Traffic signal basics — Nebraska Permit Test

When a traffic signal is dark from a power failure and no officer or flagger is directing traffic, treat the intersection as an all-way stop.

When the lights go out, drivers from every side may roll in at once and meet in the middle of the intersection.

If a traffic signal is not operational (dark) because of a power failure or other cause and no peace officer, flagger or other traffic control is in place, the intersection shall be treated as an all-way stop.

Traffic signals must be obeyed unless a traffic officer is directing traffic or you must make room for emergency vehicles.

An officer in the intersection can see a crash or a fire truck coming that the light knows nothing about.

These signals must be obeyed unless a traffic officer is directing traffic or to make room for emergency vehicles.

The standard order of an automated traffic signal is green, then yellow, then red, then green again.

A driver who expects green to jump straight to red may be caught in the middle when the light changes.

The standard sequence of an automated traffic signal is green-yellow red-green.

How must you treat an intersection whose traffic signal is dark and no one is directing traffic?

As an all-way stop intersection. When the lights go out, drivers from every side may roll in at once and meet in the middle of the intersection. Nebraska Driver’s Manual, p.31: “If a traffic signal is not operational (dark) because of a power failure or other cause and no peace officer, flagger or other traffic control is in place, the intersection shall be treated as an all-way stop.”