When the power goes out, not everyone abides by Washington state law when traffic signals go dark.
Here’s a reminder of the rule: Treat it like a four-way stop.
<a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.183">In accordance with revised code of Washington</a>, except when directed to proceed by a flagger, police officer or firefighter, the driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection controlled by a traffic control signal that is temporarily without power on all approaches or is not displaying any green, red or yellow indication to the approach the vehicle is on, shall consider the intersection to be an all-way stop. After stopping, the driver shall yield the right-of-way.
The city of Redmond listed these basic right-of-way rules, which are applicable for drivers across the state of Washington.
- Keep in mind that the law says who must yield the right-of-way, it does not give anyone the right-of-way.
- When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different roadways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right. In other words, when two vehicles stop together at the intersection, if there is a vehicle to your right, it goes first.
- Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming vehicles going straight ahead.
- Drivers must do everything possible to keep from striking a pedestrian or another vehicle, regardless of the circumstances.
Cox Media Group
