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:
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.
