4.2 Traffic Light Signals, Flashing Signals and Pedestrian Crossings

4.2 Traffic Light Signals, Flashing Signals and Pedestrian Crossings

Traffic lights and pedestrian crossings appear on almost every DMT paper. The sample paper shows a signal head with one lamp lit and asks which colour comes next, and it asks what a driver and a pedestrian must do at a crossing. The legal source is the Motor Traffic (Signs, Signals, Symbols and Road Markings) Regulations No. 02 of 2015 (Gazette Extraordinary No. 1940/21): regulation 28 for pedestrian crossings and regulations 31 to 36 for light signals. Section 164(6) of the Motor Traffic Act confirms that a "traffic sign" includes a light signal, so section 164(3) requires you to obey it.

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1. The Signal Head and the Four-Stage Sequence

Regulation 31(1) fixes the layout: three lamps, red at the top, amber in the middle and green at the bottom. On overhead horizontal heads, red is placed nearest the centre line. No lettering is allowed on the lenses.

The sequence for drivers is fixed by regulation 31(1)(f):

After amber comes red again. The DMT sample paper asks "after amber, which colour lights next?" (red), and "after red, which colours light next?" (red and amber together).

   RED  ->  RED + AMBER  ->  GREEN  ->  AMBER  ->  RED ...
  stop     still stop        go with    stop unless
                             caution    too close to stop safely

Duties when you go on green

• Regulation 32(3)(a): proceed with due regard to the safety of other road users and subject to any police officer directing traffic.
• Regulation 32(3)(c): when turning right through the junction, you must not cross the path of vehicles moving through it in a way likely to cause danger. If two right-turning vehicles from different approaches must cross paths, the vehicle with the other on its right gives way. A vehicle turning left gives way to vehicles from its right merging into the same road.
• Regulation 32(4): once you are allowed through, clear the junction and its approaches as quickly as is safely possible.
• Regulation 32(3)(b): if pedestrians are crossing at a signal-controlled crossing on their green signal, stop and let them finish.

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2. Green Arrows (Filter Signals)

Regulation 31(2) allows green arrow lenses beside or instead of the green lamp. Under regulation 32(2)(c), while a green arrow is lit, drivers in the lane for that direction may proceed in the direction of the arrow, even if the red lamp is also showing. Traffic going other ways must still obey the red. A separate green left arrow, with or without its own red lamp, may be mounted on the near side for left-turning traffic.

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3. Flashing Signals

A flashing red pair is therefore not a "stop then go when clear" sign like STOP. It forbids you to cross while it flashes, because a train or other hazard is coming.

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4. Pedestrian Crossings (Regulation 28)

A pedestrian crossing is the band of white stripes (road markings RM-27 to RM-32) together with the blue OSD-01 sign beside the road. Studs and zigzag markings are optional at the authority's discretion. Give-way lines (like RM-02) are painted across the road on each side of the stripes. Rumble strips may be laid on the approach to slow traffic, and some crossings are raised.

Driver duties

1. Slow down on the approach so that you can stop at the give-way line, or before the crossing if the line has worn away (regulation 28(9)).
2. Stop for any pedestrian on the crossing where traffic is not controlled by a police officer or working pedestrian lights. Halt at the give-way line and proceed only with due regard to the pedestrian's safety (regulation 28(10)).
3. Do not stop on the crossing, nor within 30 m before it (measured from the approach give-way line) or 15 m after it, unless you are prevented by circumstances beyond your control or must stop to avoid an accident (regulation 28(12)).
4. Where a central median or refuge splits the crossing, each half counts as a separate crossing for the vehicles that cross it (regulation 28(3) proviso).
5. Do not overtake on the approach to a pedestrian crossing. The DMT sample paper lists "when approaching a pedestrian crossing" as a place where you must not overtake, because a stopped or slowing vehicle may hide a pedestrian.

Pedestrian duties (also tested)

• Pedestrians should use the crossing after waiting with due care for approaching vehicles, or as directed by a police officer or the crossing lights (regulation 28(6)).
• They must not delay stopped vehicles unnecessarily (regulation 28(7)).
• Where a crossing is provided, no pedestrian may cross the road anywhere else within 50 m of it (regulation 28(8)). The sample paper asks exactly this.

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5. Pedestrian Light Signals (Regulation 33)

Signal-controlled crossings have a separate pedestrian head with a red standing figure above a green walking figure:

• Red figure: pedestrians must not cross.
• Steady green figure: pedestrians may cross. Drivers face a red signal.
• Flashing green figure: the signal will soon change to red. Pedestrians who have not yet stepped onto the road should not start crossing.
• Push-button crossings: a pedestrian presses the button and waits for the green figure.

Drivers must stop for pedestrians using such a crossing on their green signal and may move off only with due regard to their safety (regulation 32(3)(b)).

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6. Parking Near Signals and Crossings

Schedule VII lets the authority prohibit parking within 50 m on the approach to traffic lights at an intersection, within 30 m before and 15 m after a pedestrian-operated signal, and within 30 m before and 15 m after a pedestrian crossing. Section 2.3 covers these parking distances in full.