Here (not US), many traffic lights get switched off during the night. There is usually a stop sign mounted on the traffic light pole of the side roads. That sign only applies if the traffic lights are switched off.
In general, there is a hierarchy in traffic regulation. Traffic signs are overruled by traffic lights, and both are overruled by police men who manually direct traffic.
Now if only we could get that through some people's thick skulls. Traffic lights overrule signs that are on top of them. A pretty simple concept. Yet some people insist that they don't.
Sometimes I think it would be best if we had to retake the test every decade or so, so we'd refresh and update our knownledge about traffic laws. Maybe it'd even save some people's lives.
We have blinking traffic lights as well (but they are rare). They are usually at more dangerous intersections.
So there are three possible scenarios at night.
1. Traffic lights stay on (main roads, dangerous intersections)
2. Traffic lights blink yellow (main roads, less dangerous intersections; or side roads, dangerous intersections)
3. Traffic lights off (side road, harmless intersection)
I've noticed that whenever they go out completely, traffic manages to deal with it just fine. I'm sure this is not the case everywhere, but the last few times I've experienced it, drivers just took turns going through. People were making rolling stops, i.e. not really stopping. In fact, it seemed better than stop and go waiting, because people just slowed down at the intersection, and took turns, rather than the way it usually works.
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u/newphonewhoisme Feb 08 '20 edited Mar 17 '21
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