§ 4-03 — Traffic Signals

§ 4-03 Traffic Signals.

(a) Traffic control signals. Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting different colored lights successively, the following colors shall indicate and apply to operators of vehicles and to pedestrians, except as superseded by pedestrian control signals, as follows: (1) Green alone: (i) Vehicular traffic facing such signals may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits any such movement. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians. (ii) Pedestrians facing such signal may proceed across the roadway, other than a limited access highway, at any point, including points outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk, but must yield to other traffic that has the right of way, provided that a failure to yield shall not be a violation of these rules. (2) Steady yellow alone, dark period, or red-green combined when shown following the green signal: (i) Vehicular traffic facing such signal is thereby warned that the red signal will be exhibited immediately thereafter and such vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection when the red signal is exhibited. (ii) Pedestrians facing such signal are advised that there may be insufficient time to cross the roadway. Pedestrians already in the roadway are cautioned to proceed to the nearest safety island or sidewalk in the direction of such signal. Other traffic must yield the right of way to pedestrians proceeding across the roadway within the crosswalk towards such signal for as long as such signal remains flashing. (3) Steady red alone: (i) Vehicular traffic facing such signal must stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and must remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown. (ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subdivision (a), or any provisions of state law, an operator approaching an intersection where a sign authorizes right or left turns on red signal may make such turn after coming to a complete stop, but must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles lawfully within the intersection and pedestrians. (iii) Pedestrians facing such signal do not have the right of way. Pedestrians entering the roadway in the direction of such signal will be at risk of injury due to other traffic that has the right of way. Pedestrians may proceed across the roadway in the direction of a steady upraised hand but must yield to other traffic that has the right of way, provided that a failure to yield shall not be a violation of these rules. (iv) Notwithstanding any other provision of these rules, a pedestrian must exercise all duty of care when entering a roadway at a crosswalk facing a pedestrian signal with a steady upraised hand or at a point other than a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Nothing in these rules shall be construed to relieve any person from the duty of due care for their safety or the safety of others in a roadway. (4) Arrows. When colored lights shaped as arrows are used as traffic control signals, arrows pointing to the right shall apply to operators intending to enter the intersection to turn to the right, arrows pointing vertically shall apply to operators intending to enter the intersection to proceed straight through, and arrows pointing to the left shall apply to operators intending to enter the intersection to turn to the left. The colors of arrows shall have the same meanings as colors of traffic signal lights, but shall apply only to operators intending to enter the intersection to proceed in the direction controlled by the arrow. (5) Signs. Operators shall comply with signs that refer to traffic control signals at places other than the intersections at which such signals are located, for example, "Stop here on red." (6) Signals not at intersections. In the event an official traffic control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, all the provisions of this subdivision (a) shall be applicable, except those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made 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. (7) Nonfunctioning signals. Vehicular traffic facing a signal that is not working shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall proceed with caution through the intersection. (b) Blinking traffic control signals. (1) Red. Vehicular traffic facing such signals must come to a complete stop and shall proceed only after yielding to any pedestrians and vehicles approaching from the cross street. (2) Yellow. Vehicular traffic facing such signals must proceed with caution through the intersection and must yield to any pedestrians. (c) Pedestrian control signals. Whenever pedestrian control signals are in operation, showing symbols of a walking person, upraised hand, or upraised hand with a pedestrian countdown display, or any other internationally recognized representation concerning the movement of pedestrians, such signals shall indicate as follows: (1) Steady walking person. Pedestrians facing such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of such signal, and other traffic must yield the right-of-way to such pedestrians. (2) Flashing upraised hand or flashing upraised hand with pedestrian countdown display. Pedestrians facing such signal are advised that there may be insufficient time to cross the roadway. Pedestrians already in the roadway are cautioned to proceed to the nearest safety island or sidewalk in the direction of such signal. Other traffic must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians proceeding across the roadway towards such signal for as long as such signal remains flashing. (3) Steady upraised hand. Pedestrians crossing in the direction of such signal do not have the right of way. Pedestrians entering the roadway in the direction of such signal will be at risk of injury due to other traffic that has the right of way. Pedestrians may proceed across the roadway in the direction of a steady upraised hand but must yield to other traffic that has the right of way, provided that a failure to yield shall not be a violation of these rules. (Amended City Record 1/20/2017, eff. 2/19/2017; amended City Record 5/27/2025, eff. 6/26/2025)