Motorists are reminded to return to driving basics when a rainstorm like the one that hit Thursday in Waycross knocks out traffic signals.
The November 7 storm arrived with heavy rain and lightning about 4:15 p.m. It continued for a little more than an hour, flooding streets and knocking out power in downtown as workers were driving home for the evening.
Some of the major intersections in downtown were without traffic signals, further compounding driving situations.
In cases where there are inoperable traffic signals at intersections, the law requires the situation be treated as right of way situations, like a four-way stop, by drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, Waycross Police Department Capt. Benji Hersey said.
According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, the term right-of-way pertains to the “lawful authority to enter a roadway, change lanes within a roadway, make a turn from a roadway, travel through an intersection, or make any other traffic related movement.”
DDS reminds travelers right-of-way is something to be given, not taken. For example, even if you have the legal right-ofway over another, and the other person doesn’t realize it or isn’t obeying the rules of the road, yield to that motorist. It may be the only way to avoid a collision.
If another driver tries to take your turn, even if you have the right-of-way, let them driver proceed. It might prevent an accident.
At a four-way stop, the vehicles should proceed through the intersection in a “first to arrive, first to proceed order.” If two vehicles reach the intersection at about the same time, yield to any vehicle on the right. And n matter the situation, pedestrians always have the right of way.
While Thursday’s outage affecting the traffic signals lasted only a few hours, Hurricane Helene’s visit to the area in late September had power out for days in downtown impacting traffic flow.
Thanks to the efforts of the WPD, Public Works, and others who spent countless hours directing traffic, only five accidents were reported, none life threatening. September 28, 29, and October 1 each had one accident, and two occured on September 30, Hersey said.
“Considering the seriousness of the situation,” Hersey said, “the community came together really well.”
