Vehicles failing to stop at intersection, Inoperative traffic signals. Coquitlam (4K)
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Navigating Coquitlam Intersections During Power Outages
On February 7, 2017, drivers in Coquitlam faced a hazardous situation at the intersection of Westwood Street and Dewdney Trunk Road. A power outage caused traffic signals to fail, leaving only flashing red lights visible from backup power. This editorial outlines the correct legal response to such scenarios to prevent chaos and collisions.
The Reality of Flashing Red Lights
When a storm or other event causes a power outage at an intersection, traffic signals often switch to a flashing red mode. In Coquitlam, this specific incident involved a four-way intersection where no yellow or green lights were present, only the flashing reds.
Drivers might feel tempted to ignore the signal because they are running late, or they might simply curse at the situation and wait indefinitely. However, both reactions are dangerous and illegal. Confusion at these intersections frequently leads to serious "T-bone" collisions.
The Correct Procedure: Treat It as a Four-Way Stop
To navigate safely when traffic signals are inoperative due to a power outage, you must treat the intersection exactly like a four-way stop. The rules of the road dictate the following hierarchy:
- First to Arrive: The first vehicle to come to a complete stop at the intersection has the right of way to proceed.
- Simultaneous Arrival: If two vehicles arrive and stop at the same time, the vehicle on the right proceeds first.
- Head-On Conflicts: If two vehicles stop facing each other at about the same time, the vehicle making a left turn must yield to the vehicle going straight through. Otherwise, both may proceed straight simultaneously.
Safety Precautions
Regardless of your position in the queue, you must always yield to pedestrians. Before entering the intersection, it is crucial to verify that other approaching vehicles are also following these rules and coming to a complete stop. Backup power systems typically last for a maximum of eight hours; if hydro is not restored within that window, the signals will go completely dark, requiring you to treat the junction as an uncontrolled four-way stop indefinitely.
Stay Informed
For further guidance on understanding intersections, using lanes correctly, and parking rules, drivers are encouraged to consult the Rules of the Road chapter in ICBC's driver guide. Remember that safety is never up to external forces; only you have the power to navigate these situations safely.
Beschreibung
I was a bit shocked, when I drove through this intersection at Westwood St and Dewdney Trunk Rd. I observed so many vehicles failing to stop at this intersection that was clearly controlled by a traffic signals. The traffic lights were not working, due to a power outage in the area.
It’s a stormy day and you approach a flashing red light while driving. As you get closer, it becomes clear it’s a traffic light controlled four-way intersection with a power outage or other mechanical failure. No yellow or green — just red lights flashing in all directions. You…
A) Thank the electricity gods because you’re running late for a very important date, then step on the gas.
B) Approach the intersection slowly and stop only if you see another vehicle approach.
C) Curse the electricity gods, come to a complete stop, and wait for the power to come back on, giving you the green light to proceed.
D) None of the above.
The answer is… D.
Options A) through C) aren’t only ridiculous, they’re dangerous and against the law. And yet, we’ve seen confused drivers approach intersections controlled by traffic signals in similar ways during power outages. Confusion at intersections can cause chaos, which can lead to serious “T-bone” collisions.
What To Do When Traffic Signals Aren’t Working
In a nutshell: treat the intersection like a four-way stop.
The first vehicle to come to a complete stop at the intersection goes first;
If two vehicles arrive and stop at the same time, the one on the right goes first;
If two vehicles stop at the intersection at about the same time and are facing each other, the one making a left turn yields to the one going straight through. Otherwise, both vehicles proceed straight through at the same time.
In all cases, yield to pedestrians.
Before entering the intersection, be sure other approaching vehicles are following the rules and coming to a complete stop.
Inoperative traffic signals caused by a power outage usually show themselves as flashing red lights from backup power, which lasts a maximum eight hours. Signals will go completely dark if hydro isn’t restored during that time. So, keep that in mind if you ever approach a traffic signal controlled intersection with no lights working at all, and treat it like a four-way stop.
For more on understanding intersections, using lanes correctly, and even parking tips and rules, we suggest reading the Rules of the Road chapter in ICBC’s handy driver guide. Or, feel free to ask a question in the comments section below.
And remember, it’s never up to the electricity gods – only you have the power to get through intersections safely when the power goes out.
- See more at: http://tranbc.ca/2016/03/17/traffic-signal-power-outage-what-do-you-do/#sthash.nDFIhBj8.dpuf