Question

Difficulty: MediumTraffic Officer Signals and Temporary Control Devices

When an authorized traffic officer directing traffic at a storm-damaged intersection instructs a driver to turn onto a side street, the driver must obey the officer's hand gestures even if a posted regulatory sign at that intersection prohibits turns.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True. Directions given by an authorized traffic officer always override posted regulatory signs, traffic lights, and standard pavement markings.
Directions given by a uniformed traffic officer take legal precedence over all static traffic control devices, including regulatory signs, traffic light signals, and road markings. When an officer explicitly motions for a driver to execute a maneuver, the driver must comply even if a posted sign normally forbids that action.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the authority hierarchy among traffic control devices and personnel.
Authorized traffic officers and law enforcement hold the highest level of authority on public roadways.
Human controllers provide real-time traffic management during emergencies, accidents, or special events when static rules cannot maintain safety.
2
Evaluate the conflict between the officer's directive and the posted 'No Turns' sign.
The officer's hand signal to turn supersedes the stationary prohibition sign.
Under vehicle codes, drivers are legally required to follow lawful commands from traffic officers regardless of conflicting static signs or electronic signals.

Key Concept

Legal Authority of Traffic Officers Over Static Control Devices
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