(A) The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto, placed in accordance with this code, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, subject to the exceptions granted in this code to the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle.
(B) Where traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals installed as provided in this code, exhibiting the word “Go,” “Caution,” “Stop,” or exhibiting different colored lights successively, the following colors and words, lights and arrows in lights shall indicate as follows:
(1) “GO” or a green light. Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through, or (unless a sign or arrow in light prohibits the turn) may turn right or left. 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) “CAUTION” or a yellow light, when appearing immediately or coincidentally with the green or “GO” signal. Vehicular traffic facing the word or light shall stop and remain until faced by a green or “GO” signal illuminated alone;
(3) “STOP” or a red light. Any person operating a vehicle facing the word or light shall bring the same to a stop before entering the nearest crosswalk or boundary of an intersection or at another point as may be indicated by a limit line, and shall remain standing until a plain green light or green arrow, or the word “GO” is shown illuminated alone; provided, however, at certain intersections in the city where signs have not been erected by the Police Department indicating that a right turn is not permitted on a red light, it shall not be a violation of this section for a person so operating a motor vehicle to make a right turn after stopping, but nothing in this division shall relieve any person operating a motor vehicle from the duty of proceeding with due caution and circumspection under the conditions then existing to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or motor vehicle lawfully using the intersection; and
(4) Flashing signals. When a yellow lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles approaching the traffic-control device shall slow down, and proceed with caution. When a red lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles approaching the traffic-control device shall come to a complete stop and shall proceed through the light only when they can do so in safety.
(1985 Code, § 70.10) Penalty, see § 70.99
Cross-reference:
Traffic-control devices, see Ch. 74, Sch. III
Statutory reference:
Authority to erect traffic-control devices, see G.S. § 20-169