If a police officer is controlling traffic at an intersection where traffic lights are operational, which signals should drivers obey?

Drivers should obey the police officer's signals when they are controlling traffic at an intersection with operational traffic lights. This is because the authority of a police officer directing traffic takes precedence over traffic signals. Police officers are trained to manage traffic flow for safety and efficiency, especially in situations where the traffic lights may be malfunctioning or require manual intervention to address specific circumstances such as accidents, roadwork, or special events.

In this scenario, the officer’s instructions are designed to ensure safety and mitigate potential hazards that could arise from the usual signals, making their commands imperative for drivers to follow. While traffic lights generally dictate behavior at intersections, the presence of a police officer indicates that there is a need for human oversight, overriding the automated signals to adapt to real-time conditions.