The driver of a vehicle shall not overtake and
pass a vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless there is sufficient
clear space ahead on the right side of the roadway to permit the overtaking
to be completed without impeding the safe operation of any vehicle
ahead.
The driver of a vehicle when about to be overtaken
and passed by another vehicle approaching from the rear shall give
way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on suitable and
audible signal being given by the driver of the overtaking vehicle
and shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed
by the overtaking vehicle.
A.
No person shall drive in such a manner as to obstruct
unnecessarily the normal movement of traffic upon any street or highway.
Officers are hereby authorized to require any driver who fails to
comply with this section to drive to the side of the roadway and wait
until such traffic as has been delayed has passed.
B.
No driver shall enter an intersection or a marked
crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the
intersection or crosswalk and on the right half of the roadway to
accommodate the vehicle he is operating without obstructing the passage
of other vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding any traffic control
signal indication to proceed.
The driver of a vehicle shall not follow another
vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard
to the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon and condition of
the street or highway.
It shall be unlawful for any person traveling
upon a bicycle, motorcycle, coaster, sled, roller skates or any toy
vehicle to cling to or attach himself or his vehicle to any moving
vehicle or streetcar upon any roadway.
A.
The driver of any vehicle, before starting, stopping,
turning from a direct line or backing, shall first see that such movement
can be made in safety. If such movement cannot be made in safety or
if it interferes unduly with the normal movement of other traffic,
said driver shall wait for a more favorable opportunity to make such
movement.
B.
If the operation of another vehicle should be affected
by a stopping or turning movement, the driver of such other vehicle
shall be given a plainly visible signal, as required by statute law.
The driver of a vehicle shall not make a turn of the kind designated (e.g., left, right, all) at the intersections and locations described in Schedule H (§ 240-91).
[Added 8-27-2002 by Doc. 109-G]
The driver of a vehicle shall make a turn of the kind designated (left or right) at the intersections and locations described in Schedule I (§ 240-92).
The operator of a vehicle emerging from an alley,
driveway or garage shall stop such vehicle immediately prior to driving
onto a sidewalk or onto the sidewalk area extending across an alleyway
or driveway.
A.
Colors and arrow indications in traffic control signals shall have the commands ascribed to them in this section, and no other meanings, and every driver of a vehicle, railway car or other conveyance shall comply therewith, except when otherwise directed by an officer or by a lawful traffic regulating sign (other than a stop sign), signal or device or except as provided in § 240-55B of this chapter.
B.
In no case shall a driver enter or proceed through
an intersection without due regard to the safety of other persons
within the intersection, regardless of what indications may be given
by traffic control signals.
C.
Meaning of indications.
(1)
Green indications shall have the following meanings:
(a)
Drivers facing a circular green may proceed
straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place
prohibits either such turn. But drivers 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.
(b)
Drivers facing a green arrow, 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 movements
as are permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such
drivers shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within
an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(2)
Steady yellow indications shall have the following
meanings: Drivers facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow
signal are thereby warned that the related green movement is being
terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately
thereafter, when drivers shall not enter the intersection.
(3)
Steady red indications shall have the following meanings:
(a)
Traffic facing a steady circular red signal
alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line or, if none, before
entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if
none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing
until an indication to proceed is shown, except as allowed by MGL
c. 89, § 8.
(b)
No driver of a vehicle facing a circular red signal indication shall make a right turn where official traffic signs are installed and maintained prohibiting such turn at the intersections so designated in Schedule J (§ 240-93).
(c)
Drivers facing a steady red arrow indication
may not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by such
arrow and, unless entering the intersection to make such other movement
as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time, shall
stop at a clearly marked stop line, but, if none, before entering
the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then
before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until
an indication to make the movement indicated by such arrow is shown.
(4)
Joint red and yellow indications shall have the following
meaning: While the red and yellow lenses are illuminated together,
drivers shall not enter the intersection, and, during such time, the
intersection shall be reserved for the exclusive use of pedestrians.
(5)
Flashing signal indications shall have the following
meanings:
(a)
Flashing red (stop signal). When a red lens
is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles
shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but, if none, before entering
the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then
at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has
a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering
the intersection; and the right to proceed shall be subject to the
provisions of MGL c. 89, § 8.
