Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting different colored lights or color lighted arrows, successively one 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, and the 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. 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) 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 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.
(3) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control 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.
(B) Steady yellow indication.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow signal 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. Vehicles should immediately slow down and make every reasonable attempt to stop at a clearly marked stop line, or before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection.
(2) Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow signal or yellow arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in § 71.04 of this chapter, 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) Except as provided in division (C)(3) of this section, vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if there is no such stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no such crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.
(2) Except as provided in division (C)(3) of this section, vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow, and, unless entering the intersection to make a movement permitted by another signal, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if there is no such stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no such crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication permitting the movement indicated by the red arrow is shown.
(3) Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one-way street onto a one-way street, after stopping as required by divisions (C)(1) or (C)(2) of this section. After stopping, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction or roadways. Such driver shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.
(4) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in § 71.04 of this chapter, pedestrians facing a steady circular red or red arrow signal alone shall not enter the roadway.
(D) Signal placement other than at intersections. 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 provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be at a traffic sign or a marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made or, in the absence of such sign or marking, the stop shall be made at the signal.
(Ord. 14-17, passed 11-14-2017) Penalty, see § 70.99