Traffic Safety During Power Outages

Traffic signals, street lights and freeway entrance signals are out of service during a power outage, greatly increasing the risk of traffic accidents. It is vital to use extreme caution when traveling the roadways, and the following guidelines can help minimize the risk of traffic accidents during a power outage.

Drivers

• Proceed with extreme caution, and only when traffic permits.
• If you have to pull off the road, pull off completely and use your emergency flashers.
• Yield to emergency vehicles.
• Obey law enforcement officers or volunteers who are directing traffic.
• Treat traffic lights as a four-way stop. The person on the right should have the right-of-way, but advance slowly – other drivers may not be as cautious.
• Enter intersections or highways only when it’s safe.
• Use turn signals to let other drivers know where you want to go.
• Use extreme caution in school zones.
• Yield to pedestrians at intersections. Be alert for walkers who may be obscured by weather.

Pedestrians

• Use extreme caution when traveling on or crossing roadways. You may be hard to see in inclement weather, and drivers may have a difficult time stopping their vehicles.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing an intersection.