(WWJ) The biggest blackout Michigan has seen in years is causing problems for drivers in metro Detroit.
With a number of traffic signals out due to power outages Thursday ("a lot", according to police) the Michigan State Police is reminding drivers of what to do when approaching a dark intersection.
MSP stressed that an intersection where the traffic light is not functioning should always be treated as a four-way stop.
"Even if there is no visible traffic approaching you are still required to stop. Please, be careful out there," MSP Metro Detroit said, in a tweet in Thursday.
This comes after, back in 2018, Michigan lawmakers passed a bill that changed state law from treating a dark intersection as a right-of-way scenario to a four-way stop. This change was meant to make intersections safer, according to lawmakers.
Reminder: What are the rules of a four-way stop?
According to instructions provided by the Secretary of State, a driver who reaches an intersection with a malfunctioning traffic signal should come to a complete stop and yield to vehicles already at the intersection.
The driver who arrived at the intersection and stopped first has the right of way through the intersection. If two or more vehicles reached the intersection at the same time, the vehicle on the left should yield to the vehicle on its right.
What if the traffic light is flashing?
In cases where the light is flashing red, MSP said the intersection should be treated as if a stop sign is posted. If it's flashing yellow, drivers can proceed through, using caution.
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