- Laws of Fiji

Last Updated: 20 March 2009

[LAT 13,395] Traffic control light signals75

(1) The traffic control light signals—

(a)specified and depicted in Part 4 of the Schedule; or
(b)described in the appropriate code of practice,

may be used to convey to a driver of a vehicle the message associated with the appropriate signal.

[subreg (1) am LN 51 of 2002 reg 26, effective 6 September 2002]

(2) If more than one traffic control light signal is visible to a driver approaching a junction or other location, the driver must comply with the requirements of the signal nearest to him or her on the street on which the driver is approaching and, if required to do so, stop the vehicle in advance of the stop line applicable to the signal.

(3) If a traffic control light signal depicted in Part 4 of the Schedule is erected—

(a)a driver approaching a light signal intended for the control of vehicles from the direction in which the light signal is facing and subject to subregulation (2); or
(b)a pedestrian facing a light signal intended for the control of vehicles or pedestrians and intending to cross the street the pedestrian is facing,

must comply with the corresponding requirements, if applicable, as set out in subregulation (4).

[subreg (3) am LN 51 of 2002 reg 26, effective 6 September 2002]

(4) The display by a light signal of—

(a)the colour red indicates that a driver facing light signal No 1 specified in Part 4 of the Schedule must not proceed beyond the stop-line on the road applicable to that light signal, except as provided by paragraph (g) or subregulation (6);
(b)light signal No 1 specified in Part 4 of the Schedule with the colour red illuminated or light signal No 3 specified in Part 4 of the Schedule containing a symbol, similar to that illustrated in the appropriate code of practice, illuminated in red, is an instruction that a pedestrian facing the light signal must not cross or attempt to cross the carriageway in the direction of that signal except to complete a crossing lawfully commenced;
(c)the colour green indicates that a driver facing light signal No 1 specified in Part 4 of the Schedule may, subject to the directions of a police officer or an authorised officer and to the instructions of any road signs and markings facing the driver, proceed straight ahead, to the left, or to the right, and when making a turn a driver must at all times comply with the provisions of subregulation (9) or (10), as the case may require;
(d)light signal No 3 specified in Part 4 of the Schedule with the colour green illuminated is an indication to a pedestrian facing the signal that he or she may cross the street he or she is facing if it is seen to be safe to do so and with due regard to traffic which may be turning into that street and an illuminated green symbol, similar to that illustrated in the appropriate code of practice, displayed by a separate pedestrian light signal is an instruction that a pedestrian facing the signal may proceed across the carriageway;
(e)light signal No 1 specified in Part 4 of the Schedule with the colour amber illuminated is an indication that—
- (i)a driver facing the signal must not proceed beyond the stop-line on the road applicable to that signal, unless his or her vehicle is so close to the stop-line when the colour amber first appears that the vehicle cannot be safely stopped before passing the stop-line except as provided by paragraph (g);
- (ii)a pedestrian facing the signal must not cross or attempt to cross the carriageway; and
- (iii)if the signal is at or near any intersection or junction, any person on or within the intersection or junction must proceed in such a manner as to get clear of the intersection or junction with all reasonable speed;
(f)light signal No 2(a) specified in Part 4 of the Schedule with a red arrow illuminated indicates that a driver facing the signal must not proceed beyond the stop-line applicable to the signal in the direction indicated by the arrow;
(g)light signal No 2(a) specified in Part 4 of the Schedule with a green arrow illuminated in conjunction with light signal No 1 specified in Part 4 of the Schedule with the colour red or the colour amber illuminated indicates that a driver facing the signal may proceed to make a movement in the direction indicated by the arrow, but in no other direction;
(h)light signal No 2(a) specified in Part 4 of the Schedule with an amber arrow illuminated indicates that a driver facing the signal must not proceed beyond the stop-line on the road applicable to that signal in the direction indicated by the arrow unless his or her vehicle is so close to the stop-line when the arrow first appears that the vehicle cannot be safely stopped before passing the stop-line;
(i)light signal No 1 specified in Part 4 of the Schedule with intermittent single amber flashes at an intersection is an instruction that a driver facing the signal must proceed with caution and give way to traffic on his or her right;
(j)light signal No 4 specified in Part 4 of the Schedule with twin alternating flashing red lights, with or without a warning bell ringing at or near a railway level crossing, indicates that a driver facing the signal must stop his or her vehicle before reaching the crossing and must not proceed or attempt to proceed over the crossing until the signal has ceased to flash, unless directed otherwise by a police officer or an employee of Fiji Sugar Corporation Limited.

[subreg (4) am LN 51 of 2002 reg 26, effective 6 September 2002]

(5) If by virtue of subregulation (2), the driver of a motor vehicle is prohibited from proceeding beyond a stop-line applicable to a light signal and no stop-line is marked or delineated on the road or the stop-line on the road has been obliterated the driver must not proceed beyond that signal.

(6) If the driver of a motor vehicle is facing a light signal displaying the colour red and he or she has reasonable grounds for believing the signals are not operating correctly, the driver may proceed to enter the intersection or street next beyond the signal as slowly as practicable and must give way to all traffic.

(7) In any proceedings under subregulation (6), the driver has the onus of proof that he or she had reasonable grounds for believing the signals were not operating correctly.

[subreg (7) am LN 51 of 2002 reg 26, effective 6 September 2002]

(8) If the surface of a public street is divided into traffic lanes by lines delineated, and separate light signals are erected over each of those lanes, the driver of a vehicle—

(a)must not drive in a lane over which a light signal facing him or her displays the colour red as depicted by sign No 2(b)(ii) in Part 4 of the Schedule; and
(b)may drive in a lane over which a light signal facing him or her displays the colour green as depicted by sign No 2(b)(i) in Part 4 of the Schedule, notwithstanding the location of the centre of the carriageway with respect to the lane markings.

[subreg (8) am LN 51 of 2002 reg 26, effective 6 September 2002]

(9) The driver of a vehicle must, when making a right hand turn at a place where light signals are in operation—

(a)keep to the left of any line marked on the carriageway to indicate the course to be taken by vehicular traffic making a right hand turn, except where regulation 73(2) applies;
(b)give way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction; and
(c)give way to all pedestrians lawfully crossing the carriageway at the place.

(10) The driver of a vehicle must, when making a left hand turn at a place where light signals are in operation, give way to pedestrians lawfully crossing the carriageway at that place.