KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM/FM) — State Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Legde, has authored legislation that would clarify what drivers should do when they approach an intersection with a dead traffic light.
You’ve likely been taught in a driver’s education course to treat those intersections like four way stops, but Jones says that’s not actually what the law says.
“It’s very confusing and not common sense,” Jones said. “Working with the Michigan State Police, I have just introduced a bill that would make it what everything thinks it should be, just treat it like a four-way stop.”
But Jones also says some exceptions have been written into the legislation.
“If there was a special light for a fire department or a school, that would be treated differently,” Jones said.
An exception has also been written into the bill for intersections controlled by police officers.
Currently, the law calls for drivers to treat such intersections like four-way yields.
A hearing on the bill is slated for September. Jones expects it to be on the governor’s desk soon after.
