Article C — RULES OF THE ROAD — Hidden Hills Municipal Code

4-4C-1: - SPEED REGULATIONS.

State Speed Laws Applicable [6]: The State traffic laws regulating the speed of vehicles shall be applicable upon all streets within this City, except where the Building Official, authorized by the local authority, upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey, determines that other speed limits shall be applicable on specified streets or in certain areas.

Authority of Building Official:

Whenever the Building Official, as authorized by the City Council, determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that a speed greater than 25 miles per hour would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and would be reasonable and safe upon any street other than a State highway otherwise subject to a prima facie limit of 25 miles per hour, he may declare a prima facie speed limit of 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 miles per hour or a maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour, whichever is found most appropriate to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic and is reasonable and safe.

Whenever the Building Official, as authorized by the City Council, determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the limit of 55 miles per hour is more than is reasonable or safe upon any portion of any street other than a State highway, where the limit of 55 miles per hour is applicable, he may declare a prima facie speed limit of 55, 50, 45, 35, 30 or 25 miles per hour, whichever is found most appropriate to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic and is reasonable and safe.

Whenever the Building Official, as authorized by the City Council, determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the limit of 55 miles per hour is more than is reasonable or safe upon any portion of a highway other than a State highway for a distance of not exceeding 2,000 feet in length between districts, either business or residence, he may declare a reasonable and safe prima facie limit thereon lower than 55 miles per hour, but not less than 25 miles per hour, which declared prima facie speed limit.

Speed limits established pursuant to this subsection B. shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon said street or highway.

Regulation of Speed by Traffic Signals:2 [7] The Building Official is authorized by the City Council to regulate the timing of traffic signals so as to permit the movement of traffic in an orderly and safe manner at speeds slightly at variance from the speeds otherwise applicable within the district or at intersections and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof.

Exceeding Speed Limit Not Negligence as Matter of Law: In any civil action, proof of speed in excess of the limits provided herein shall not establish negligence as a matter of law, but in all such actions, it shall be necessary to establish as a fact that the operation of a vehicle at such excess speed constituted negligence.

(Ord. 181, 2-17-86; Ord. 215, 1-19-89; 1994 Code)

Vehicle Code § 22352.

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See also Article B of this Chapter.

4-4C-2 - TURNING MOVEMENTS.

Placement of Devices Altering Normal Course for Turns: The Building Official is authorized by the City Council to place official traffic-control devices within or adjacent to intersections indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning at such intersections, and such course to be traveled as so indicated may conform to or be other than as prescribed by law. [8]

Placement of Restricted Turn Signs: The Building Official is authorized by the City Council to determine those intersections at which drivers of vehicles shall not make a right, left or U-turn and shall place proper signs at such intersections. The making of such turns may be prohibited between certain hours of any day and permitted at other hours, in which event, the same shall be plainly indicated on the signs, or they may be removed when such turns are permitted.

Limitations on Turning Around: The driver of any vehicle shall not turn such vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any street in a business district.

Right Turns at Signal-Controlled Intersections: The Building Official is authorized by the City Council to erect appropriate signs prohibiting right turns against a red or "stop" signals at any intersection.

Required Positions and Method of Turning at Intersections: The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an intersection shall do so as follows:

Right Turns: Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.

Left Turns: The driver of a vehicle intending to turn left at any intersection shall approach the intersection in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of such vehicle, and after entering the intersection, the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection in a lane lawfully available to traffic moving in such direction upon the roadway being entered.

Signals Required:

No person shall turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate signal

in the manner provided herein in the event any other vehicle may be affected by such movement.

Any signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning.

No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle on a roadway without first giving an appropriate signal, in the manner provided in this Section, to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear when there is opportunity to give such signal.

(Ord. 181, 2-17-86; Ord. 215, 1-19-89; 1994 Code)

Vehicle Code § 22100, et seq.

4-4C-3: - DRIVING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY; OVERTAKING AND PASSING.

Driving on Right Side of Roadway; Exceptions: Upon all roadways of sufficient width, a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:

When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing such movement.

When placing a vehicle in a lawful position for, and when such vehicle is lawfully making, a left-hand turn.

When the right half of a roadway is closed to traffic while under construction or repair.

Passing Vehicles Proceeding in Opposite Directions: Drivers of vehicles proceeding in opposite directions shall pass each other to the right, and except where a roadway has been divided into traffic lanes, each driver shall give to the other at least one-half of the main traveled portion of the roadway whenever possible.

Overtaking Vehicle Proceeding in Same Direction: The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction:

The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle.

The driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible sound and shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.

Limitations on Overtaking on Left: No vehicle shall, at any time, be driven to the left side of the roadway under the following conditions:

When the center line of the roadway is marked with a distinctive roadway marking in accordance with this Chapter.

When approaching the crest of a grade or upon a curve in the roadway where the driver's view is obstructed within such distance as to create a hazard in the event another vehicle might approach in the opposite direction.

When approaching within 100 feet of or when traversing any intersection.

(Ord. 181, 2-17-86)

4-4C-4: - ONE-WAY STREETS AND ALLEYS.

Designation of One-Way Streets and Alleys: The Building Official is authorized by the City Council to determine and designate one-way streets or alleys and shall place and maintain official traffic-control devices giving notice thereof. No such designation shall be effective unless such devices are in place.

Movement on Streets May be Restricted: The Building Official is authorized by the City Council to determine and designate streets, parts of streets or specific lanes thereon upon which vehicular traffic shall proceed in one direction during one period and the opposite direction during another period of the day and shall place and maintain appropriate markings, signs, barriers or other devices to give notice thereof. The

Building Official may erect signs temporarily designating lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless of the center line of the roadway.

(Ord. 215, 1-19-89; 1994 Code)

4-4C-5: - RIGHT-OF-WAY.

The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different roadway.

When two vehicles enter an intersection from different roadways at the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the driver of the vehicle on the right.

This Section shall not apply at intersections controlled by traffic-control signals or stop signs or to vehicles approaching each other from opposite directions, when the driver of one of such vehicles is intending to or is making a left turn.

(Ord. 181, 2-17-86)

4-4C-6: - STOP AND YIELD INTERSECTIONS.

Signs Erected: The Building Official is authorized by the Council to erect and maintain stop signs, yield signs or other official traffic-control devices to designate through streets or to designate intersections or other roadway junctions at which vehicular traffic on one or more of the roadways should yield or stop and yield before entering the intersection or junction. [9]

Obedience to Stop Signs: The driver of any vehicle, upon approaching any entrance of a through road or intersection signposted with a stop sign as provided herein, shall stop at a limit line if marked, otherwise before entering the crosswalk on the near side on the intersection or, if not, then before entering such through road or intersections.

(Ord. 181, 2-17-86; Ord. 215, 1-19-89; 1994 Code)

See also Section 4-4B-2 of this Chapter.

4-4C-7: - STOP WHEN TRAFFIC OBSTRUCTED.

No driver shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding any traffic-control signal indication to proceed.

(Ord. 215, 1-19-89)

4-4C-8: - PROCESSIONS.

Driving Through Processions: No driver of a vehicle shall drive between the vehicles comprising a funeral or other authorized procession while they are in motion and when such vehicles are conspicuously designated as required in this Section. This provision shall not apply at intersections where traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals or police officers.

Drivers in a Procession: Each driver in a funeral or other procession shall drive as near to the right-hand edge of the roadway as practicable and shall follow the vehicle ahead as close as practicable and safe.

Identification of Processions: A funeral composed of a procession of vehicles shall be identified as such by the display upon the outside of each vehicle of a pennant or other identifying insignia or by such other methods as may be determined and designated by the Traffic Enforcement Division. [10]

(Ord. 215, 1-19-89)

Vehicle Code § 25251(a)(5).

4-4C-9: - CONDUCT ON APPROACH OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES.

Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle which is sounding a siren and which has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light that is visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle:

Vehicles: The driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and thereupon shall stop and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.

Pedestrians: All pedestrians upon the roadway shall proceed to the nearest curb or place of safety until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.

Equestrians: All horseback riders shall dismount and control their animals.

(Ord. 215, 1-19-89; 1994 Code)

4-4C-10: - RECKLESS DRIVING.

No person shall drive any vehicle upon any road in the City with wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4-4I-6 of this Chapter, any person convicted of a violation of this Section is guilty of reckless driving and, except as is hereinafter in this Section provided, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment in the County jail for not less than five days nor more than 90 days or by a fine of not less than $145.00 nor more than $1,000.00 or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Whenever, as a proximate result of such reckless driving, bodily injury results to any person, then, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4-4I-6 of this Chapter, a person convicted of a violation of this Section shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment in the County jail for not less than 90 days nor more than six months or by a fine of not less than $220.00 nor more than $1,000.00 or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 181, 2-17-86; 1994 Code)

4-4C-11 - COASTING PROHIBITED.

No motor vehicle, when traveling on downgrade upon any road, shall coast with the gears of such vehicle in neutral.

(Ord. 181, 2-17-86)