2025 Georgia Codes – Page 273

(a) The following meanings shall be given to highway traffic signal indications, except those on pedestrian
signals:
(1) Green indications shall have the following meanings:
(A) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a CIRCULAR GREEN signal may proceed straight through or turn
right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. Vehicular traffic turning shall yield the
right of way to approaching vehicles. Vehicular traffic must stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian
to cross the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent
crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is
traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching and is within one lane of the half of the roadway on which
the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For the purposes of this subparagraph, “half of the road-
way” means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel;
(B) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a GREEN ARROW signal, shown alone or in combination with
another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such
arrow or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular
traffic shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk to cross
the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehi-
cle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching and is within one lane of the half of the roadway on
which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For the purposes of this subparagraph, “half of
the roadway” means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel. Vehicular traffic shall yield
the right of way to other traffic lawfully using the intersection; and
(C) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal, pedestrians facing any green indication, except when
the sole green indication is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked
crosswalk;
(2) Yellow indications shall have the following meanings:
(A) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady CIRCULAR YELLOW or YELLOW ARROW signal is
thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhib-
ited 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 signal, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway
before a red indication is shown, and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway; and
(C) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a flashing YELLOW ARROW signal may proceed in the direc-
tion of the arrow. Vehicular traffic turning shall yield the right of way to approaching vehicles. Vehicular
traffic shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway within a crosswalk when
the pedestrian is lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhib-
ited, when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the
pedestrian is approaching and is within one lane of the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is travel-
ing or onto which it is turning. For the purposes of this subparagraph, “half of the roadway” means all
traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel; and
(3) Red indications shall have the following meanings:
(A) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady CIRCULAR RED signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked
stop line or, if there is no stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or,
if there is no crosswalk, before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication to
proceed is shown, except as provided in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of this paragraph;
(B) Vehicular traffic facing a steady CIRCULAR RED signal may cautiously enter the intersection to make
a right turn after stopping as provided in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph. Such vehicular traffic shall
stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian
is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching
and is within one lane of the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turn-
ing. For the purposes of this subparagraph, “half of the roadway” means all traffic lanes carrying traffic
in one direction of travel. Vehicular traffic shall yield the right of way to other traffic lawfully using the
intersection;
(C) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady CIRCULAR RED signal, after stopping as provided in sub-
paragraph (A) of this paragraph, may make a right turn but shall stop and remain stopped for pedestrians
and yield the right of way to other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at such intersection. Such
vehicular traffic shall not make a right turn against a steady CIRCULAR RED signal at any intersection
where a sign is erected prohibiting such right turn;
(D) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady CIRCULAR RED signal, after stopping as provided in
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, may make a left turn from the left-hand lane of a one-way street onto
a one-way street on which the traffic moves toward the driver’s left but shall stop and remain stopped for
pedestrians and yield the right of way to other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at such inter-
section. Such vehicular traffic shall not make a left turn against a steady CIRCULAR RED signal at any
intersection where a sign is erected prohibiting such left turn;
(E) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal, pedestrians facing a steady CIRCULAR RED signal
alone shall not enter the roadway;
(F) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady RED ARROW signal may not enter the intersection to make
the movement indicated by such arrow and, unless entering the intersection to make such other move-
ment as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line
or, if there is no stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if there is
no crosswalk, before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication to make the
movement indicated by such arrow is shown;
(G) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal, pedestrians facing a steady RED ARROW signal shall
not enter the roadway; and
(H) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a flashing RED ARROW signal, after stopping as provided in sub-
paragraph (A) of this paragraph, may make a right turn but shall stop and remain stopped for pedestrians
and yield the right of way to other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at such intersection.
(b) In the event an official traffic-control device signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an
intersection, the provisions of this Code 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.

Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words WALK or DON’T WALK or symbols so
directing a pedestrian are in place, such signals shall indicate as follows:
(1) WORD OR SYMBOL MESSAGE WALK. Pedestrians facing such signal may proceed across the road-
way in the direction of the signal. Every driver of a vehicle shall stop and remain stopped for such pedestri-
ans; and
(2) FLASHING OR STEADY DON’T WALK. No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction
of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing on the WALK signal shall pro-
ceed to sidewalk or safety island while the DON’T WALK signal is showing.