Part VI: Class III: Road Signals | Road Traffic (Traffic Signs and Signals) Regulations, 2016

33. Nature and purpose of road signals

(1) Road signals consist of:

(a) traffic light signals:

(i) vehicular light signals; and

(ii) pedestrian light signals;

(iii) pedal cycle light signals;

(iv) flashing signal;

(b) flag signals;

(2) Subject to this part:

(a) the purpose of traffic light signals shall be to direct road users by means of light signals to take some particular action or to exercise caution;

(b) the purpose of flashing signals shall be:

(i) to warn road users to exercise caution; or

(ii) to emphasize the existence of a warning sign or a regulatory sign.

*(i) Traffic light signals*

34. Signal-faces of traffic light signals

(1) The signal-face of every traffic light signal, other than a pedestrian traffic light signal, shall consist of at least three circular lenses arranged vertically as follows:

(a) at the top there shall be a red lens; and

(b) below the red lens there shall be an amber lens; and

(2) Additional lenses showing green arrows may be added to the signal-face of any traffic light signal, in such position as the authority may determine which lenses shall not be illuminated except in conjunction with the red, amber or green lens of such signal-face:

Provided that no such additional lens showing a green arrow pointing to the left or right shall be illuminated at any road intersection or junction at the same time as the green lens of such signal-face unless:

(a) there is illuminated in conjunction with such green lens and green arrow an additional lens for the control of pedestrians showing a red standing figure; and

(b) all other traffic at such road intersection or junction is facing an illuminated red lens.

(3) No part of the additional lenses mentioned in sub-section (2) shall be illuminated except the green arrow or the red standing figure.

35. Position of sequential light signals

(1) In every intersection or place where traffic light signals are placed, there shall be at least two unsuspended signal-faces facing each direction from which traffic approaches such intersection or place.

(2) Subject to subsection (1), a local authority may:

(a) place additional suspended traffic light signal-faces in any road intersection or point where traffic light signals are placed; and

(b) erect additional lenses showing green arrows and red standing figures; and

(3) All traffic light signal-faces shall be clearly visible to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians whom such traffic light signals are intended to control.

36. Lenses of sequential light signals

(1) There shall be no lettering on the lenses of any traffic light signal-faces:

Provided that the red lens may have the word "STOP" marked on it in small black letters.

(2) The lenses of every signal-face shall:

(a) have a diameter of at least two hundred millimetres; and

(b) be not more than one hundred and fifty millimetres apart, measured from the other edge of each lens.

(3) In respect of additional lenses mentioned in subsection 37(2)(b), the shape and dimensions of the green arrow and the red standing figure shall be as prescribed under Class III in the First Schedule.

(4) Each lens of a traffic light signal-face shall be independently lit by a lamp having a luminosity of not less than that of a sixty-watt clear tungsten-filament lamp:

Provided that, if a lens has a diameter of three millimetres or more, it shall be lit by a lamp having a luminosity of not less than that of a "one hundred-watt clear tungsten filament lamp".

37. Visibility of sequential light signals

(1) The lenses, reflectors and hoods or visors of every traffic light signal shall be designed so as to render the lenses, when illuminated, clearly visible to approaching traffic and to prevent as far as practicable the signal-face of such traffic light signal from being seen from a direction to which its directions do not apply.

(2) A local authority may fit a screen behind the signal-face of any traffic light signals so as to throw such signal face into relief and render it more visible to approachable traffic.

38. Supports of traffic light signals

Where a sequential traffic light is supported on a post, that portion of such post which is visible below the lowest edge of the signal face of the traffic light signals shall be coloured in yellow.

39. Light sequence of traffic light signals

(1) The following is the sequence in which each lens of the signal-face of a traffic light signals shall be illuminated:

(a) first, the red lens; then

(b) the green lens; then

(2) The length of time during which each lens of the signal face shall be illuminated shall be determined by the local authority.

(3) If the local authority considers that in respect of any traffic light signal, the light sequence prescribed in subsection (1) is not warranted during certain hours, the amber lens of such traffic light signals may be illuminated alone continuously or as a flashing light.

40. Directions of traffic light signals

(1) The directions and indications intended to be conveyed by every sequential traffic signal shall be as prescribed in this section.

(2) When the red lens of the signal-face of any traffic light signal is illuminated and no green arrow is illuminated in conjunction therewith:

(a) no vehicle facing such signal-face shall be driven across the stop-line; and

(b) pedestrians facing such signal-face may cross the intersection or junction, in so doing, shall exercise all due precaution and give precedence to vehicular traffic within such intersection.

(3) When the green lens of the signal-face is illuminated and no green arrow or red standing figure is illuminated in conjunction therewith:

(a) the driver of any vehicle facing such signal-face shall, with all due precaution, proceed straight ahead or to the left or right:

Provided that the driver of any vehicle which is turning to the left or right shall, after entering the intersection or junction, yield the right of way to any pedestrian who is within the demarcated pedestrian crossing and is crossing the intersection or junction in terms of subsection 3(b);

and

(b) pedestrians facing such signal-face may, with all due precaution, cross the intersection or road junction.

