2019 -- H 5507

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LC001395

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Serodio, Serpa, Jackson, and Hawkins

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2019

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Dept. of Transportation)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-13-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-13 entitled "Traffic

Control Devices" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-13-6. Meaning of traffic control signals.

     Traffic control signals shall have the following meanings for vehicles and pedestrians:

     (1) Steady green signals shall have the following meanings:

     (i) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal is permitted to proceed straight through

or turn right or left or make a U-turn movement, except as such movement is prohibited by lane-

use signs, turn prohibition signs, lane markings, separate turn signal, or other traffic control

devices.

     (A) Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left or making a U-turn

movement, shall yield the right-of-way to:

     (I) Pedestrians lawfully within an associated crosswalk; and

     (II) Other vehicles lawfully within the intersection.

     (B) Vehicular traffic turning left or making a U-turn movement to the left shall yield the

right-of-way to other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction so closely as to constitute

an immediate hazard during the time when such turning vehicle is moving across or within the

intersection.

     (ii) Pedestrians facing a circular green signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian

signal or other traffic control device are permitted to proceed across the roadway within any

marked or unmarked associated crosswalk. The pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles

lawfully within the intersection or so close as to create an immediate hazard at the time that the

green signal is first displayed.

     (iii) A bicyclist facing a green bicycle signal may proceed straight through or turn right or

left unless a sign at that place prohibits either turn. The bicyclist shall yield the right-of-way to

other vehicles within the intersection at the time the green bicycle signal is shown.

     (iii)(iv) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, displayed alone or in combination

with another signal is permitted to cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement

indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other signals displayed at the

same time.

     (A) Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left or making a U-turn

movement, shall yield the right-of-way to:

     (I) Pedestrians lawfully within an associated crosswalk; and

     (II) Other vehicles lawfully within the intersection.

     (iv) Pedestrians facing a green arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian

signal or other traffic control device, shall not cross the roadway.

     (2) Steady yellow signals shall have the following meanings:

     (i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow signal is warned that the related green

movement is being terminated and that a steady red signal will be displayed immediately

thereafter when vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection. The rules set forth concerning

vehicular operation under the movement(s) being terminated shall continue to apply while the

steady circular yellow signal indication is displayed.

     (ii) A bicyclist facing a steady yellow bicycle signal is thereby warned that the related

right-of-way is being terminated and that a red bicycle signal will be shown immediately. A

bicyclist facing a steady yellow bicycle signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none,

shall stop before entering the marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is

no marked crosswalk, then before entering the intersection. If a bicyclist cannot stop safely, the

bicyclist may proceed cautiously through the intersection.

     (ii)(iii) Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow arrow signal is warned that the related

green arrow movement or the related flashing arrow movement is being terminated. The rules set

forth concerning vehicular operation under the movement(s) being terminated shall continue to

apply while the steady yellow arrow signal is displayed.

     (iii)(iv) Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal, unless

otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal or other traffic control device shall not start to cross the

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roadway.

     (3) Steady red signals shall have the following meanings:

     (i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal, unless entering the intersection to

make another movement permitted by another signal, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; but

if there is no stop line, traffic shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the

intersection; or if there is no crosswalk, then before entering the intersection; and shall remain

stopped until a signal to proceed is displayed, or as provided below:

     (A) Except when a traffic control device is in a place prohibiting a turn on red or a steady

red arrow signal is displayed, vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal is permitted to

enter the intersection to turn right. The right to proceed with the turn shall be subject to the rules

applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.

     (ii) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the intersection to

make the movement indicated by the arrow, unless entering the intersection to make another

movement permitted by another signal, and shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; but if there is

no stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection; or if there is no

crosswalk, then before entering the intersection; and shall remain stopped until a signal or other

traffic control device permitting the movement indicated by such red arrow is displayed.

     (iii) Pedestrians facing a steady circular red or steady red arrow signal shall not enter the

roadway, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal or other traffic control device.

     (iv) A bicyclist facing a steady red bicycle signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line,

but if none, before entering the marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is

no marked crosswalk, then before entering the intersection. The bicyclist shall remain stopped

until a green bicycle signal is shown.

     (4) Flashing yellow signals shall have the following meanings:

     (i) Vehicular traffic on an approach to an intersection facing a flashing circular yellow

signal is permitted to cautiously enter the intersection to proceed straight through or turn right or

left or make a U-turn except as such movement is prohibited by lane-use signs, turn prohibition

signs, lane markings, turn signals, or other traffic control devices.

     (A) Such vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left or making a U-turn,

shall yield the right-of-way to:

     (I) Pedestrians lawfully within an associated crosswalk; and

     (II) Other vehicles lawfully within the intersection.

     (B) Vehicular traffic turning left or making a U-turn to the left shall yield the right-of-

way to other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction so closely as to constitute an

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immediate hazard during the time when such turning vehicle is moving across or within the

intersection.

     (2) When a flashing circular yellow signal(s) is displayed as a beacon to supplement

another traffic control device, road users are notified that there is a need to pay extra attention to

the message contained thereon or that the regulatory or warning requirements of the other traffic

control device, which may not be applicable at all times, are currently in force.

     (3) Vehicular traffic, on an approach to an intersection facing a flashing yellow arrow

signal, displayed alone or in combination with another signal is permitted to cautiously enter the

intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or other such movement as is

permitted by other signal displayed at the same time.

     (i) Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left or making a U-turn, shall

yield the right-of-way to:

     (A) Pedestrians lawfully within an associated crosswalk; and

     (B) Other vehicles lawfully within the intersection.

     (I) Vehicular traffic turning left or making a U-turn to the left shall yield the right-of-way

to other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction so closely as to constitute an immediate

hazard during the time when such turning vehicle is moving across or within the intersection.

     (4) Pedestrians facing any flashing yellow signal at an intersection, unless otherwise

directed by a pedestrian signal or other traffic control device are permitted to proceed across the

roadway within any marked or unmarked associated crosswalk. Pedestrians shall yield the right-

of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that the flashing yellow signal is

first displayed.

     (5) Flashing red signals shall have the following meanings:

     (i) Vehicular traffic, on an approach to an intersection, facing a flashing circular red

signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; but if there is no stop line, before entering the

crosswalk on the near side of the intersection; or if there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the

intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting

roadway before entering the intersection. The right to proceed shall be subject to the rules

applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.

     (ii) When a flashing circular red signal(s) is displayed as a beacon to supplement another

traffic control device, road users are notified that there is a need to pay extra attention to the

message contained thereon or that the regulatory requirements of the other traffic control device,

which may not be applicable at all times, are currently in force.

     (iii) Vehicular traffic, on an approach to an intersection, facing a flashing red arrow

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signal if intending to turn in the direction indicated by the arrow shall stop at a clearly marked

stop line; but if there is no stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the

intersection; or if there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the

driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the

intersection. The right to proceed with the turn shall be limited to the direction indicated by the

arrow and shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.

     (iv) Pedestrians facing any flashing red signal at an intersection, unless otherwise

directed by a pedestrian control signal or other traffic control device, are permitted to proceed

across the roadway within any marked or unmarked associated crosswalk. Pedestrians shall yield

the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that the flashing red signal

is first displayed.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC001395

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

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     This act would codify the lawful procedure for a bicyclist to follow when complying with

traffic control signals.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001395

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