Pulling up to an intersection where the lights are flashing or blinking is a recognizable but not-so-frequent scenario for many drivers. A flashing red light operates the same way as a stop sign &#; your vehicle must come to a complete stop in the intersection and you must yield to traffic and pedestrians, only proceeding when the way is clear.
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Understanding how traffic signals function &#; and the extra caution needed when they are not functioning &#; can improve drivers&#; habits by reducing speeding and related accidents. This article will address some frequently asked questions about flashing red lights at intersections and right-of-way car accidents.
The function of a traffic signal is to assign right-of-way to traffic and pedestrians. Modern traffic control signals use traffic lights, in-ground sensors, infrared and microwave sensors, cameras, and more.
In busy urban areas in Southern California, traffic signals are an essential part not only of traffic management but also keeping everyone on the road safe. When traffic signals malfunction, they revert to continuously flashing lights to indicate drivers to stop. This can occur for a number of reasons:
Physical damage to signals or nearby utility poles or lines that supply power to the intersection
Ice or snow interference with sensors
Mechanical failure.
If a traffic signal is not indicating any light at all, it should be treated as if it is blinking red. Stay alert and proceed with caution. This can be a simple rotation in a single lane four-way stop. In a large intersection with many lanes of traffic or heavy pedestrian traffic, it can be congested and confusing.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Driver Handbook clearly states &#;a flashing red traffic signal light means STOP.&#; Driving through an intersection with a flashing red light is the equivalent of running a stop sign. California Vehicle Code VC states that whenever an illuminated flashing red light is used in a traffic signal, a driver must stop and may proceed subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign. If you do not stop, you could receive a traffic citation. If your failure to stop causes an accident, you could be determined to be at fault.
At a four way stop, the vehicle that enters the intersection first goes first. Whether you are turning or going straight ahead, you must come to a complete stop before proceeding. In California, when two vehicles enter a four-way stop intersection at the same time the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on his or her immediate right.
California&#;s right of way rules are clearly stated in simple language in the California Driver Handbook. The very first sentence of the &#;Laws and Rules of the Road&#; section is a direct warning: &#;Never assume other drivers will give you the right-of-way.&#;
The concept of right-of-way can be unfamiliar to young or inexperienced drivers. Failure to yield to the right-of-way can put everyone on the road at risk: other motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
In an intersection with a traffic light signal, you are given clear indications of who has the right of way. This is a &#;controlled&#; intersection. When there are no traffic lights to guide you, you must follow stop sign etiquette and yield to the vehicle on the right when there is any doubt. Always remember to look for other motorists and pedestrians.
Intersections have drivers speeding up, slowing down, and changing directions. The potential for conflict is high at a signal intersection. According to the NHTSA, some of the top driver-related &#;critical reasons&#; for intersection related causes include:
Driver error
Inadequate surveillance (not looking)
Illegal maneuver (illegal U-turn, failing to stop, etc.)
False assumption of other&#;s action
Misjudgment of gap or other&#;s speed.
Other causes could include driver distraction/inattention, fatigue, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Although rare, if an accident was caused by a traffic signal malfunction, the agency responsible for operating it could be responsible. Following an accident, the local law enforcement agency (police, sheriff, or California Highway Patrol) will investigate the accident. Fault may be attributed to one party or several. Although this report is an important part of determining liability, it may not be decisive. In some cases, an independent third-party investigation may be required to establish the cause of an accident. Witness accounts and camera footage may also be important evidence in an accident investigation.
Have you been injured in an intersection accident in Southern California? Before you accept any insurance company settlement offer, speak with a knowledgeable lawyer who is familiar with the unique legal issues in flashing red light intersection accidents. Significant compensation may be available for you in a personal injury claim. To speak with an accident attorney about your legal rights, please call 949-558-.
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Traffic signals are installed at intersections to control the movement of vehicles and pedestrians. Traffic signals are arranged in either vertical lines or horizontal lines. When they are arranged vertically, red is always on top and green on the bottom. When they are arranged horizontally, red is always on the left and green on the right.
When there is a
STEADY RED LIGHT, you must stop before crossing the marked stop line or crosswalk. If you do not see any lines, stop before entering the intersection. Wait for a green light before you start.
You may turn right while the light is red, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted at the intersection. You must first stop, check for and yield to pedestrians and other traffic.
You may also turn left after you stop at a red light, if you are in the left lane and are turning left from a one-way street onto another one-way street, unless a sign tells you not to turn. You must first stop and yield to pedestrians and other traffic.
A STEADY YELLOW LIGHT tells you a steady red light will soon appear. If you are driving toward an intersection and a yellow light appears, slow down and prepare to stop. If you are within the intersection or cannot stop safely before entering the intersection, continue through carefully.
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A STEADY GREEN LIGHT means you may drive through the intersection, if the road is clear. You may also turn right or left unless a sign tells you not to; however, when turning, you must yield to other vehicles and pedestrians within the intersection.
