Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control
signals, other than lane direction control signal indications provided
in § 1116 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of
New York exhibiting different colored lights or colored lighted arrows
successively, one at a time or in combination, only the colors green,
yellow and red shall be used, and said lights shall indicate and apply
to drivers of vehicles and to pedestrians as follows:
A. Green indications.
(1) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady circular
green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless
a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. Such traffic, including
when turning right or left, shall yield right-of-way to other traffic
lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time
such signal is exhibited.
(2) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady green
arrow signal 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, except that a U-Turn
may be made by traffic facing a left green arrow signal unless a sign
prohibits such U-Turn or such U-Turn is in violation of any other
provision of law. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to other
traffic lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk
at the time such signal is exhibited.
(3) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control
signal as provided in § 1112 of the New York State Vehicle
and Traffic Law, pedestrians facing any steady green signal, except
when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the
roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
B. Yellow indication.
(1) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady circular
yellow signal may enter the intersection; however, said traffic is
thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated
or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter.
(2) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady yellow
arrow signal may cautiously enter the intersection only to complete
the movement indicated by such arrow or make such other movement as
is permitted by other indications shown at the same time; however,
said traffic is thereby warned that the related green arrow movement
is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately
thereafter.
(3) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control
signal as provided in § 1112 of the New York State Vehicle
and Traffic Law, pedestrians facing any steady yellow signal 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.
C. Red indications.
(1) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady circular red signal, unless 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, then shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or in the event that there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of the approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in Subsection
C(2) of this section.
(2) Unless a sign is in place prohibiting such turn:
(a)
Traffic facing a steady circular red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn after stopping as required by Subsection
C(1) of this section, except that right turning traffic is not required to stop when a steady right green arrow signal is shown at the same time. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at the intersection and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(b)
Traffic, while on a one-way roadway, facing a steady red signal, may cautiously enter the intersection to make a left turn onto a one-way roadway after stopping as required by Subsection
C(1) of this section. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at the intersection and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(3) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady red arrow
signal 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, then shall
stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection
or, in the event that there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest
the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of the approaching
traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection
and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.
(4) Notwithstanding the provision of Subsection
C(2) of this section, no school bus, while transporting pupils for any purpose, shall be permitted to proceed when facing a steady red signal.
D. In the event that an official 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.
Whenever traffic is controlled by a flashing
signal used in a traffic sign or signal, only the colors red and yellow
shall be used, and said signals shall indicate and apply to drivers
of vehicles as follows:
A. Flashing red indications. Unless to make another movement
permitted by other indications shown at the same time, vehicular traffic
facing a circular red signal with rapid intermittent flashes shall
stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, then shall stop before
entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or in
the event that there is no crosswalk, 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 rules applicable after making a
stop at a stop sign.
B. Flashing yellow indications. Vehicular traffic facing
a circular yellow signal with rapid intermittent flashes may proceed
through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.
Whenever any roadway has been divided into two
or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, the following rules, in
addition to all others consistent herewith, shall apply:
A. A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable
entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane
until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made
with safety.
B. Upon a roadway which is divided into three lanes and
provides for two-way movement of traffic, a vehicle shall not be driven
in the center lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle
traveling in the same direction when such center lane is clear of
traffic within a safe distance, or in preparation for making a left
turn or where such center lane is at the time allocated exclusively
to traffic moving in the same direction that the vehicle is proceeding
and such allocation is designated by official traffic control devices.
C. When official traffic control devices direct slow-moving
traffic, trucks, buses or specified types of vehicles to use a designated
lane or designate those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular
direction regardless of the center of the roadway, drivers of vehicles
shall obey the directions of every such sign, signal or marking.
D. When official markings are in place indicating those
portions of any roadway where crossing such markings would be especially
hazardous, no driver of a vehicle proceeding along such highway shall
at any time drive across such markings.
The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to
the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road or
driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from
the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close
as to constitute an immediate hazard.
The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross
a roadway from any place other than another roadway shall yield the
right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on the roadway to be entered
or crossed.
No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle
on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably
safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement
of other traffic nor shall any person leave a door open on the side
of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer
than necessary to load or unload passengers.
No person shall drive across or upon a sidewalk,
driveway, parking lot or private property or otherwise drive off a
roadway in order to avoid an intersection or traffic control device.