Police: Approach Out of Service Traffic Signals With Caution
No major accidents have been reported as result of recent signal outages.
Workers make streetlight repairs at the ramp intersection of Belair Road and Maryland Route 43.
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Police are encouraging drivers to use caution when approaching a traffic signal that is either not lit or flashing red or yellow.
Several signals in the Perry Hall and White Marsh areas, including Seven Courts Drive, Ebenezer Road and Honeygo Boulevard, failed at some point after Hurricane Irene hit the area this weekend. However, no major vehicle accidents have been reported as result of recent signal outages, according to Lt. Ron Brooks of the White Marsh police precinct.
Brooks offered the following reminders to drivers:
- Drivers at a flashing yellow light must slow down or stop.
- Drivers at a flashing red light must stop before proceeding.
- A signal that is not lit should be treated as a four-way stop, although drivers on the intersection's major road have the right of way. At an intersection of two major roads, after all drivers have stopped, the right of way belongs to the driver who arrived at the intersection first.
- Use caution whenever entering an intersection, whether the traffic signal is working or not.
Have you noticed drivers following the correct traffic laws at traffic signal outages?
Tell us in the comments.
william bittner
1:55 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
red light out at lord baltimore drive and windsor mill road so I treated it as 4 way stop sign, stopped proceeded to make left from lord baltimore ont windsor mill rd and about 1 block away police pulled me over to write me up for running red light,,,i told him light didn't work and he continued only after a motorist stopped and told him the light wasn't working did he finally let me go.....typical police,,,saw me make left but didn't notice light out...
Jeff Reyes
2:05 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
I think this needs some clarification.
"A signal that is not lit should be treated as a four-way stop, although drivers on the intersection's major road have the right of way. At an intersection of two major roads, after all drivers have stopped, the right of way belongs to the driver who arrived at the intersection first."
If we treat light as a stop sign, then we are to STOP at it regardless of the size of the road we are on. It is contradictory to say there must be a stop but one road has the right of way. At a normal 4 way stop sign the driver that arrived first has the right of way. If two arrive at the same time the right of way goes to the car on the right.
I think some people might think the since the large road has the "right of way" that they are not required to STOP at the out light and yield right of way to the car that was there first.
We all need to get on the same page here 'cause I've seen a few near misses in the last couple of days due to drivers blowing through intersections that are to be treated as 4 way STOPS.
william bittner
2:32 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
4 way stop means all 4 directions stop, all of this confusion could be eliminated by erecting stop signs at all red lights and have it understood that when the light is not working, stop sign rule,,,,when the light is working the light rules.
SLI
2:28 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
If the light is out, regardless of the size of the road, it should be treated as a four way stop. If the intersection is that big, for instance, Belair Rd and 152, there needs to be police directing traffic!! Some people can't comprehend a Yield sign, do you really think they will stop because the light is out? There was an accident at Harford/Sunshine/Fork at noon due to lack of comprehension.
Tim
2:29 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
I agree Jeff. Everyone should stop regardless of location.
Mike Pierce
8:29 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I'm glad to see there are some readers who understand the law, even though the quoted police officer does not!
neal
8:42 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Where are the cops? I saw them sitting at Perry Hall high school Saturday morning while intersections on Honeygo were out and people had no clue. I guess the county is more worried about revenue than their citizens.
Cathy
9:30 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Agreed. The light at Loch Raven/Joppa was out but an officer was sitting on Jopp Terr in Carney looking for speeders. BCPD leadership really dropped the ball. Perhaps the Patch could this for a follow-up story.
Tim
10:13 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
*inserts classic donuts joke here*
neal
11:22 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I did "tweet" David Marks and he said he called the White Marsh precinct. And they wonder why people don't like the police or county gov't. They have really pissed me off, but what do you expect from a bunch of tax and spend liberals? They need the revenue to fund all their entitlement programs.
Cathy
10:21 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Surprisingly there's no law regarding right of way at an intersection when the light is out. Bryan Sears posted an article a short while ago.
http://perryhall.patch.com/articles/hurricane-irene-exposes-traffic-law-myth#comment_1328400
chickpea
12:52 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Let's face it. No what your opinions on cameras and lights or politics are, most people are: stupid and selfish. They care not about the welfare of others and behave only in their own best interest. This not only applies to driving, but to every other area of their life. It is the "few" of us that attempt to act and react responsibily, selflessly, and cautiously.
“Life is not so short but that there is always time for courtesy”
~~Ralph Waldo Emerson