A
STEADY RED ARROW means you must stop and may not turn in the direction the arrow points. Wait for a Green Arrow or a Flashing Yellow Arrow before you start. The same turns-on-red that are allowed for a steady red signal are allowed for a steady red arrow.
A STEADY YELLOW ARROW means the movement permitted by the green arrow or the flashing yellow arrow is about to end and the signal will soon turn red. You should slow down and prepare to stop completely before entering the intersection. If you are within the intersection or cannot stop safely before entering the intersection, you may complete the turn begun on the preceding arrow with caution.
A
STEADY GREEN ARROW means you may turn the way the arrow points. When you turn during the green arrow phase, your turn is "protected" because oncoming traffic is stopped by a red light. If the green arrow turns into a green light, you may still turn in that direction, but first yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
A flashing red light has the same meaning as a
STOP sign. You must come to a complete stop. Then, look both ways, and proceed only after the intersection is clear.
A flashing yellow light means
CAUTION. Slow down, look and proceed with care.
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FLASHING YELLOW ARROW means you may turn in the direction of the arrow with caution, however, you must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. When you turn during the flashing yellow arrow phase, your turn is NOT protected; oncoming traffic will have a green light.
A non-functioning traffic signal should be treated as though it were a four-way STOP sign.
Some highway entrance ramps have traffic signals at the end of the ramp that alternate between steady green and steady red. Ramp-metering signals are used to control the flow of traffic onto very congested highways and usually operate during peak rush hours. You must wait for the green signal before you enter the highway. On single-lane ramps, only one car may enter the highway each time the light turns green. For multi-lane on-ramps, there will be a ramp meter for each lane. The green light does not protect your entrance onto the highway &#; you must still look for a safe gap in traffic to enter the highway.
Special signals may also be placed directly over lanes to control traffic. These are commonly used at toll booths, on bridges, tunnels, and on multi-lane roads in cities where the direction of travel for particular lane changes to ease the flow of traffic into or out of the city during peak rush hour. The following signals show how specific lanes of a street or highway should be used:
A steady downward green arrow over a traffic lane means you may use the lane.
A steady yellow "X" over a traffic lane means you must change lanes because the direction of travel for that lane is about to be reversed. Get ready to leave the lane safely.
A steady red "X" over a lane means you are not allowed to use the traffic lane.
A white steady, one-way left-turn arrow over a lane means you may only turn left, if you are in that lane.
A white steady, two-way left-turn arrow over a lane means you may only turn left, if you are in that lane, but the lane is shared by left-turning drivers approaching from the opposite direction.
Pedestrians must obey traffic and pedestrian signals. The pedestrian signals you must obey are the WALK and DON'T WALK lights or the lighted picture of a walking person (meaning walk) and an upraised hand (meaning don't walk). If there are no pedestrian signals at the intersection, pedestrians must obey the red, yellow, and green traffic lights.
Sometimes pedestrians are not aware of their responsibilities at traffic and pedestrian signals. Be alert for pedestrians, who may not obey the signal. Always yield to pedestrians.
When a steady
WALK or walking person comes on, start crossing, but be alert for turning vehicles that may not lawfully yield the right of way.
When the flashing
DON'T WALK or flashing upraised hand begins: a. Finish crossing, if you are in the street, b. Do not start to cross, if you have not left the curb.
When the steady
DON'T WALK message or steady upraised hand is displayed, do not cross.
When driving near a blind pedestrian who is carrying a white cane or walking with a guide dog, you must slow down, always yield the right-of-way, and then proceed with caution. Be prepared to stop your vehicle in order to prevent injury or danger to the pedestrian.
School zone signals are flashing yellow signals placed on the school zone speed limit signs. You must travel no faster than 15 mph when the yellow signals are flashing or during the time periods indicated on the sign. Exceeding the speed limit in a school zone will result in three points on your driving record, and you will also be fined.
Drivers are alerted when approaching a railroad crossing by the railroad crossing sign. Railroad crossings should be approached with caution at all times. You should always look both ways and listen for any approaching trains or signals before proceeding across the railroad tracks.
You are required to stop at all railroad crossings when there is a signal of an approaching train. These signals include flashing red lights, a lowered crossing gate, a flagger signaling, or a train's audible signal of warning. Do not move forward or attempt to go around any gate or ignore any signal of an approaching train. If there are no signals at the railroad crossing, you should slow down and prepare to stop if you see or hear a train approaching.
Proceed with caution only after all signals are completed and then only when there is evidence no trains are approaching the crossing.
You should stop if a train is approaching and has sounded its audible signal or is plainly visible and in hazardous proximity to the crossing.
Do not stop your vehicle on a railroad track, regardless of whether a train appears to be coming. If traffic is backed up because of a traffic signal, stop sign, or for any other reason, make sure you stop your vehicle in a location where it will be entirely clear of any railroad tracks.
Refer to
Chapter 3 for more information about how to safely cross a highway-railroad intersection.
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