State police: motorists must stop at “dark” signals
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By Lillian Kafka
Published: June 4, 2008
Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corrine Geller wants to remind motorists that when traffic signals are dark, intersections turn into a four-way stop.
Geller said state law dictates that all traffic must come to a complete stop before proceeding through an intersection where signals are out due to power failures.
Motorists should yield as one would do at a four-way stop, Geller said in a news release.
The message comes in the wake of severe storm damage in Middleburg and Aldie where downed trees and power lines wrecked havoc on roadways, Geller said.
Signals are dark on roadways throughout Northern Virginia—Dominion’s storm center is reporting thousands of customers without power.
Motorists using U.S. 50 and U.S. 15 should use extreme caution as they will encounter the most problems with downed trees and traffic light outages, Geller advised.
They are encouraged to find alternate routes.
Police throughout Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington and Fairfax counties are scrambling to direct traffic at intersections where signals are not working.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( Tsully ) on June 11, 2008 at 8:30 am
BigJohn - what do you say to the person who stopped at the darkened light and then proceeded only to be smashed by someone who is driving 55 -60 miles an hour without regard to the darkened light blaming fear for their own safety, but not enough fear to slow down and follow the law. They are the innocent bystander… could you live with that!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted by ( bigjohn ) on June 10, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I have read theses comments posted so far and sure what roads these people drive. I see dozens of traffic violations every day, not stopping at stop signs, not using a turn signal, and speeding to name a few. If all these people who should know the laws were to stop driving our highways would be quite empty. Lets get real if I’m going 55-60 down the Prince William parkway and were to stop at a broken signal with no other signs to stop I would cause a multi car pillup and probably die a the scene, common sense it what is needed where the situation dictates the course of action.
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Posted by ( Tsully ) on June 10, 2008 at 12:35 pm
If you don’t know the rules of the road, you should not be driving. If the light is blacked out you must treat it as a 4 way stop, if it is flashing yellow then you proceed with caution if flashing red you must stop then proceed when the way is clear. Come on no one is above the law. If we all follow the rules and be courteous to others maybe there would be less accidents and road rage incidents.
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Posted by ( ZIGGY ) on June 05, 2008 at 8:18 am
I know that this is ‘the law’ but you’ve got to be kidding. I was driving south on Rt 234 yesterday in the mix of it all and came up to a blacked out signal. I know you’re supposed to stop but the idiot behind didn’t. I almost got slammed bad. After that - I didn’t stop at any of the other blacked out signals in fear of getting run over. I did slow down to a cautious speed but come on now - I know it wouldn’t be my fault but I’m not going to risk my safety. What would it take to create a special volunteer ‘team’ to patrol these blacked out intersections? God knows we have enough unemployeed in the county - can’t we put ‘em to work.
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Posted by ( Tsully ) on June 05, 2008 at 7:49 am
I hope that all motorist read this article. In driving home in the storms yesterday, you would not believe the number of vehicles that blew straight through the lights that were out. Is everyone in that big of a hurry that we can not have consideration for other drivers. Pay attention to the laws people, where every you are heading it can wait, unless you would rather the obvious, tickets, accidents even death. Wake up and pay attention you are not the only one on the road….
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