Class hour on traffic rules “Traffic signals with additional sections, traffic controller signals”

The current Traffic Rules were created in order to streamline the movement of vehicles and more, make it safer and reduce the accident rate. But the constant addition and change of rules cannot but confuse motorists. Plus, the interpretation is not always clear to everyone. This is especially true for drivers who have only recently been behind the wheel.

If, in principle, no special problems can arise when passing a regular traffic light with 3 signal lights, then the presence of additional sections raises a number of questions and ambiguous reactions.

Paragraph 6.4 of the traffic rules states that if there is a black contour arrow on the main green traffic light signal, it informs about additional sections and indicates a different permitted direction of movement than the signals on additional sections.

Not all car enthusiasts know and understand how to act in a given situation, and what needs to be done if there are additional sections. This issue requires mandatory detailed consideration, which will allow you to act as correctly and accurately as possible.

What does this traffic light look like?

Even those who have never driven before know the standard traffic light signals. Red, green and yellow lights indicate the need to stop or start moving. And here everything is extremely clear. But not all motorists have yet figured out the additional section.

The first step is to understand the difference between traffic lights with additional sections and directional traffic lights. In the case of the latter, the arrows indicate a ban or permission to start driving on certain lanes or groups of lanes. Moreover, each individual arrow is responsible for movement specifically in its own lane.

Not all motorists understand why an additional traffic light section is needed and how to interpret the presence of such an element with an arrow straight, left or right. The additional section, unlike the directional traffic light, is responsible for the ability to turn from the main lane to the right or left. Such solutions are used to relieve overly busy intersections. When passing a special traffic light equipped with an additional section, the driver is given a hint when he can turn left, right and continue driving.

With sufficient experience and knowledge, such traffic lights really help motorists significantly. But for beginners they cause a number of problems and difficulties.

The rules for driving in areas where traffic lights with additional and prompting sections are installed directly depend on the combination or combination in which these windows light up. To do this, you should look at the traffic rules and find out what the current Traffic Rules say about this.

It is not difficult to imagine a classic traffic light with three windows (red, green and yellow). At the level of the green window there may be 1 or 2 additional sections. This is the most common option. Although there is another situation where the section is located at the level of the red traffic light. We will also talk about it separately.

Most often, motorists for whom additional sections of a working traffic light cause difficulties and concerns are faced with several situations. It’s worth talking about them in more detail:

• additional sections are disabled;
• the additional section is on, and at the same time the green signal of the main traffic light is on;
• It's still on, but the traffic lights are red.

It is necessary to study all types of traffic lights and consider situations associated with an additional section. This will allow you to understand how the driver should behave in a given situation. If you look into the issue, it turns out that there is nothing complicated in this matter.

Can there be errors in the operation of a traffic light with an additional section?

Road workers, wanting to relieve congestion at a “problematic” intersection, install an auxiliary section on a previously installed traffic light without an arrow indicating the direction of travel. In this case, on the green light of the main board there is also no outline indicating the presence of additional sections.

An example of a situation showing how drivers should interpret such signals. If, when approaching an intersection, the traffic light has a right inactive additional signal without an arrow, but the main green light is on (without an arrow outline), then the driver can safely turn right and not wait for the additional section to be activated.

If such a maneuver interests traffic police officers, and they interpret it as driving through a prohibitory signal, then the driver has the right to challenge this decision. Only a traffic light with a contour arrow on the main board has legal force. In other cases, road users are not required to guess what exactly this signal means and can safely ignore it.

Occasionally, there are other “mistakes” in the traffic controller’s work related to non-standard traffic in a particular area. For example, it may be that the main green signal on the board regulates left turns, and the additional section is responsible for the trajectory of crossing the intersection in a straight line. In this case, you should pay more attention to the arrows marked on the traffic light windows.

Despite its apparent complexity, a traffic light with side sections is a simple (and often intuitive) traffic control at intersections. This device allows you to increase the capacity of individual sections of the road and avoid the formation of congestion on them.

Additional section prohibits movement

When approaching such a traffic light, you can see that the side windows or side sections are not lit, or they glow a prohibitory red color.

Everything here is extremely simple. When a section is not lit or is lit but red, moving in the direction the arrow is pointing is currently prohibited.

