Inoperative Traffic Lights become Four-Way Stops

The Georgia Department of Public Safety wants you to know what to do when a traffic light is inoperative or in dark mode.  According to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, intersections with inoperative traffic lights should be treated like a four-way stop.  The driver of the vehicle to the left must yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right, as if each vehicle were stopped at a stop sign.  Drivers should understand there is confusion when traffic lights are out and be patient with others on the road.  When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right, provided that when a vehicle approaches or enters an intersection with no stop signs or other traffic-control devices from a highway that terminates at the intersection, the driver of that vehicle shall yield the right of way to the other vehicle, whether the latter vehicle be on such driver’s right or left. When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection with a traffic light in unactivated dark mode, the driver of each vehicle shall be required to stop in the same manner as if a stop sign were facing in each direction at the intersection. Drivers shall not be required to stop if the traffic signal is properly signed as a pedestrian hybrid beacon or ramp meter and operating in the unactivated dark mode. When a flashing indication is given, the driver shall stop for the flashing red signal and exhibit caution while passing through a flashing yellow indication.