You arrive at an intersection and all three lights are off. No red, no green, no orange. The situation is unsettling, even for experienced drivers. Knowing how to react to a malfunctioning traffic light prevents accidents and violations of the highway code. Here are the right reflexes, the traffic rules that apply, and the steps to report the malfunction to the relevant services.
Traffic light off or flashing orange: how to distinguish a malfunction
Before taking action, you must confirm that the light is indeed malfunctioning. Two scenarios can occur at the intersection.
Further reading : How to Invest Smartly in the Stock Market: A Complete Guide for Beginners and Experienced Investors
The first: none of the three lights are on. The light is completely out of service. The second: only the orange light is flashing in the central position. This flashing indicates that the automatic regulation is no longer functioning, but the light remains partially active to warn drivers.
In both cases, the light no longer fulfills its function of regulating traffic. The difference is subtle but important: a flashing orange light explicitly signals “caution, be careful,” while an off light gives no indication. However, the behavior to adopt remains the same in terms of priority.
You may also like : How to react and obtain compensation after a road accident in Paris
Finding a solution in case of a malfunctioning light first involves understanding this distinction, then applying the rules of the highway code.
Priority to the right and signs: the traffic rules to apply
You may have already noticed that an intersection with traffic lights often has a traffic sign fixed right next to it? This sign is not decorative. It is specifically meant to take over when the light malfunctions.
Check for the presence of a traffic sign
Look at the mast of the light or the adjacent pole. A “yield” (inverted triangle) or “stop” sign may be installed there. This sign becomes the active priority rule as soon as the light is not functioning.
If a “yield” sign is present, you must allow vehicles coming from the priority road to pass. If it’s a stop sign, you must come to a complete stop before proceeding.
Without a sign: default priority to the right
In the absence of any additional signage, the oldest rule of the highway code takes precedence: priority to the right applies at the intersection. Each driver must yield to vehicles coming from their right.
This simple rule quickly becomes complex in practice. At a four-way intersection with heavy traffic, several vehicles may arrive simultaneously. Caution then requires slowing down significantly, establishing eye contact with other drivers, and proceeding gradually.
- Reduce your speed well before the intersection, as if approaching a blind crossing
- Always check to the right, even if you think you are on the main road under normal circumstances
- Do not rely on your habits: a malfunctioning light changes the priority hierarchy you know by heart
Reporting the malfunction of traffic lights: who to contact
Once you have safely crossed the intersection, the next step is to notify the relevant services. A malfunctioning light poses a continuous danger for all road users, including pedestrians.
Contact the town hall or municipal police
The town hall is the first contact to reach for a malfunctioning light on a municipal road. Most traffic lights fall under the jurisdiction of the municipality or metropolitan area. Call the town hall switchboard, which will forward the issue to the road or traffic service.
If the malfunction occurs at night or on weekends, the municipal police (or national police in the absence of municipal police) serves as the intermediary. Officers can send a patrol to secure the intersection while waiting for repairs.
Urban reporting applications
Several French cities now offer digital portals to report roadway anomalies. The Signaleo app, for example, has a dedicated category “Lighting / Electricity” that allows you to report a light malfunction with automatic transmission to the relevant service.
Check your municipality’s website: an online form or dedicated app speeds up the response compared to a simple phone call, especially outside of office hours.
Useful numbers in case of immediate danger at the intersection
Most light malfunctions do not warrant calling emergency services. However, if the malfunction creates a dangerous situation (accident, near-collision, high-traffic intersection with no visibility), certain numbers become relevant.
- The 17 (police assistance) to request the intervention of officers who will manually regulate traffic
- The 112 (European emergency number) if an accident has already occurred and people are injured
- The 18 (firefighters) in case of injuries requiring rapid medical intervention
These numbers are free, available at all times, and geolocated. Specify the exact address of the intersection and the type of malfunction (light off or flashing orange) so that the services can assess the urgency.
Driver responsibility and risk of violating the highway code
A malfunctioning light does not exempt you from following traffic rules. If a stop sign accompanies the light and you do not come to a stop, the violation is still present. The off light does not “remove” the sign.
Accelerating to cross the intersection as quickly as possible is the most dangerous reflex. In the event of an accident at an intersection where the light is malfunctioning, the responsibility of the driver who did not respect the priority to the right (or the sign) will be engaged, just as it would be at a regular uncontrolled intersection.
Caution remains the only reliable protection. Slow down, observe, yield when the rule requires it: these simple gestures apply to every malfunctioning light, whether the situation lasts five minutes or several hours while waiting for road services to intervene.