In such a situation, it makes no sense to look at the color of the main traffic light or in which direction the additional section arrow is turned. If it is disabled or highlighted in red, you cannot move in that direction under any circumstances. You should wait for green.

Arrow and green signal

Let's consider a different situation when the traffic light signal, as well as the additional section of the device with the arrow itself, are green. And here the actions of drivers depend on the specific situation. Or more precisely, from what the traffic light itself looks like:

• the device has only one side arrow (left or right, respectively);
• There are two arrows on the device at the same time, pointing in lateral directions.

It is not difficult to guess that the left section will be responsible for turning left, and the right section will be responsible for turning right.

There are two ambiguous situations here related to how to drive a road section correctly in one case or another. Look at which side allows you to turn further.

1. The right additional arrow is lit green, the traffic light is green. If you need to move to the right, then in this position the additional section with the arrow of the main traffic light allows you to perform the maneuver. Pay close attention to the additional signal arrow. In this situation, the motorist has the right to turn to the right. Only pedestrians crossing the roadway in the direction in which the driver is turning are required to give way. But most often, traffic lights at an intersection work in tandem, and in such a situation, pedestrians will see red.
2. The left additional section is lit green, but the current color of the main traffic light is red for the driver. In such a situation, it is possible to turn left. Usually there should be no obstacles in the way of movement and there is no need to give way. In countries with right-hand traffic, which includes Russia, the left side is often used as an unloading lane. Other traffic participants at this moment cannot drive in the direction of the turn you are making. But there is one exception. When a vehicle moves straight in the oncoming lane or turns to its right, you must give way to them.

But this is far from a complete list of situations that a motorist may encounter.

What signals can you follow?

Restrictions or permissions for travel in one direction or another depend on the currently active sections and their combinations.

A classic traffic light has round signal windows, along the bottom row of which (at the green light level) there are one or two additional sections. You can drive straight through such a traffic light using the following signs:

• the main green signal located in the center is active;
• The main green one in the center is active and is complemented by a green arrow on the side window.

If the main light is red, and green is only on one of the auxiliary sections, then straight travel is prohibited. In this case, drivers at the intersection can only turn in the direction indicated by the arrow (provided they follow the lane rules).

Traffic lights with additional section

Other combinations of signals that can be reproduced by a similar device:

1. An inactive side window or its red light is interpreted as a complete ban on traffic in that direction. The designations on the main display do not matter.
2. A combination of green light on the main and right side signal means a right turn is permitted. In this case, only pedestrians need to give way. This situation is rare, as automatic traffic controllers are configured in such a way that they avoid crossing paths between motorists and pedestrians.
3. The combination of red on the main board and green on the right additional board is interpreted as a permitted right turn with the obligatory condition of giving priority to other road users;
4. A combination of green light on the left auxiliary arrow and red light on the main display - left turn is allowed. There is no need to give way to anyone. However, if, in violation of the rules, someone moves straight or to the right in the oncoming lane, then it is better to let such a violator pass and not provoke an accident.

Additional green arrow parallel to the red traffic light

Quite often, beginners who have recently found themselves behind the wheel are frightened by the red color of the main traffic light, despite the presence of additional permitting signs giving the go-ahead to perform the maneuver. As a result, such a car can stop all traffic.

Imagine a situation where an additional light in front of you lights up or is glowing green, pointing to the left or right side of the movement. But the traffic light itself is red. This is very confusing for some drivers, and they believe that driving is prohibited for them. But it all depends on which direction you are moving. This situation indicates the possibility of making a turn in the direction in which the green additional arrow is pointing. But you must give way to motorists driving in other directions.

Despite the fact that the traffic light is red, the presence of a green light in the additional section gives the right to turn in the direction indicated by the arrow, without waiting for a green signal from the traffic light itself.

As for the need to give way, then we are talking about not creating interference. Do not start, continue or resume driving if this requires other drivers to slow down or change the direction of their own movement. Roughly speaking, when, because of your maneuver, other drivers slow down or change their trajectory, this indicates a violation of traffic rules on your part, since you played the role of an obstacle.

The rules do not clearly state which vehicle, depending on the direction of their approach, you must yield to. It's not worth the risk in this situation. It is better to make it a rule that you need to give way in situations where the traffic light is red, but the additional section is green.

