When the traffic lights are dark, treat the intersection as an all-way (four-way) stop. Every driver stops, then vehicles go in the order they stopped. If two stop together, the one on the right goes first. That is what the state handbooks and laws say, for example California's handbook and Florida's statute on inoperative traffic lights.
Step by step
- Slow down early. A dark signal is easy to miss at night, especially after a storm.
- Stop fully at the stop line, as if there were a stop sign.
- Notice who stopped before you. They go first.
- If someone stopped when you did and is on your right, let them go.
- Go when it is your turn and the intersection is clear.
Dark vs flashing
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| All lights dark | Stop, then all-way stop rules |
| Flashing red | Stop, then go when safe (like a stop sign) |
| Flashing yellow | Slow down and go with caution; no stop needed |
| A police officer directing traffic | Follow the officer, not the lights |
Busy intersections during an outage
Big intersections with several lanes in each direction work the same way, just slower. Treat each approach as one line: the first car at the front of each lane group stops, then vehicles take turns. Don't pull into the middle of the intersection to "claim" your turn, and don't follow the car ahead through without stopping yourself. Every car stops.
If a police officer arrives and starts directing traffic, the officer's signals replace the all-way-stop rules. Follow the officer even if it means going out of turn. Temporary stop signs placed at a dark signal work exactly like permanent ones.
Why it goes wrong
Outages happen at the busiest times: storms, heat waves, rush hour. Drivers on the major road often keep going at full speed, and drivers on the side road wait forever and then pull out. Treat it like a four-way stop and everyone gets through safely. If you need a refresher on the order, see who goes first at a 4-way stop.
Practice it
The "lights are out" level of Right of Way shows a dark signal and asks you to put the cars in order.
Play the "Lights out" level in Right of WayStart ›Rule and sources: traffic light is out.
