Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 31-13 - Traffic Control Devices
Section 31-13-6. - Meaning of traffic control signals.

§ 31-13-6. Meaning of traffic control signals.
Traffic control signals shall have the following meanings for vehicles and pedestrians:
(1) Steady green signals shall have the following meanings:
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal is permitted to proceed straight through or turn right or left or make a U-turn movement, except as such movement is prohibited by lane-use signs, turn prohibition signs, lane markings, separate turn signal, or other traffic control devices.
(A) Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left or making a U-turn movement, shall yield the right-of-way to:
(I) Pedestrians lawfully within an associated crosswalk; and
(II) Other vehicles lawfully within the intersection.
(B) Vehicular traffic turning left or making a U-turn movement to the left shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when such turning vehicle is moving across or within the intersection.
(ii) Pedestrians facing a circular green signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal or other traffic control device, are permitted to proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked associated crosswalk. The pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection or so close as to create an immediate hazard at the time that the green signal is first displayed.
(iii) A bicyclist facing a green bicycle signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at that place prohibits either turn. The bicyclist shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles within the intersection at the time the green bicycle signal is shown.
(iv) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, displayed alone or in combination with another signal, is permitted to cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by the arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other signals displayed at the same time.
(A) Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left or making a U-turn movement, shall yield the right-of-way to:
(I) Pedestrians lawfully within an associated crosswalk; and
(II) Other vehicles lawfully within the intersection.
(v) Pedestrians facing a green arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal or other traffic control device, shall not cross the roadway.
(2) Steady yellow signals shall have the following meanings:
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow signal is warned that the related green movement is being terminated and that a steady red signal will be displayed immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection. The rules set forth concerning vehicular operation under the movement(s) being terminated shall continue to apply while the steady circular yellow signal indication is displayed.
(ii) A bicyclist facing a steady yellow bicycle signal is thereby warned that the related right-of-way is being terminated and that a red bicycle signal will be shown immediately. A bicyclist facing a steady yellow bicycle signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, shall stop before entering the marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no marked crosswalk, then before entering the intersection. If a bicyclist cannot stop safely, the bicyclist may proceed cautiously through the intersection.
(iii) Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow arrow signal is warned that the related green arrow movement or the related flashing arrow movement is being terminated. The rules set forth concerning vehicular operation under the movement(s) being terminated shall continue to apply while the steady yellow arrow signal is displayed.
(iv) Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal or other traffic control device, shall not start to cross the roadway.
(3) Steady red signals shall have the following meanings:
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal, unless entering the intersection to make another movement permitted by another signal, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; but if there is no stop line, traffic shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection; or if there is no crosswalk, then before entering the intersection; and shall remain stopped until a signal to proceed is displayed, or as provided below:
(A) Except when a traffic control device is in a place prohibiting a turn on red or a steady red arrow signal is displayed, vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal is permitted to enter the intersection to turn right. The right to proceed with the turn shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
(ii) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow, unless entering the intersection to make another movement permitted by another signal, and shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; but if there is no stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection; or if there is no crosswalk, then before entering the intersection; and shall remain stopped until a signal or other traffic control device permitting the movement indicated by the red arrow is displayed.
(iii) Pedestrians facing a steady circular red or steady red arrow signal shall not enter the roadway, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal or other traffic control device.
(iv) A bicyclist facing a steady red bicycle signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no marked crosswalk, then before entering the intersection. The bicyclist shall remain stopped until a green bicycle signal is shown.
(4) Flashing yellow signals shall have the following meanings:
(i) Vehicular traffic on an approach to an intersection facing a flashing circular yellow signal is permitted to cautiously enter the intersection to proceed straight through or turn right or left or make a U-turn except as such movement is prohibited by lane-use signs, turn prohibition signs, lane markings, turn signals, or other traffic control devices.
(A) Such vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left or making a U-turn, shall yield the right-of-way to:
(I) Pedestrians lawfully within an associated crosswalk; and
(II) Other vehicles lawfully within the intersection.
(B) Vehicular traffic turning left or making a U-turn to the left shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the turning vehicle is moving across or within the intersection.
(ii) When a flashing circular yellow signal(s) is displayed as a beacon to supplement another traffic control device, road users are notified that there is a need to pay extra attention to the message contained thereon or that the regulatory or warning requirements of the other traffic control device, which may not be applicable at all times, are currently in force.
(iii) Vehicular traffic, on an approach to an intersection facing a flashing yellow arrow signal, displayed alone or in combination with another signal, is permitted to cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or other such movement as is permitted by other signal displayed at the same time.
(A) Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left or making a U-turn, shall yield the right-of-way to:
(I) Pedestrians lawfully within an associated crosswalk; and
(II) Other vehicles lawfully within the intersection.
(B) Vehicular traffic turning left or making a U-turn to the left shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the turning vehicle is moving across or within the intersection.
(iv) Pedestrians facing any flashing yellow signal at an intersection, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal or other traffic control device, are permitted to proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked associated crosswalk. Pedestrians shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that the flashing yellow signal is first displayed.
(5) Flashing red signals shall have the following meanings:
(i) Vehicular traffic, on an approach to an intersection facing a flashing circular red signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; but if there is no stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection; or if there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection. The right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
(ii) When a flashing circular red signal(s) is displayed as a beacon to supplement another traffic control device, road users are notified that there is a need to pay extra attention to the message contained thereon or that the regulatory requirements of the other traffic control device, which may not be applicable at all times, are currently in force.
(iii) Vehicular traffic, on an approach to an intersection, facing a flashing red arrow signal if intending to turn in the direction indicated by the arrow shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; but if there is no stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection; or if there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection. The right to proceed with the turn shall be limited to the direction indicated by the arrow and shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
(iv) Pedestrians facing any flashing red signal at an intersection, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal or other traffic control device, are permitted to proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked associated crosswalk. Pedestrians shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that the flashing red signal is first displayed.
History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 22, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 31-13-6; P.L. 1963, ch. 81, § 1; P.L. 1976, ch. 25, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 292, § 108; P.L. 2004, ch. 449, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 538, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 67, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 73, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 193, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 261, § 1.