Why is this an issue? The traffic regs say if the light is out, including if it cannot be understood, then you treat the light as a red light and stop. Anyone blowing through a controlled intersection is an idiot.
Exactly the situation near me this morning. About 50% of the traffic blew through the off signal as though it was bright green.
“Anyone blowing through a controlled intersection is an idiot.”
True, that. Unfortunately, our roads are filled with idiots who barely have any clue about the rules of the road. They have no idea that flashing red equals “stop”, or that no signal equals “stop.”
I agree. However, most lemmings out there only do what the light tells them. If they can see the light, they may not be aware that the others facing them, or cross-traffic, cannot.
Why not set an emergency procedure that in inclement weather of this nature, all lights flash red and all intersections are to be treated as four-way stops.
The traffic lights weren't out, they were just covered so that they couldn't be seen, and since I live in a snow area I know that those lights may not be blocked out on all sides. Some people may have had the green and could see the green, but those who had the red couldn't see the red.