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189.338 Limitation of colored lights used in traffic-control signals -- Rules for vehicular and pedestrian traffic controlled by traffic-control signals.

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189.338 Limitation of colored lights used in traffic-control signals -- Rules for vehicular and pedestrian traffic controlled by traffic-control signals. Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different colored lights <br>or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors <br>green, red, and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word <br>legend or symbolic message, and said lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles <br>and pedestrians as follows: <br>(1) Green indication. (a) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But <br>vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-<br>of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or <br>an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited. (b) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the <br>movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted <br>by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield <br>the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to <br>other traffic lawfully using the intersection. (c) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may <br>proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk. (d) Vehicular traffic that entered an intersection on a circular green or yellow indication is allowed to complete a left turn during the red indication. (2) Steady yellow indication. (a) Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be <br>exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic shall not enter the <br>intersection. (b) Pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to <br>cross the roadway before a red indication is shown, and no pedestrian shall <br>then start to cross the roadway. (3) Steady red indication. (a) Vehicular traffic facing a circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line but, if none, then before entering the crosswalk on the near <br>side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and <br>shall remain standing until a green indication is shown, except as follows: <br>1. The driver of a vehicle which is stopped as required by subsection <br>(3)(a) with the intention of making a right turn, may make such right <br>turn, after stopping, unless an official sign has been erected prohibiting <br>such movement, but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other <br>traffic lawfully proceeding through the intersection. 2. The driver of a vehicle which is stopped as required by subsection <br>(3)(a) whose vehicle is in the left lane of a one-way highway with the <br>intention of making a left turn onto the left lane of another one-way <br>highway with the flow of traffic, may make such left turn, after stopping, <br>unless an official sign has been erected prohibiting such movement, but <br>shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic lawfully <br>proceeding through the intersection. 3. In instances where there are two (2) right or left turn lanes, an allowable <br>turn under this paragraph may be made from either lane unless a <br>regulatory sign specifically prohibits it. (b) Cities and counties may, by ordinance, and the department of highways may, by regulation, prohibit any such right or left turn against a steady red signal at <br>any intersection, which prohibition shall be effective when an official sign <br>prohibiting such movement is erected at the intersection. (c) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal, pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone shall not enter the roadway. (4) In the event an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except <br>as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop <br>required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the <br>stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be <br>made at the signal. (5) Whenever an illuminated flashing red or yellow light is used in a traffic signal or with a traffic sign it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows: <br>(a) Flashing red (stop signal) - When a red lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, operators of vehicles shall stop at a clearly marked stop <br>line but, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the <br>intersection or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway <br>where the operator has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting <br>roadway before entering it, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the <br>rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign. (b) Flashing yellow (caution signal) - When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, operators of vehicles may proceed through the <br>intersection or past such signal only with caution. Effective: July 12, 2006 <br>History: Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 173, sec. 16, effective July 12, 2006. -- Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 46, sec. 4, effective June 17, 1978; and ch. 156, sec. 1, effective <br>June 17, 1978. -- Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 74, Art. IV, sec. 20(1). -- Created <br>1974 Ky. Acts ch. 201, sec. 1.