I have always thought that the general driving rule was that all "broken-light" intersections become 4-way stops, which does indeed require you to make sure the intersection is clear and to wait until it is safe to proceed, but also creates an order in which different cars coming from different directions should proceed - helpful at intersections where there are more than 2 cars. When the first wave of storms happened earlier this year that knocked out power all over, I kept thinking to myself - do people in this area not know the 4-way stop rule? Because these intersections are a mess, and unnecessarily so. I guess I have my answer. If the rule is that you should stop, wait for clearance, and proceed whenever you think it's safe, that could create chaos at a light where there is a car waiting in each direction.

Wasn't this already a common sense rule of driving?

Then again, this is Maryland, common sense doesn't typically apply to drivers.

Common sense yes. Does everyone follow this rule? NO. Glad to see there will be consequences for those who don't obey. It's dangerous out there and anything law enforcement can do to ensure safe driving is a plus. Only point in this article I worry about is "a flashing traffic light does not indicate the light is non functioning, even if it normally operates green, yellow, and red lights". Sometime this is not true. There are plenty of times storms knock out lights but also times when these normal functioning lights are blinking yellow or red indicating they are not functioning. Point is, stop at all non functioning lights, wether they are blinking or not.

I presume this applies to power outages from storms, etc. as well?

Two thoughts here - and no, I'm not going to make one of them another rant about bad drivers in Maryland.

1) This law, as reported here, sounds like it's going to make things MORE complicated, not less complicated. The rules in this law should be simple:
Four way stop, yielding to pedestrians always.

2) How exactly is this law going to be meaningfully enforced?
See, this law seems to be to be nearly 100% worthless. If there's an officer in the area, odds are pretty good he'll actually be there to direct the traffic, not just see someone violate this new law by pure coincidence.

Maybe someone else can explain #2 to me.

"Point is, stop at all non functioning lights, wether they are blinking or not."

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To my long-ago Driver Ed knowledge (and this "new" law appears to agree with me) -- one does not need to "stop" at a flashing yellow. A flashing yellow = slow down, proceed with caution (unless a police officer is directing traffic, which supersedes all traffic signals/signage).

And also, in regards to multiple vehicles being stopped at more than one side of an intersection -- I believe the "rule" is to yield to the driver on your right.
* Car on your left + you = you go first
* you + car on your right = car on your right goes first
* you + car on your right + car opposite you = car opposite you goes first, then car on your right, then you
* car on your left + you + car on your right = car on your right goes first, then you, then car on your left
* you + car on your left + car opposite you = you go first, then car on your left, then the car opposite you

* all four cars -- take care (I usually wave someone through, and then use the "right most rule" from that point

Tim you have a point...who will be enforcing the law

I guess we have to do something...if you stop, you will be waiting 10 minutes for the other traffic to give you a break (because they are breaking the law). I think the problem here is civility. People need to stop think what is best for everyone and work together on the roads. It's like that guy who drives just slow enough that all of the cars behind him, not including himself will catch a red light or the person who purposely stays right next to a slow moving vehical in the left hand lane while traffic builds up behind him and does not allow anyone to pass for miles (you know...a road hog) or the driver who does not give right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the street while making a right hand turn or the guy who waits until he is all the way to a work zone to get over (even though there have been signs for miles warning of the impending lane change) forcing all traffic to come to a stop.

I don't know, given the amount of incivility and blattent disregard of rules, norms, and manners, if humans should be capable of moving themselves at highway speeds. Maybe the google car is the answer...maybe it's not

They can't enforce idiots sitting at the light texting (illegal), and no one even uses a four-way stop properly anyway (oh, i tapped my brakes and stopped so now i go; doesn't matter if others were there first).

this will be yet another maryland driving law that never has consequences.

The problem with "consequences" are that they are useless unless enforced. During the last big storm that took out the power for almost a week for several areas, I saw SOOOOO many idiot's blowing through out stop lights. I even had people behind me swerve at the last minute and blow their horn at me while I was slowing down to stop at the intersection. Others I saw still texting and driving (but that is a whole other issue) while running through the intersection. I find it hilarious how people think when the lights are out that "their" way is the "right of way".

We need to have more LEO's at these intersections when possible. I realize that it isn't always an option to put out some officers to "baby-sit" intersections when the power is out, but anything is better than nothing.

there are a few lawyers out there for sure that could hold the County liable for any accidents at a inoperative light. If the County has been notified and it is not repaired in a timely fashion, they may well be responsible.

This is Baltimore, you are lucky sometimes to be around a legal driver, who actually is driving a car not stolen, and has a license, and isn't drunk/ stoned. I hope the people that need to know about the new law will follow it

I think that eventually, more motorists will do as I often do, that is, drive with a "Traffic Camera" to record any occurances! Doing so reduces greatly the arguments of "who did, or did NOT, do what"! (It saved me once, when a tour bus cut into my lane, and sideswiped me, then TRIED to claim that I cut into HIS lane!)--The "Go-Pro" Hero2 HD camera, for about $299.00 (From R.E.I. or Best Buy and others) does a very good job, day or night!

The "Go-Pro" Hero2 HD camera?

This world's gone camera crazy. If it's not big brother with his red light and speed cameras, it's the guy sitting next to you at the red light watching your every move!

