Sec. 24-36.  Traffic-control signal legend.

 

Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different colored lights, or colored 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 such lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:

 

(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, but 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, and 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, as provided in this chapter, 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.

 

(4)       Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection, and upon display of a steady yellow signal vehicular traffic shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at the intersection, but if such stop cannot be made in safety a vehicle may be driven cautiously through the intersection.

 

(5)       Pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in 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.

 

(6)       Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop at a clearly-marked stop line, but if there is no such line then before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no crosswalk then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in paragraph (7) and (8) below.

 

(7)       Except where a traffic-control device is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn after stopping as required by paragraph (6) of this section.  Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

 

(8)       Except where a traffic-control device is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal at the intersection of two one-way streets may cautiously enter the intersection to make a left turn after stopping as required by paragraph (6) of this section.  Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and persons riding bicycles lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

 

(9)       Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in this chapter, pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone shall not enter the roadway.

 

(10)     If a 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 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. 

 

Source:  Code 1962, § 10-3-2

State law reference-Similar provisions, R.R.S. 1943, 60-6,112 to 60-6,128.