On Saturday, September 12th, 2020, you might have noticed or heard about another minor collision at the entrance of Village Way on 15/501. While the cause is not known at this time, it could easily have been caused by drivers not understanding the sophisticated computer-controlled traffic light sequences at the 15/501 and Village Way intersection and/or the rules about which vehicles have the right-of-way depending on which traffic signal lamps are lighted.This is an appropriate time to review the computer-controlled traffic signal system, which features occasional GREEN and RED steady (solidly) lighted arrows, and the almost always flashing YELLOW arrow, all of which display for SOUTHbound traffic (moving toward Pittsboro). The relatively rare steady GREEN lighted arrow means that all the signal lights in the opposite direction are glowing RED for all NORTHbound traffic (headed toward Chapel Hill), as well as for any vehicles negotiating a right turn to enter Village Way using the short set-off lane. Every time all those Northbound lights are Red, Southbound traffic on 15/501 will have a steady, solid GREEN ARROW, and all Northbound vehicles facing those Red lights MUST YIELD to vehicles crossing 15-501 to enter the village via Village Way. In such an infrequent instance, those with a solid green arrow have the right-of-way. Thus, If you are traveling North from the direction of Pittsboro, want to turn right to enter Village Way, and all the signal lamps are RED, you also MUST STOP and yield to any traffic crossing the highway to enter the village. Remember that in such an instance the traffic in the opposite (southbound) direction ALWAYS has a SOLID GREEN arrow to enter the village, which means that they have the functional equivalent of a solid green light. When SOUTH-bound traffic has a FLASHING YELLOW arrow (which is the most frequent occasion), they MAY turn left onto Village Way as long as there is no oncoming traffic approaching from the opposite direction. Since such traffic is moving at speeds often in excess of 60 MPH, this can be a hazardous crossover maneuver, especially since it is very difficult to accurately judge how much time you have to avoid being hit by those approaching vehicles, which are—in fact—closer to you than they may appear to be. If the Southbound traffic sees a SOLID RED left arrow, just like any Red light, that means Northbound traffic has ALL GREEN lights and Southbound drivers cannot turn left and cannot make the left U-Turn. In such an instance, southbound drivers have NO left-turning right-of-way until the signal lighting pattern changes. Two additional important things to remember: (1) when you are exiting from Village Way by turning right onto 15-501 (to go Northbound toward Chapel Hill), cars across the road making a U-turn MAY HAVE A SOLID GREEN ARROW at that same time, and if so, they, not you, have the right-of-way. And (2) in North Carolina traffic law, every driver (whether they have the right-of-way or not) must drive in a manner to avoid an accident if at all possible. If you have the right-of-way and another driver has usurped it, you do not proceed if doing so will cause an accident. Stay Safe. Warren Ort, FHA Director / Health, Safety, & Security (HSS) Jon Darling, HSS Traffic Safety Committee Membe