Regardless of if they actually ticket people or not, this is at least a written rule about what one should do when the traffic light goes out.

Many people believe that the rule has always been to treat it like a four way stop. But there is nothing in the MD driving handbook, rules, laws, etc that state that. There are others that believe you are supposed to do something else. When you get a bunch of people all doing different things and thinking their way is the way the law wants you to do it, it creates a mess.

Hopefully this law clears things up a bit.

I found out the hard way that there is no law in Maryland that says when a traffic light is out, the intersection becomes a four-way stop. People seem to say common sense applies that if you are at Bakers Lane and Belair Road that obviously Belair Road has the right-of-way. But what about the intersection of Belair Road and Rossville Boulevard? Both major intersections. Who has the right-of-way? This new law seems to protect tyhe pedestrians, but still does not address the right-of-way issue.
Simple solution: my wife says that in this age of solar power why aren't the traffic lights powered by solar, therefore never go out. Paid for, of course, by the red light cameras runners.

A driver nearly nailed the policeman (who was out there risking his life directing traffic in the storm) and my car (as I was directed to turn left) as he SPED through Rt. 2 @ 214 on Saturday, Sept. 8. Everyone's heads just spinned in disbelief as this black pick-up truck continued on his uninterrupted way south on Rt. 2.

I was also brought up (and read recently after the storms knocked out so many lights) that you treat lights that are out/broken as a 4 way stop. Makes perfect sense. I thought that was already the law. I can't believe how many people just blow right through without slowing, let alone stopping, as if they have the right away. Not to mention, stopping, but not waiting their turn. Then again, I'm still amazed at how many people (in MD and DC) don't seem to know how to wait their turn at an actual 4 way stop. It's pretty pitiful.

For reference, the law modifies the Transportation Section 21–209 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The old law only specified what to do at a nonfunctioning traffic light when exiting a highway. News outlets (especially WTOP!) contributed to the misinformation by telling us to stop at a nonfunctioning light, but that was never the law (except for when exiting a highway).

You can read the original bills here:

http://mlis.state.md.us/google_docs$/2012rs/chapters_noln/Ch_44_sb0177t.pdf
http://mlis.state.md.us/google_docs$/2012rs/chapters_noln/Ch_45_hb0067t.pdf

Regarding what to do after stopping, the existing law about right-of-way at an intersection still applies (Section 21-401. Vehicle at intersection.). It essentially says "... a vehicle at an intersection:

(1) Has the right-of-way over any other vehicle approaching from the left; and
(2) Shall yield the right-of-way to any other vehicle approaching from the right."

Regarding flashing traffic lights, the law about flashing signals still applies (21-204. Flashing signals.). So, a flashing yellow or flashing red is *not* a non-functioning light.

Finally, I will not link to the Maryland State Police press release because, unfortunately, it contains an error about what to do when approaching an intersection without a traffic control device. Geez, if the police can't get it right in a press release ...

WTOP only reiterated what has been taught in MD driving schools for more than three decades (based on personal experience). Whether it was a law or not, it has always been common sense and taught as such.

So… why doesn't the law just simply say, "No light = 4-way stop, pedestrian has right of way over all"

We yield to traffic on the left in traffic circles, and when merging onto a highway. But we yield to traffic on the right at 4 way stops.

It boils down to that we are horrible drivers (proven fact) and the only bright idea from our elected officials is to "make it law". I agree with Buck, enforce the laws we already have! Whenever you see a traffic violation (major ones) and I see a lot of them every day, where's are law enforcement? Doughnut Shack?

1 problem: who is really going to enforce it? just like the cell phone ban; even the cops do it. another stupid law

I would love to see drivers obeying this new law on Perring Pkwy. I can see the pile ups and rear enders now.

these laws are all on the books to ensure that offenders are written up and fined after they have destroyed someone else's property....the cops on the roads are very limited to actually catch anybody doing anything wrong, and that is apparent when you look at how people actually drive on our roads...these laws are there so HOCO Gov can say it was wrong and we have covered our asses, but very little is done to prevent any of these laws from being broken

Only problem with this article is that it is in English, not Spanish

DawnP, there are even less State Troopers so they counties are going to enforce it more than the State ever could.

And NOW PG County is installing surveillance cameras to watch the SPEED CAMERAS to keep them safe.

Then who will watch the surveillance cameras that are watching the speed cameras?

Can you site the Bill number that makes this a law?

Just another way of many for the State of Maryland to get more of the peoples money. What will they do when our pockets are empty??????????

Isn't this just sound and prudent judgement?? I don't barrel through intersections with malfunctioning lights. We are creating a nation of morons with all this political correctness and idiotic laws that should just be common sense.

This is of course commen sense, let stop waisting valuable time worrying about this stuff, how about working on making sure the people who do not understand the driving laws in Maryland have car insurance, maryland is the 2nd worst state in the country with uninsured motorists, yup 2nd worst. 1 out of every 7 cars has a driver in it that does not care about you or me or our children, as long as the yca ndrive that is all that matters. They make the first payment to insurance companies go get theri tags and never pay again till it is time to get new tags and they pay the fine, it is going to be the same with these people when Obamacare kicks into high gear, they are never going to go get insurance, and really will nevr pay the fine because it will be paid out of the tax refund they do not deserve already, so they will not care, typical actions of Maryland democrats.