H-0084.2          _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 1934

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State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Van Luven, Heavey, D. Sommers, Kremen, Chandler, Horn, G. Fisher, Basich, Orr, Forner, Wood, Nelson, Prince, Schmidt, Wilson, Betrozoff, Cooper, Winsley, Paris, Ferguson, Brekke and Jacobsen.

 

Read first time February 15, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.Clarifying laws relating to pedestrians in intersections.


     AN ACT Relating to pedestrians; and amending RCW 46.61.055 and 46.61.060.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     Sec. 1.  RCW 46.61.055 and 1990 c 241 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

     Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting different colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word or legend, and said lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:

     (1) Green indication

     (a) Vehicle operators facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn.  But vehicle operators turning right or left shall stop to allow other vehicles ((or pedestrians)) lawfully within the intersection control area to complete their movements.  Vehicles turning right or left shall also stop to allow a pedestrian lawfully within the intersection control area to cross when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling.

     (b) Vehicle operators facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may enter the intersection control area only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time.  The vehicle operators shall stop to allow other vehicles ((or pedestrians)) lawfully within the intersection control area to complete their movements.  Vehicle operators shall also stop to allow a pedestrian lawfully within the intersection control area to cross when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling.

     (c) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal, as provided in RCW 46.61.060 as now or hereafter amended, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.

     (2) Steady yellow indication

     (a) Vehicle operators facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal are thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection.

     (b) Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in RCW 46.61.060 shall not enter the roadway((, but)).  However, if pedestrians have begun to cross before the display of either signal, vehicle operators shall stop to allow them to ((complete their movements)) cross when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling.

     (3) Steady red indication

     (a) Vehicle operators facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection control area and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.  However, the vehicle operators facing a steady circular red signal may, after stopping proceed to make a right turn from a one‑way or two‑way street into a two‑way street or into a one‑way street carrying traffic in the direction of the right turn; or a left turn from a one‑way or two‑way street into a one‑way street carrying traffic in the direction of the left turn; unless a sign posted by competent authority prohibits such movement((; but)).  Vehicle operators planning to make such turns shall remain stopped to allow other vehicles lawfully within or approaching the intersection control area((, or approaching pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk,)) to complete their movements.  Vehicle operators shall also stop to allow a pedestrian lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk to cross when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling.

     (b) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in RCW 46.61.060 as now or hereafter amended, pedestrians facing a steady circular red signal alone shall not enter the roadway.

     (c) Vehicle operators facing a steady red arrow indication may not enter the intersection control area to make the movement indicated by such arrow, and unless entering the intersection control area to make such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering a crosswalk on the near side of the intersection control area, or if none, then before entering the intersection control area and shall remain standing until an indication to make the movement indicated by such arrow is shown.  However, the vehicle operators facing a steady red arrow indication may, after stopping proceed to make a right turn from a one‑way or two‑way street into a two‑way street or into a one‑way street carrying traffic in the direction of the right turn; or a left turn from a one‑way street or two‑way street into a one‑way street carrying traffic in the direction of the left turn; unless a sign posted by competent authority prohibits such movement((; but)).  Vehicle operators planning to make such turns shall remain stopped to allow other vehicles lawfully within or approaching the intersection control area((, or approaching pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk,)) to complete their movements.  Vehicle operators shall also stop to allow a pedestrian lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk to cross when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling.

     (d) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal, pedestrians facing a steady red arrow signal indication shall not enter the roadway.

     (4) If an official traffic control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application.  Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at the signal.

 

     Sec. 2.  RCW 46.61.060 and 1990 c 241 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

     Whenever pedestrian control signals exhibiting the words "Walk" or the walking person symbol or "Don't Walk" or the hand symbol are operating, the signals shall indicate as follows:

     (1) WALK or walking person symbol‑‑Pedestrians facing such signal may cross the roadway in the direction of the signal.  Pedestrians that begin to cross a roadway while facing such signal shall be granted the right to complete their crossing by all vehicle operators.

     (2) Steady or flashing DON'T WALK or hand symbol‑‑Pedestrians shall not enter the roadway, but if pedestrians have begun to cross before the display of either signal, vehicle operators shall stop to allow them to ((complete their movements)) cross when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling.

     (3) Pedestrian control signals having the "Wait" legend in use on August 6, 1965, shall be deemed authorized signals and shall indicate the same as the "Don't Walk" legend.  Whenever such pedestrian control signals are replaced the legend "Wait" shall be replaced by the legend "Don't Walk".