SAIPAN — CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Department of Public Safety issued an urgent traffic safety advisory Sunday evening requiring all motorists to treat every dark or non-functioning traffic signal as an all-way stop, effective immediately.
With power outages continuing across Saipan following Typhoon Sinlaku, traffic signals at intersections throughout the island are not functioning. HSEM said the all-way stop rule is a critical safety measure to prevent collisions.
At any dark intersection, every vehicle must come to a full stop at the intersection line. The first vehicle to arrive has the right of way. If two vehicles arrive at the same time from different directions, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right. Drivers turning left must yield to all oncoming traffic unless they arrived first and have established the right of way.
Motorists should watch for pedestrians at all intersections, particularly at night when street lighting is also not functioning.
HSEM said DPS officers will monitor major intersections but warned that motorists should not rely on the presence of officers. All-way stop procedures must be followed at all dark signals at all times.
Drivers should reduce speed before every intersection, treat every dark signal as a stop sign even when no other vehicles appear to be present, and use turn signals at all times.
