The driver of a vehicle may not overtake any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless there is sufficient clear space ahead on the right side of the roadway to permit the overtaking to be completed without impeding the safe operation of any vehicle ahead.
The driver of a vehicle, when about to be overtaken and passed by another vehicle approaching from the rear, shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on suitable and audible signal being given by the driver of the overtaking vehicle and shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.
A. 
No person shall drive in such a manner as to obstruct unnecessarily the normal movement of traffic upon any street or highway. Officers are hereby authorized to require any driver to proceed to the side of the roadway and wait until such traffic as has been delayed has passed.
B. 
No driver shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection or crosswalk and on the right half of the roadway to accommodate the vehicle he is operating without obstructing the passage of such vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding any traffic control signal indication to proceed.
The driver of a vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard to the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon and condition of the street or highway.
It shall be unlawful for any person traveling upon a bicycle, motorcycle, coaster, sled, roller skates or any toy vehicle to cling to or attach himself or his vehicle to any moving vehicle or streetcar upon any roadway.
The driver of any vehicle, before starting, stopping, turning from a direct line or backing, shall first see that such movement can be made in safety. If such movement cannot be made in safety or if it interferes unduly with the normal movement of other traffic, said driver shall wait for a more favorable opportunity to make such movement. If the operation of another vehicle should be affected by a stopping or turning movement, the driver of such other vehicle shall be given a plainly visible signal, as required by statute law.
(Reserved)
The operator of a vehicle emerging from an alley, a driveway or a garage shall stop such vehicle immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk or onto the sidewalk area extending across the alleyway or driveway.
Colors and arrow indications in traffic control signals shall have the commands ascribed to them in this section, and no other meanings, and every driver of a vehicle, railway car or other conveyance shall comply therewith, except when otherwise directed by an officer or by a lawful traffic-regulating sign other than a stop sign, signal or device or except as provided in § 207-40B of these rules and regulations. In no case shall a driver enter or proceed through an intersection without due regard to the safety of other persons within the intersection, regardless of what indications may be given by traffic control signals.
A. 
Flashing green. A flashing green lens shall indicate an intersection or pedestrian crosswalk in use or subject to use by entering or crossing traffic. Drivers may proceed only with caution and shall be prepared to comply with a change in the signal to a red and/or yellow indication.
B. 
Flashing red. When a red lens is illuminated in a traffic control signal by rapid intermittent flashes, and its use has been specifically authorized by the Department of Public Works, Commonwealth of Massachusetts,[1] drivers shall stop before entering the nearer line of crosswalk of the street intersection, or at a stop line when marked, and the right to proceed shall then be governed by provisions of MGL c. 89, § 8.
[1]
Editor's Note: Now the Department of Transportation.
C. 
Flashing yellow. A flashing yellow lens shall indicate the presence of a hazard, and drivers may proceed only with caution.
D. 
Green. While the green lens is illuminated, drivers facing the signal may proceed through the intersection but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully within a crosswalk or the intersection at the time such signal was exhibited. Drivers of vehicles making a right or left turn shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing with the light.
E. 
Red.
(1) 
Traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line or, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown, except as allowed by MGL c. 89, § 8.
(2) 
No driver of a vehicle facing a circular red signal indication shall make a right turn where official traffic signs are installed and maintained prohibiting such turn at the following intersections:
(a) 
Routes 30 and 85 (all approaches) (Permit 1891).
(b) 
Northbound Route 85 at its intersection with Southville Road.
(c) 
Westbound Southville Road at its intersection with Route 85.
F. 
Right, left and vertical green arrows. When a right green arrow is illuminated, drivers facing said signal may turn right. When a left green arrow is illuminated, drivers facing said signal may turn left. When a vertical green arrow is illuminated, drivers facing said signal may go straight ahead. When a green arrow is exhibited together with red or yellow lens, drivers may enter the intersection to make the movement permitted by the arrow but shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles and pedestrians proceeding from another direction on a green indication.
G. 