(b)
Flashing yellow (caution signal). When a yellow
lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles
may proceed through the intersection or pass such signal only with
caution.
No operator shall back or turn a vehicle so as to proceed in the direction opposite to that in which said vehicle is headed or traveling, commonly known as "making a U-turn," on the streets or parts thereof described in Schedule K (§ 240-94).
A.
Stop signs. In accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 89, § 9, the streets described in Schedule L (§ 240-95), are designated as stop streets at the intersections and in the direction indicated in said schedule, and such streets are hereby declared to constitute isolated stop streets.
B.
Yield signs. In accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 89, § 9, the streets described in Schedule M (§ 240-96) are designated as yield streets at the intersections and in the direction indicated in said schedule.
C.
Through ways. In accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 89, § 9, the ways or parts of ways described in Schedule N (§ 240-97) are hereby designated as through ways.
D.
Do not enter signs. In accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 89, § 9, the streets or channelized lanes thereon, described in Schedule T (§ 240-102), are designated as do not enter streets or channelized lanes thereon at the intersection with and traveling on as indicated in said schedule.
[Added 9-10-1996 by Doc. 14-H]
Upon such roadways as are divided by a parkway,
grass plot, reservation, viaduct, subway or by any structure or area,
drivers shall keep to the right of such a division except when otherwise
directed by an officer, signs, signals or markings.
[Added 5-17-1988 by Doc. 103]
The location of all traffic islands listed in Schedule R (§ 240-100) shall be specified by vote of the City Council after consultation with the Chief of Police. The design of such islands shall conform to standards prescribed by the Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (Traffic islands in place prior to the enactment of Chapter 689 of the Act of 1986, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, are not listed in Schedule R but remain in effect.)
At any junction or crossing of ways where the
roadway grades have been separated and where the ways are connected
by ramps and at any intersection of ways in which there are traffic
islands, drivers of vehicles shall proceed only as indicated by official
signs, signals or markings.
No operator shall enter upon a road surface
of any street or highway or section thereof, when, by reason of construction,
surface treatment, maintenance or the like or because of some unprotected
hazard, such road surface is closed to travel and one or more signs,
lights or signals have been erected to indicate that all or part of
the road surface of the street or highway is not to be used or when
so advised by an officer, watchman, member of a street or highway
crew or employees of the town, either audibly or by signals.
The driver of a vehicle shall not drive upon
any sidewalk except at a permanent or temporary driveway.
It shall be unlawful for the driver of a vehicle,
except on signal from a police officer, to drive the same over or
through a safety zone.
A funeral composed entirely or partly of a procession
of vehicles shall be identified as such by means of black pennants
bearing a purple symbol attached to both the first and last vehicles
or by other suitable means.
A.
It shall be the duty of each driver in a funeral or
other procession to keep as near to the right edge of the roadway
as is feasible and to follow the vehicle ahead as closely as is practicable
and safe.
B.
At an intersection where a traffic control signal
is operating, the driver of the first vehicle in a funeral or other
procession shall be the only one required to stop for a red and/or
yellow indication.
C.
At any intersection where a lawful stop sign exists,
the driver of the first vehicle in a funeral or other procession shall
be the only one required to stop before proceeding through the intersection.
It shall be unlawful for any reason to ride
on any portion of a vehicle not designated or intended for the use
of passengers when the vehicle is in motion. This provision shall
not apply to any employee engaged in the necessary discharge of a
duty or within truck bodies in space intended for merchandise.
A.
The use and operation of heavy commercial vehicles having a carrying capacity of five tons [10,000 pounds] or more and having a length of 24 feet or greater are hereby restricted on the streets or parts thereof described in Schedule P (§ 240-98), and in the manner outlined and during the period of time set forth.
[Amended 8-9-1983 by Doc. 26-L]
B.
Exemptions. Subsection A shall not apply to heavy commercial vehicles going to or coming from places upon said streets for the purpose of making deliveries of goods, materials or merchandise to or similar collections from abutting land or buildings or adjoining streets or ways to which access cannot otherwise be gained; or to vehicles used in connection with the construction, maintenance and repair of said streets or public utilities therein: or to federal, state, municipal or public service corporation owned vehicles.