The combination of a green additional signal and the main red signal exclusively indicates the ability to move in the direction where the additional section indicates. You just need to remember that in such a situation you do not have a priority or primary rule. It is for those motorists in front of whom the green traffic light is on at the same time and the green arrow has reached the signal. Therefore, it is they who are required to give way, and also not to interfere with other traffic participants, carrying out a maneuver of this kind.

Additional green arrow and red signal

If you see a green additional arrow to the right or left in front of you, but the traffic light is red, then this means one thing: you can make a turn in the indicated direction, but at the same time give way to traffic participants traveling in other directions.

According to the traffic rules, the rules for driving through the additional section of the traffic light are as follows:

• Give way (do not interfere with traffic). This means that you should not start, continue or resume driving if this requires drivers of other vehicles to reduce speed or change direction. In other words, if as a result of your maneuver someone was forced to slow down and change the trajectory of their car, then you violated the traffic rules.
• The rules do not stipulate that you must give a clear path to transport approaching from exactly where - approaching from the right, from the left, from the oncoming lane. Therefore, the green additional section and the red signal are most easily regarded as a “Give way” sign (2.4).

This situation is regulated by clause 13.5 of the Traffic Regulations.

The combination of the green additional section and the main red signal only shows you the possibility of moving in a given direction. The priority right of passage here is not with you, but with the driver in front of whom two green lights are lit - an additional and a main one.

The nuances of moving straight

Separately, it is worth considering the situation when a motorist needs to move straight, and a traffic light with an additional section appears in front of him.

In such a situation, direct movement is only permissible in 2 situations:

• the driver who is about to drive straight sees the green light of the main traffic light;
• The driver's main light is green and the additional green light is on.

If the main signal is currently red and the arrow is green, then driving in a straight line is prohibited in this situation. There is nothing complicated here, because motorists often have no problems with direct passage of a traffic light that has an additional section.

Inspection with inactive arrows

Not so often the traffic rules deal with the issue that concerns the passage of traffic lights equipped with auxiliary sections, where the side windows themselves do not light up. That is, the arrows are inactive. This causes some difficulties for motorists; they stop, wait for a signal, and delay other road users.

Imagine that a car is approaching an intersection and the main traffic light turns green. But the side section remains inactive. The red or green arrow does not light up on it. In this situation, there is no need to panic and wait until it becomes active. According to the rules, you are allowed to calmly carry out the planned maneuver.

Green arrow at red signal level

It is equally important to consider a slightly different situation, when an additional section is present, but is not at the level of the green signal, but is located directly to the left or right of the red light of the main traffic light.

A similar version of a traffic light appeared relatively recently. Structurally, this is a classic traffic light with 3 lights, complemented by a sign with a graphic image in the form of a green arrow. Depending on the location, she looks to the right or left.

The main distinguishing feature of such a traffic light is precisely the level of location of the sign. If in the case of additional sections that light up red and green, they are mounted at the level of the green traffic light, then the sign is attached near the red signal.

Such a relative innovation is regulated by two points of the traffic rules. These are 58.4 and 20.1.

The interpretation of a motorist’s actions directly depends on which direction the auxiliary sign is directed.

1. The sign with the green arrow is pointing to the right. If the traffic light itself is red, then the motorist is required to stop in accordance with the rules of the prohibiting signal. But then you are allowed to continue moving and maneuver. The driver must first make sure that his maneuver is safe. Movement continues carefully, avoiding interference with other vehicles moving in their priority direction. Also, a driver turning on a green sign at a red traffic light is obliged to let all pedestrians pass when turning right. At this moment the light is probably green for pedestrians.
2. The sign with the green arrow is directed to the left. This is possible on sections of a one-way road. Here, as in the previous case, you need to stop your vehicle before the red signal. After this, adhering to the rules of safe movement and preventing interference, start moving to the left. Such a maneuver is permitted only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop and exclusively from the leftmost lane. Before turning left, the driver undertakes to allow all pedestrians and other vehicles to pass according to the principle of priority.

These points should definitely be taken into account when approaching traffic lights of this type. This will help protect yourself not only from unwanted fines, but also from accidents, accidents and other unpleasant incidents on the road.

Mechanism of an accident at an intersection when turning on a yellow traffic light

A car with DVR No. 1 is moving in the left lane of the road, intending to make a left turn, and enters a controlled intersection when the traffic light is green.

