Whenever traffic is controlled by official traffic-control signals exhibiting the words “go,” “caution” or “stop,” or exhibiting different colored lights successively 1 at a time, the following colors only shall be used, and words and lights shall indicate as follows:
(A) Green alone, or “go.”
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at that place prohibits either turn. But vehicular traffic shall yield the right of way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection at the time the 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 shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at the intersection, but if the stop cannot be made in safety a vehicle may be driven cautiously through the intersection.
(2) Pedestrians facing the signal are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross a roadway, and any pedestrian then starting to cross shall yield the right of way to all vehicles.
(C) Red alone, or “stop.”
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at another point as may be indicated by a clearly visible line, and shall remain standing until green or “go” is shown alone.
(2) No pedestrian facing the signal shall enter the roadway unless he or she can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.
(D) Green straight-through arrow (alone).
(1) Vehicles facing this signal may proceed straight through, but shall not turn right or left. Vehicles shall yield the right of way to other vehicles and to pedestrians legally within the intersection at the time the 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).
(1) Vehicles facing this signal may proceed through the intersection making only the turn so indicated by the arrow over the respective lane. Vehicles shall yield the right of way to other vehicles and pedestrians lawfully within the intersection at the time the signal is exhibited.
(2) Pedestrians facing the signal shall not enter the roadway unless they can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.
(F) Green turn arrow (with steady red).
(1) Vehicles facing the signal shall comply with the steady red, except that vehicles may cautiously enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the green turn arrow. Vehicles shall yield the right of way to pedestrians lawfully within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(2) No pedestrian facing the signal shall enter the roadway unless he or she can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.
(Prior Code, § 11-18)
Statutory reference:
Authority of Board of Commissioners to install, change and remove traffic-control devices, see G.S. §§ 20-141, 20-158, 20-169, 136-32