Question

Difficulty: Very hardTraffic Light Signals

At a signalized intersection where a dedicated right-turn lane's signal head is completely dark (unlit) due to a signal malfunction while adjacent through-lane signal heads display steady circular green lights, a driver in the right-turn lane may proceed with the right turn without stopping as long as cross-traffic and pedestrians are clear.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False. Drivers facing a dark or unlit signal head dedicated to their lane must come to a complete stop, treating the malfunctioning signal head as a stop control, regardless of green lights shown in adjacent lanes.
Under standardized traffic laws and MUTCD rules, an unlit traffic signal face governing a lane represents a traffic control signal malfunction. Drivers facing an unlit signal head must bring their vehicle to a full stop before entering the intersection, yielding right-of-way to any vehicles or pedestrians already in or approaching the intersection.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the signal indication governing the driver's dedicated lane.
The dedicated turn lane signal head is completely dark (unlit) due to a malfunction, while adjacent lanes display circular green lights.
Traffic signal control rules require drivers to obey the specific signal face governing their designated lane of travel.
2
Apply the standard rule for unlit or malfunctioning traffic signal heads.
A dark signal head face must be treated as a malfunctioning signal, requiring the driver to bring their vehicle to a complete stop before entering the intersection.
Active green signals in adjacent through lanes do not extend right-of-way permission to a lane governed by an unlit signal face assembly.

Key Concept

Handling Malfunctioning and Unlit Traffic Light Signals
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