CHARLOTTE, N.C. — We all know the basic rules of the road, such as following the speed limit, stopping at stop signs and not passing when there's a double-yellow line, but what happens if traffic lights are out? Do you know what to do?
It's pretty easy to manage most intersections when the traffic lights are working properly. But some WCNC Charlotte viewers are concerned their fellow drivers simply don't know what to do when the lights aren't working.
Nicole S. sent an email asking what happens if the lights are out, saying she's noticed a lot of drivers aren't following the rules she was taught while getting her license.
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North Carolina law states if you’re approaching an intersection and the traffic lights are not working, you need to treat it like a four-way intersection.
"The vehicle that approaches the intersection first has the right away," Rogers said. "If vehicles approach at the same time, the vehicle to the right has the right of way, a vehicle that plans to turn must yield to all traffic going straight."
Rogers said in these instances, it’s best to play it safe.
"I would just err on the side of caution, maybe use a little eye-to-eye contact and some hand motions to kind of communicate with the other drivers so that you can proceed to the intersection safely."
After safely entering the intersection, Rogers said you should contact the non-emergency line.
"Make sure that the police are aware," he said. "So they can get department transportation or police officers out to that intersection as quickly as possible. so we can rectify that situation so that there are no collisions that are occurring."
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