2023 Indiana Code › Title 9. Motor Vehicles › Article 21. Traffic Regulation › Chapter 3. Traffic Control Signals › 9-21-3-7. Signals Exhibiting Colored Lights or Arrows; Requirements; Explanation of Colors

Sec. 7. (a) Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting different colored lights or colored lighted arrows successively, one (1) at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red, or yellow may be used, except for special pedestrian signals under IC 9-21-18.
(b) The lights indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
(1) Green indication means the following:
(A) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left, unless a sign at the place prohibits either turn.
(B) Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent sidewalk at the time the signal is exhibited.
(C) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by the green arrow or other movement permitted by other indications shown at the same time.
(D) Vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(E) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal, pedestrians facing a green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(2) Steady yellow indication means the following:
(A) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is warned that the related green movement is being terminated and that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter.
(B) A pedestrian facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal, is advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown, and a pedestrian may not start to cross the roadway at that time.
(3) Steady red indication means the following:
(A) Except as provided in clauses (B) and (D), vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red or red arrow signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line. However, if there is no clearly marked stop line, vehicular traffic shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. If there is no crosswalk, vehicular traffic shall stop before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.
(B) Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn described in this clause, vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal, after coming to a complete stop, may cautiously enter the intersection to do the following:
(i) Make a right turn.
(ii) Make a left turn if turning from the left lane or a designated left-turn lane of a one-way street into another one-way street with the flow of traffic.
Vehicular traffic making a turn described in this clause shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic using the intersection.
(C) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal pedestrians facing a steady circular red or red arrow signal may not enter the roadway.
(D) This clause does not apply to the operation of an autocycle or a bicycle directed by a bicycle traffic control signal under section 8.5 of this chapter. If the operator of a motorcycle, motor driven cycle, or bicycle approaches an intersection that is controlled by a traffic control signal, the operator may proceed through the intersection on a steady red signal only if the operator:
(i) comes to a complete stop at the intersection for at least one hundred twenty (120) seconds; and
(ii) exercises due caution as provided by law, otherwise treats the traffic control signal as a stop sign, and determines that it is safe to proceed.
(4) No indication or conflicting indications means the following:
(A) Except as provided in clause (C), vehicular traffic facing an intersection having a signal that displays no indication or conflicting indications, where no other control is present, shall stop before entering the intersection.
(B) After stopping, vehicular traffic may proceed with caution through the intersection and shall yield the right-of-way to traffic within the intersection or approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard.
(C) Vehicular traffic entering an intersection or crosswalk facing a pedestrian hybrid beacon may proceed without stopping if no indication is displayed on the pedestrian hybrid beacon.
(5) This subdivision applies to traffic control signals located at a place other than an intersection. A stop required under this subdivision must be made at the signal, except when the signal is supplemented by a sign or pavement marking indicating where the stop must be made.
(c) A consolidated city may not adopt an ordinance requiring the installation of a sign prohibiting a turn described in subsection (b)(3)(B).
[Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-4-1-35.]
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.8-2010, SEC.2; P.L.43-2011, SEC.3; P.L.206-2014, SEC.1; P.L.82-2015, SEC.5; P.L.149-2015, SEC.55; P.L.60-2023, SEC.5; P.L.211-2023, SEC.26.