Dark Signals, a Police Officer and a Time-Plated No-Right-Turn Sign
At 21:40 in Yangon you approach a four-way junction in light rain. A power cut has left the overhead signals dark. A police officer in a reflective vest stands near the centre, waving traffic from the opposite direction through the junction. On your left footpath a temporary battery-powered signal shows a steady red for your lane, but it faces slightly away and may be for the side road. A no-right-turn sign carries a plate reading 07:00–09:00. The stop line and lane arrows are worn almost smooth. A pedestrian with an umbrella waits at the zebra crossing on the far side. You intend to turn right. Traffic is moderate and a bus is approaching from your right. Your windscreen is misting slightly and the street lights are out for the whole block.
1. Which control applies when the overhead signals are dark, a temporary red is visible and an officer is signalling?
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The officer's directions take precedence over traffic lights, signs and road markings. The temporary signal is ambiguous: it faces slightly away and may be intended for the side road, so you cannot treat it as a clear red for your lane. Even if it were your red, the officer is actively controlling the junction and you must obey the officer rather than the light. Stop before the worn stop line and before the zebra crossing, keep the crossing clear, and watch the officer's hands. Do not creep forward just because the opposite traffic is moving. Proceed only when the officer gives a clear signal for your direction, and re-check the pedestrian and the bus before moving.
2. You want to turn right. Does the no-right-turn sign prohibit the turn at 21:40?
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No. The sign is qualified by a time plate reading 07:00–09:00, so outside those hours it does not prohibit a right turn. That does not mean the turn is automatically safe or lawful: you must still obey the officer, any other signs, the lane markings and the general rule about not turning across oncoming traffic unsafely. The worn right-turn arrow is a lane guide, not a prohibition, but you should still position correctly if a right-turn lane is marked. Check for the bus coming from your right, any oncoming vehicle, and the pedestrian at the crossing. If the officer is still waving opposing traffic through, wait; the time plate only removes one restriction, it does not create a gap.
3. How should you treat the worn stop line and zebra crossing as you approach?
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Faded markings do not remove the duty they represent. Treat the worn stop line as a stop or give-way point and choose a fixed reference, such as the near edge of the crossing or a lamp post, so you stop before the pedestrian path rather than on it. Because the markings are hard to see in the rain and dark, approach more slowly and use the windscreen demister and dipped headlights to improve your view. Look for pedestrians waiting or already crossing, and do not block the crossing while waiting for a gap. If another driver behind you is impatient, ignore pressure and keep the crossing clear.