Vehicle traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection at the time such signal is exhibited.
(2) Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk unless directed otherwise by a pedestrian signal.
(b) Steady yellow.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal is thereby warned that the red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter of the related green movement is being terminated, and shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at the intersection, but if such stop cannot be made in safety, a vehicle may be driven cautiously through the intersection.
(2) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal, 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) Steady red (alone).
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at such other point as may be indicated by a clearly visible line or if none, before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until the green indication is shown unless otherwise directed by a sign or arrow.
(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 or unless a separate "Walk" indication is shown.
(d) Green straight-through arrow (alone).
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through, but shall not turn right or left. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians legally within the intersection at the time such signal is exhibited.
(2) Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within the appropriate marked or unmarked crosswalk unless directed otherwise by a pedestrian signal.
(e) Green turn arrow (alone or with circular green, with steady yellow, with steady red or with green straight-through arrow).
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall comply with the meaning of the circular green, steady yellow, steady red or green straight-through arrow indication as if it where shown alone; except, that such vehicular traffic may cautiously enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the green turn arrow. Vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(2) Pedestrians facing such signal shall comply with the meaning of the circular green, steady yellow, steady red or straight-through arrow indication as if were shown alone, unless directed otherwise by a pedestrian signal.
(f) Signal at a place other than an intersection. In the event an official traffic-control signal or flashing red signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section or § 23-58 shall be applicable except as to provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be 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.
Statutory reference:
For similar state law, see Ill. Rev. Stat. 1963, ch. 95 ½, § 129