After waiting for the turn, the car drives out into the middle of the intersection.

Being in the oncoming lane intended for turning left, almost simultaneously with the yellow traffic light turning on, car No. 1 enters the second lane of the oncoming road, performing the intended maneuver (52-53 seconds of recording).

At the same time, passenger car No. 2 enters the intersection in the second lane in the opposite direction, at a yellow prohibitory traffic light.

Moreover, at the moment the traffic lights change from green to yellow (52-53 seconds of recording), car No. 2 is at a remote distance from the boundaries of the intersection, according to the recording - outside the viewing range of the DVR.

Then the driver of car No. 2 continues moving towards the intersection without reducing speed.

At the beginning of 54 seconds of recording, car No. 2 is at the level of the pole on which sign 6.16 “Stop line” is located.

Despite the presence of an obstacle at the intersection - car No. 1 and a traffic light prohibiting movement, the driver of car No. 2 continues to move and enters the intersection without changing the speed. After 55 seconds, a car collision occurs.

Analysis of driver actions

The driver of car No. 1 in the traffic situation under consideration should have been guided by the following rules of the Rules:

• 1.3 and 1.5, that is, he was obliged to know and comply with the requirements of traffic lights and act in such a way as not to cause harm and not create a danger to traffic;
• 13.4, that is, he was obliged to give way to car No. 2, which was moving from the opposite direction;
• 13.7, that is, he was obliged to leave the intersection in the intended direction, regardless of the traffic light signal.

The driver of car No. 2 in the traffic situation under consideration should have been guided by the following rules of the Rules:

• 1.3 and 1.5, that is, he was obliged to know and comply with the requirements of traffic lights and act in such a way as not to cause harm and not create a danger to traffic;
• 6.2, in part, a green flashing signal allows movement and warns about the imminent activation of a prohibiting signal, a yellow signal prohibits movement, except for the cases provided for in clause 6.14 of the Rules;
• 6.13, that is, when there is a prohibiting signal, he is obliged to stop in front of the stop line indicated by road sign 6.16.

If both drivers fulfilled the above requirements in a timely manner, an accident would be excluded. With this approach, in assessing the actions of the participants in the incident, it is possible to conclude that there is mutual guilt. This logic is often found in court decisions in similar cases.

Important rules from traffic rules

If we talk about the situation with the rules for passing traffic lights with additional sections, then it is worth focusing on several key rules provided for in the traffic rules.

They can be called fundamental. Based on them, every motorist will be able to make the right decision in a given situation. The main excerpts are as follows:

• Arrows that are red, green or yellow are absolutely equivalent and correspond to the main colors of a standard traffic light equipped with round sections. But the arrows are solely responsible for movement in the direction they point to.
• If the arrow points to the left, this gives the driver the right not only to turn left, but also to make a U-turn. But this is only possible if such a maneuver does not go against a specific road situation. When other circumstances allow you to turn around, the driver, if there is a left arrow, can perform the appropriate maneuver.
• When the arrow has a green current color, but is combined with a main yellow or red prohibition signal, then before turning, motorists are required to give way to all vehicles traveling in the priority direction.
• If we are talking about a tram that moves according to the permitting green arrow on an additional section, but the main traffic light is red or yellow, the tram also undertakes to give way and act on the principle of giving priority to other cars.

Based on these points, it will be much easier to understand the peculiarities of crossing a traffic light that has additional sections. Don’t be lazy to periodically re-read the traffic rules, study the latest publications and actively follow innovations in matters of traffic rules.

Turn left or make a U-turn

This maneuver can be performed in several cases:

1. The main round signal of the electronic traffic controller is on. Before making a maneuver, the car owner must allow all oncoming cars to pass that are about to turn right (in the direction you have chosen for yourself) or are moving forward (in the direction from which you are heading). There is no need to let vehicles that are about to turn in the opposite direction from your planned route. True, there are intersections where you inevitably have to give way.
2. Simultaneous activation of the traffic controller's auxiliary section and the green main signal requires the same actions from the traffic participant as described in the previous example.
3. Active traffic light with an additional section to the left when the signal is turned on in red or yellow. In this case, the car owner planning to make a left turn must let all road users who are moving in other directions pass.