2023 New York Laws › VAT - Vehicle and Traffic › Title 7 - Rules of the Road › Article 24 - Traffic Signs, Signals and Markings › 1111 - Traffic-Control Signal Indications.

§ 1111. Traffic-control   signal   indications.  Whenever  traffic  is
controlled by traffic-control signals, other than lane direction control
signal  indications  provided  in  section   eleven   hundred   sixteen,
exhibiting   different   colored  lights,  or  colored  lighted  arrows,
successively, one at a time or in combination, only  the  colors  green,
yellow  and  red shall be used, and said lights shall indicate and apply
to drivers of vehicles and to pedestrians as follows:
(a) Green indications:
1. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady circular green  signal
may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such
place  prohibits  either such turn. Such traffic, including when turning
right or left, shall yield the right of way to  other  traffic  lawfully
within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal
is exhibited.
2. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady green arrow signal may
cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by
such  arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications
shown at the same time, except that a U-Turn  may  be  made  by  traffic
facing  a left green arrow signal unless a sign prohibits such U-Turn or
such U-Turn is in violation of any other provision of law. Such  traffic
shall  yield  the  right  of  way  to  other traffic lawfully within the
intersection or an adjacent cross  walk  at  the  time  such  signal  is
exhibited.
3.  Unless  otherwise  directed  by  a  pedestrian-control  signal  as
provided in section eleven hundred twelve, pedestrians facing any steady
green signal, except when the sole green signal is  a  turn  arrow,  may
proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(b) Yellow indications:
1. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady circular yellow signal
may enter the intersection; however, said traffic is thereby warned that
the  related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication
will be exhibited immediately thereafter.
2. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady  yellow  arrow  signal
may  cautiously  enter  the  intersection  only to complete the movement
indicated by such arrow or make such other movement as is  permitted  by
other  indications  shown  at  the  same  time; however, said traffic is
thereby warned that the related green arrow movement is being terminated
or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter.
3.  Unless  otherwise  directed  by  a  pedestrian-control  signal  as
provided in section eleven hundred twelve, pedestrians facing any steady
yellow  signal  are  thereby  advised that there is insufficient time to
cross the roadway before a red indication is  shown  and  no  pedestrian
shall then start to cross the roadway.
(d) Red indications:
1.  Traffic,  except pedestrians, facing a steady circular red signal,
unless to make such other movement as is permitted by other  indications
shown at the same time, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if
none,  then shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of
the intersection, or in the event there is no crosswalk,  at  the  point
nearest  the  intersecting  roadway  where  the driver has a view of the
approaching traffic on the  intersecting  roadway  before  entering  the
intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is
shown except as provided in paragraph two of this subdivision.
2. Except in a city having a population of one million or more, unless
a sign is in place prohibiting such turn:
a.  Traffic  facing  a steady circular red signal may cautiously enter
the intersection to make a right turn  after  stopping  as  required  by
paragraph  one of this subdivision, except that right turning traffic is

not required to stop when a steady right green arrow signal is shown  at
the  same time. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians
within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at the intersection and  to  other
traffic lawfully using the intersection;
b. Traffic, while on a one-way roadway, facing a steady red signal may
cautiously  enter  the  intersection  to make a left turn onto a one-way
roadway after stopping as required by paragraph one of this subdivision.
Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within a marked
or unmarked crosswalk at the intersection and to other traffic  lawfully
using the intersection.
c. On or after the effective date of this subparagraph, the sign which
prohibits  such  turn  shall  be  prominently  displayed  from all newly
installed traffic signals where possible.
Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  law,  any  city  having  a
population of one million or more, is hereby authorized and empowered to
adopt  a  local law authorizing subparagraph a or b of this paragraph to
be applicable within such city. Upon the adoption of such local law  the
exception  provided herein for a city having a population of one million
or more shall no longer be applicable within such city.
3. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady red arrow  signal  may
not  enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by such arrow
and, unless entering the intersection to make such other movement as  is
permitted  by  other indications shown at the same time, shall stop at a
clearly marked stop line, but if none, then shall stop  before  entering
the  crosswalk  on  the  near  side of the intersection, or in the event
there is no crosswalk at the  point  nearest  the  intersecting  roadway
where  the  driver  has  a  view  of  the  approaching  traffic  on  the
intersecting roadway before entering the intersection and  shall  remain
standing until an indication to proceed is shown.
4.  Unless  otherwise  directed  by  a  pedestrian-control  signal  as
provided in section eleven hundred twelve, pedestrians facing any steady
red signal shall not enter the roadway.
5. Notwithstanding the provision of paragraph two of this subdivision,
no school bus, while transporting  pupils  for  any  purpose,  shall  be
permitted to proceed when facing a steady red signal.
(e)  Traffic  shall  obey signs requiring obedience to traffic-control
signals at intersections other than those  at  which  such  signals  are
located.  No  intersection  not  controlled  by  such signs prior to the
effective date of this section shall hereafter be made subject  to  such
method  of control and no ordinance, order, rule or regulation requiring
such obedience shall hereafter be adopted.
(f) In the event an official traffic-control  signal  is  erected  and
maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this
section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their
nature  can  have  no  application. Any stop required shall be made at a
sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made,
but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at
the signal.