Question

Difficulty: MediumRight-of-Way Rules at Intersections

During a power outage, you approach an intersection where the traffic signals are completely dark and non-operational. At the same time, another vehicle approaches the intersection from the cross street on your left. Which of the following statements correctly describes the right-of-way procedure you must follow?

  1. Come to a complete stop as if at a four-way stop, and proceed after yielding to any vehicle that arrived first or is to your right.Answer
  2. B
    Maintain your current speed and proceed without stopping if you are traveling on a wider multi-lane road.
  3. C
    Yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on your left because vehicles approaching from the left always have priority.
  4. D
    Treat the dark signal as a yield sign, slowing down to scan for traffic but entering without coming to a full stop if the intersection is clear.

Answer

Treat the unpowered signal as an all-way stop by coming to a full stop and yielding to vehicles on your right or those that arrived before you.
According to official traffic safety laws, when a traffic light loses power and turns completely dark, drivers must treat the intersection as a four-way stop. At an all-way stop, when two vehicles arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right. Because you are to the right of the other driver, you have the right-of-way after coming to a full stop.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the intersection state.
Recognize that a completely unpowered or dark traffic signal must legally be treated as a four-way stop.
Traffic laws require drivers to treat blacked-out signals as all-way stop controls to ensure safety.
2
Apply four-way stop right-of-way rules to the scenario.
Stop completely. Because both vehicles arrive simultaneously, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
When two vehicles reach an all-way stop at the same time, the vehicle on the right has precedence.

Key Concept

Unpowered Traffic Signals and All-Way Stop Precedence
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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