Traffic – Article 04. Traffic Control Devices

Section 13-22. Authority to install traffic-control devices.

The Town of Tryon, subject to any directions which the Board of Trustees may give by motion or resolution, shall have placed and maintained traffic-control signs, signals, and devices when and as required under the traffic ordinances of this Town to make effective the provisions of said ordinances, and may have placed and maintained such additional traffic-control signs, signals, and devices as it may deem necessary to regulate traffic under the traffic ordinances of the Town or under state law or to guide or warn traffic.

Section 13-23. Manual and Specifications for traffic-control devices.

All traffic-control signs, signals, and devices shall conform to the manual and specifications approved by the State Highway Department. All signs and signals required hereunder for a particular purpose shall so far as practicable be uniform as to type and location throughout the Town. All traffic-control devices so erected and not inconsistent with the provisions of state law or this Chapter shall be official traffic-control devices.

Section 13-24. Obedience to Official Traffic-Control Devices.

The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter or law, unless otherwise directed by a Police Officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of any authorized emergency vehicle in this Chapter.

Section 13-25. When Traffic Signs Required for Enforcement Purposes.

No provisions of this Chapter for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violations an official sign is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that signs are required, such section shall be effective even though no signs are erected or in place.

Section 13-26. Traffic-Control Signal Legend.

Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting the words “GO”, “CAUTION”, or “STOP”, or exhibiting different colored lights successively one at a time, or with arrows, the following colors only shall be used, and said terms and lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:

Green alone or “GO”:
1. Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign or barricade at such place prohibits either such turn. But 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 crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.
2. Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
Steady yellow alone:
1. Vehicular traffic facing the signal is thereby warned that the red or “STOP” signal will be exhibited immediately thereafter, and such vehicular traffic shall not enter or be crossing the intersection when the red or “STOP” signal is exhibited.
2. Pedestrians facing such signal are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway, and any pedestrian then starting to cross shall yield the right of way to all vehicles.
Steady red alone, or “STOP”:
1. Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until green or “GO” is shown alone, or while the signal is still red, vehicular traffic may turn right from the appropriate lane after coming to the required stop, unless otherwise provided. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right of way to pedestrians lawfully using the intersection.
2. No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless he can do so safely and without interfering with vehicular traffic.
Steady red with green arrow:
1. Vehicular traffic facing such signal may cautiously enter the intersection only to may the movement indicated by such arrow, but shall yield the right of way to pedestrians lawfully within a crosswalk, and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
2. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a green arrow, shown alone or in combination with another indication, 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 time, and any such movement shall only be made from the lane that has lawfully been designated for such turning movement and which shall be available for such turn.
3. No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless he can do so safely and without interfering with vehicular traffic.
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 that 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.

Section 13-27. Flashing Signals.

Whenever an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a traffic sign or signal, it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
Flashing red (stop signal). When a red lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashing, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at a limit line when marked or, if none, then before entering the intersection; and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
Flashing yellow (caution signal). When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.
This section shall not apply at railroad grade crossings.

Section 13-28. Display of Unauthorized Signs, Signals, or Markings.

No person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any highway an unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which projects any flashing or revolving beams of light, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal; provided, however, that this Section shall not be construed to prohibit the erection upon private property adjacent to highways of signs giving useful directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for official signs.
Every such placed sign, signal, marking, or device is hereby declared to be a public nuisance.

Section 13-29. Interference with official traffic-control devices or railroad signs or signals.

No person shall, without lawful authority, attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield, or insignia thereon or any other part thereof.

Section 13-30. Town of Tryon to designate crosswalks and establish safety Zones.

The Town of Tryon is hereby authorized to designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks, or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where in its opinion there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway, and at such other places, as it may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians.

Section 13-31. Traffic lanes.

The Board of Trustees, by motion or resolution, is hereby authorized to have traffic lanes marked upon the roadway of any street where a regular alignment of traffic is necessary.
Where such traffic lanes have been marked, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to fail or refuse to keep such vehicle within the boundaries of any such lane except when lawfully passing another vehicle or preparatory to making a lawful turning movement or otherwise as authorized by ordinance.

Town of Tryon