Roadworks, a Red Light and an Impatient Passenger
At 18:20 in Curepipe, you approach a junction with temporary roadworks. A 'no entry' sign and a diversion arrow point left. The permanent traffic light is red, but a police officer in a high-visibility jacket is standing in the junction and waving your lane straight ahead through the red light. Your passenger says the officer is 'only letting one car through' and tells you to turn right through the no-entry sign to reach the restaurant faster. The right turn would save about four minutes. There is a cyclist on your left and a queue behind. Your taxi is on a lawful hired journey, and the passenger has already paid the agreed fare. What do you do?
1. Explain how you should interpret the police officer’s signal, the red light and the no-entry sign in this situation.
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The police officer’s signal is the controlling instruction. A police officer directing traffic may lawfully override a red light or sign, but only within the direction given. Proceed straight ahead slowly only when the officer’s signal clearly applies to your lane, and check the cyclist on your left before moving. Do not turn right through the no-entry sign: it remains a prohibited movement, and the passenger’s four-minute saving does not create an exception. If the officer’s signal is ambiguous, stop and seek clarification rather than guessing. Temporary diversion arrows and no-entry signs must be obeyed when no officer is directing. The hierarchy is: officer’s direction, then signals and signs, then markings, with safety checks throughout.
2. How do you manage the passenger’s request without escalating the situation?
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Acknowledge the passenger’s impatience without debating the law. Say briefly: 'The officer is directing us straight; the right turn is no-entry.' Offer the legal alternative and give a realistic delay. Do not turn while continuing the argument, and do not allow the passenger to pressure you into a prohibited movement. If the passenger becomes threatening, stay calm, stop safely after the junction, and ask him to leave or call police if necessary. Record the diversion and delay if the fare is time-based. The reasoning is that the driver is responsible for the manoeuvre; a passenger’s instruction is not a defence for ignoring a no-entry sign or a police signal.