Yellow. While the yellow lens is illuminated, waiting drivers shall not proceed, and any drivers approaching the intersection or a marked stop line shall stop at such point, unless so close to the intersection that a stop cannot be made in safety; provided, however, that if a green arrow is illuminated at the same time, drivers may enter the intersection to make the movement permitted by such arrow.
No operator shall back or turn a vehicle so as to proceed in the direction opposite to that in which said vehicle is headed or traveling on the following streets:
(Reserved)
A. 
Every driver of a vehicle, railway car or other conveyance approaching an intersection of ways where there exists facing him an official sign bearing the word "stop" or a flashing red signal indication, said signs or signals having, apart from these rules and orders, the written approval of the Department of Public Works, Commonwealth of Massachusetts,[1] and such approval being in effect, shall, before proceeding through the intersection, bring such vehicle, railway car or other conveyance to a complete stop at such point as may be clearly marked by a sign or line or, if a point is not so marked, then at the nearer line of crosswalk of said intersection. In the case of a line of two or more vehicles approaching such stop sign or flashing red signal indication, the drivers of the second and third vehicles in any group shall not be required to stop more than once before proceeding through the intersection. This section shall not apply when the traffic is otherwise directed by an officer or by a lawful traffic regulating sign, signal or device or as provided in § 207-40C of this article.
[1]
Editor's Note: Now the Department of Transportation.
B. 
In accordance with the foregoing, the streets listed in Schedule III of these rules and orders are hereby declared to constitute isolated stop streets or flashing red signal intersections, as the case may be, and said Schedule III is hereby specifically incorporated in this section.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Schedule III is included as an attachment to this chapter.
At any junction or crossing of ways where the roadway grades have been separated and where the ways are connected by ramps and at any intersection of ways in which there are traffic islands, drivers of vehicles shall proceed only as indicated by official signs, signals or markings.
No operator shall enter upon a road surface of any street or highway, or section thereof, when, by reason of construction, surface treatment, maintenance or the like, or because of some unprotected hazard, such road surface is closed to travel, and one or more signs, lights or signals have been erected to indicate that all or part of the road surface of the street or highway is not to be used or when so advised by an officer, watchman, member of a street or highway crew or employees of the Town, either by signals or audibly.
The driver of a vehicle shall not drive upon any sidewalk, except at a permanent or temporary driveway.
It shall be unlawful for the driver of a vehicle, except on signal from a police officer, to drive the same over or through a safety zone.
A funeral, composed entirely or partly of a procession of vehicles, shall be identified as such by means of black pennants bearing a purple symbol attached to both the first and last vehicles, or other suitable means.
A. 
It shall be the duty of each driver in a funeral or other procession to keep as near to the right edge of the roadway as is feasible and to follow the vehicle ahead as closely as practicable and safe.
B. 
At an intersection where a traffic control signal is operating, the driver of the first vehicle in a funeral or other procession shall be the only one required to stop for a red and/or yellow indication.
C. 
At an intersection where a lawful stop sign exists, the driver of the first vehicle in a funeral or other procession shall be the only one required to stop before proceeding through the intersection.
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride on any portion of a vehicle not designated or intended for the use of passengers when the vehicle is in motion. This provision shall not apply to any employee engaged in the necessary discharge of a duty or within truck bodies in space intended for merchandise.
A. 
The use and operation of heavy commercial vehicles, having a carrying capacity of more than 2 1/2 tons, are hereby restricted on the streets, or parts thereof, named in Schedule IV,[1] and in the manner outlined and during the period of time set forth.
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule IV is included as an attachment to this chapter.
B. 
Exemptions. Subsection A of this section shall not apply to heavy commercial vehicles going to or coming from places upon said streets for the purpose of making deliveries of goods, materials or merchandise to, or similar collections from, abutting land or buildings or adjoining streets or ways to which access cannot otherwise be gained or to vehicles used in connection with the construction, maintenance and repair of said streets or public utilities therein or to federal, state, municipal or public service corporation owned vehicles.