Hurricane Milton messed up traffic lights in Manatee. What to do when they don’t work

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Hurricane Milton caused devastating damage to Manatee County after it barreled through Siesta Key in Sarasota on Wednesday night.

Many traffic signals on roadways aren’t working, the Bradenton Police Department said on X. BPD urged people to stay home so rescue and restoration crews could survey the damage.

But for those venturing out, what should you do when approaching a traffic light that isn’t working?

Treat it like a four-way stop, according to Florida Statute 316.1235 and the Bradenton Police Department.

“At a four-way stop intersection, the driver of the first vehicle to stop at the intersection shall be the first to proceed,” the state statute says. “If two or more vehicles reach the four-way stop intersection at the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.”

If only some traffic lights at an intersection aren’t working, the driver approaching the malfunctioning light should stop, according to the law.