(4) When the amber lens of the signal-face is illuminated as part of the light-sequence prescribed by section 41(1):

(a) no vehicle facing such signal-face shall be driven across the stop-line:

Provided that, if when the yellow lens becomes illuminated, any such vehicle is so close to the stop-line that it cannot be brought to a halt safely behind the stop-line, it may be driven across the stop-line, subject to all due precautions being taken;

and

(b) pedestrians facing such signal-face may cross the intersection or road junction, but in so doing, shall exercise all due precaution and give precedence to vehicular traffic within such intersection or junction.

(5) When the amber lens of the signal-face is illuminated continuously or as a flashing light as provided in section 41(3):

(a) the driver of any vehicle crossing the stop-line shall:

(i) exercise all due caution; and

(ii) in the case of an intersection or road junction, give precedence to traffic that first arrives at the intersection;

and

(b) pedestrians facing such signal-face may cross the intersection or road junction, but, in so doing, shall exercise all due precaution and give precedence to vehicular traffic within such intersection or junction.

(6) When the red lens of the signal-face is illuminated in conjunction with an additional lens showing a green arrow:

(a) the driver of any vehicle facing such signal-face shall, with all due caution, proceed only in the direction indicated by the green arrow, but, in so doing, shall give precedence to any other vehicular traffic which, or pedestrian who, may be within or entering such intersection or road junction; and

(7) When the green lens of the signal-face is illuminated in conjunction with additional lenses showing a green arrow and a red standing figure:

(a) the driver of any vehicle facing such signal-face may, with all due caution, proceed in the direction indicated by the green arrow; and

(b) pedestrians facing such signal-face may cross the intersection or road junction, but in so doing, shall give precedence to vehicular traffic within such intersection or junction.

41. Duties of drivers at traffic light signal-controlled intersections

(1) Despite section 42:

(a) the driver of any vehicle shall, when approaching, entering or proceeding through any traffic light signal-controlled intersection or road junction, comply with the directions of any regulatory sign or carriage-way marking whose directions apply to such driver;

(b) no person shall drive a vehicle or trailer into a traffic light signal-controlled intersection or junction in a straight-ahead lane if:

(i) any other vehicle is within the intersection or junction or immediately beyond the intersection or junction; and

(ii) the position or movement of such other vehicle is such that it is clear to the driver of the first-mentioned vehicle or trailer that he is unlikely to be able to drive through the intersection or junction without having to stop so that any portion of his vehicle or trailer becomes stationary in the intersection or junction and causes an obstruction.

42. Pedestrian and cyclist light signals

(1) Despite anything in this Part, a local authority may install lenses for the control of pedestrians and cyclists in conjunction with any traffic light signal.

(2) Lenses for the control of pedestrians and cyclists shall consist of red standing and green walking figures as prescribed under Class III in the First Schedule:

Provided that a green walking figure may be illuminated only in conjunction with a red lens to prohibit the passage of vehicular traffic over the crossing.

(3) Lenses for the control of cyclists shall consist of red and green bicycles as prescribed under Class III in the First Schedule.

(4) No part of any lens for the control of pedestrians and cyclists other than the figure shall be illuminated.

(5) When a lens for the control of pedestrians and cyclists is illuminated to show a red standing figure and a red bicycle, pedestrians and cyclists facing such lens may cross the road, but, in so doing, shall give precedence to vehicular traffic approaching from the road to the left or right.

(6) When a lens for the control of pedestrians and cyclists is illuminated to show a green walking figure and a green bicycle, pedestrians and cyclists facing such lens may cross the road "with all due care".

43. Flashing signals

(1) Flashing red signals may be combined with "level crossing" signs in the manner prescribed under Class III in the First Schedule.

(2) Where flashing signals combined with a "level crossing" sign as provided in subsection (1) are illuminated, the drivers of all vehicles approaching such sign shall:

(a) stop their vehicles before they enter the rail/road level crossing; and

(b) after stopping, proceed with caution.

(3) All flashing signals other than those specified in subsection (1) shall be amber or yellow in colour.

44. Flag signals and hand signals

Flag signals and hand signals may be used for the direction of traffic in any temporary limiting condition, and where used they take precedence over any other road signs, markings and signals.

45. Police may relax requirements of this Part in certain circumstances

Where in the opinion of the Officer in Charge of any police station there is a danger of crime to drivers of vehicles, and it is in the public interest to do so, the Officer may by notice displayed on the police bulletin board of such police station permit drivers of vehicles in the area of its jurisdiction not earlier than 8 p.m. and not later than 5 a.m. to ignore the sequence of a traffic light signal provided they do so without posing danger to themselves or other road user.