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Difficulty: Very hardRegulatory Signs

A motorist is traveling along an urban roadway and approaches an intersection posted with a standard white rectangular regulatory sign displaying a black arrow pointing left with a red circle and diagonal slash across it ('NO LEFT TURN'). Due to an unexpected roadway hazard ahead, a uniformed police officer directing traffic at the intersection explicitly gestures for the motorist to execute an immediate left turn. Which of the following actions is the driver legally required to take?

  1. Obey the manual instructions of the police officer and execute the left turn safely, disregarding the posted regulatory sign.Answer
  2. B
    Disregard the officer's gesture and continue straight to comply strictly with the posted regulatory sign.
  3. C
    Come to a complete stop and remain stationary at the intersection until the officer physically covers or removes the prohibition sign.
  4. D
    Overtake and pass any vehicle ahead within the intersection before executing the left turn commanded by the officer.

Answer

The driver must follow the manual directions of the traffic officer and execute the left turn, despite the posted regulatory prohibition sign.
The correct action is to follow the police officer's hand signal and turn left. Manual directions from a law enforcement officer or official traffic controller override all regulatory traffic signs, traffic light signals, and lane markings.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary traffic control elements in the scenario.
A posted regulatory 'NO LEFT TURN' sign is present alongside a uniformed police officer giving manual hand signals.
Regulatory signs establish standard traffic rules, but special traffic control circumstances may arise.
2
Apply the statutory hierarchy of traffic control authority.
Manual directions given by a authorized traffic officer or police officer supersede all traffic control devices, including signs, signals, and pavement markings.
Traffic officers maintain supreme authority on the roadway to safely manage emergency situations and traffic flow.
3
Select the required legal maneuver based on precedence rules.
The driver must comply with the officer's explicit instruction to turn left.
Failing to follow an officer's lawful direction is a moving violation.

Key Concept

Precedence of Traffic Officer Directives Over Regulatory Signs
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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Topics

Regulatory Signs

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