N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1111: Traffic-control signal indications

§ 1111. Traffic-control signal indications. Whenever traffic is

controlled by traffic-control signals, other than lane direction control

signal indications provided in section eleven hundred sixteen,

exhibiting different colored lights, or colored lighted arrows,

successively, one at a time or in combination, only the colors green,

yellow and red shall be used, and said lights shall indicate and apply

to drivers of vehicles and to pedestrians as follows:

(a) Green indications:

1. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady circular green signal

may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such

place prohibits either such turn. Such traffic, including when turning

right or left, shall yield the right of way to other traffic lawfully

within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal

is exhibited.

2. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady green arrow signal may

cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by

such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications

shown at the same time, except that a U-Turn may be made by traffic

facing a left green arrow signal unless a sign prohibits such U-Turn or

such U-Turn is in violation of any other provision of law. Such traffic

shall yield the right of way to other traffic lawfully within the

intersection or an adjacent cross walk at the time such signal is

exhibited.

3. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as

provided in section eleven hundred twelve, pedestrians facing any steady

green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may

proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.

(b) Yellow indications:

1. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady circular yellow signal

may enter the intersection; however, said traffic is thereby warned that

the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication

will be exhibited immediately thereafter.

2. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady yellow arrow signal

may cautiously enter the intersection only to complete the movement

indicated by such arrow or make such other movement as is permitted by

other indications shown at the same time; however, said traffic is

thereby warned that the related green arrow movement is being terminated

or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter.

3. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as

provided in section eleven hundred twelve, pedestrians facing any steady

yellow signal are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to

cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian

shall then start to cross the roadway.

(d) Red indications:

1. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady circular red signal,

unless to make such other movement as is permitted by other indications

shown at the same time, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if

none, then shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of

the intersection, or in the event there is no crosswalk, at the point

nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of the

approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the

intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is

shown except as provided in paragraph two of this subdivision.

2. Except in a city having a population of one million or more, unless

a sign is in place prohibiting such turn:

a. Traffic facing a steady circular red signal may cautiously enter

the intersection to make a right turn after stopping as required by

paragraph one of this subdivision, except that right turning traffic is

not required to stop when a steady right green arrow signal is shown at

the same time. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians

within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at the intersection and to other

traffic lawfully using the intersection;

b. Traffic, while on a one-way roadway, facing a steady red signal may

cautiously enter the intersection to make a left turn onto a one-way

roadway after stopping as required by paragraph one of this subdivision.

Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within a marked

or unmarked crosswalk at the intersection and to other traffic lawfully

using the intersection.

c. On or after the effective date of this subparagraph, the sign which

prohibits such turn shall be prominently displayed from all newly

installed traffic signals where possible.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any city having a

population of one million or more, is hereby authorized and empowered to

adopt a local law authorizing subparagraph a or b of this paragraph to

be applicable within such city. Upon the adoption of such local law the

exception provided herein for a city having a population of one million

or more shall no longer be applicable within such city.

3. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady red arrow signal may

not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by such arrow

and, unless entering the intersection to make such other movement as is

permitted by other indications shown at the same time, shall stop at a

clearly marked stop line, but if none, then shall stop before entering

the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or in the event

there is no crosswalk at the point nearest the intersecting roadway

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

intersecting roadway before entering the intersection and shall remain

standing until an indication to proceed is shown.

4. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as

provided in section eleven hundred twelve, pedestrians facing any steady

red signal shall not enter the roadway.

5. Notwithstanding the provision of paragraph two of this subdivision,

no school bus, while transporting pupils for any purpose, shall be

permitted to proceed when facing a steady red signal.

(e) Traffic shall obey signs requiring obedience to traffic-control

signals at intersections other than those at which such signals are

located. No intersection not controlled by such signs prior to the

effective date of this section shall hereafter be made subject to such

method of control and no ordinance, order, rule or regulation requiring

such obedience shall hereafter be adopted.

(f) 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 as to those provisions which by their

nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a

sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made,

but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at

the signal.