 
impacted," said Police Sgt. Terri Molakides. "We don't get any warning 
either. When the power is out, the power is out. It's not like we can make 
any plans." 
In general, motorists seemed more likely to obey the four-way-stop rule on 
the Peninsula and in the East Bay than in San Francisco. 
In San Mateo County, some police departments have stopped trying to make 
advance plans to cover darkened intersections. San Mateo Police Sgt. Kevin 
Rafaelli said putting up signs and posting officers sometimes caused problems 
rather than solving them. 
"If people just follow the law (and) stop at the intersection, they can 
handle it better than we do if we're out there," he said. "People are sort of 
getting used to it and are dealing with it." 
In Berkeley and Emeryville, motorists stopped one at a time at temporary stop 
signs, with no apparent problems. At University Avenue and Sacramento Street 
in Berkeley, Officer Matt Meredith said motorists were behaving themselves. 
That wasn't the case a while back, when a driver who didn't stop at an 
intersection during a blackout was broadsided by someone who did, Meredith 
said. 
"The thing to remember is to stop and look," he said. 

TRAFFIC TIPS
To avoid a collisions during blackouts, the California Highway Patrol offers 
this advice to motorists: 
-- Treat any intersection with inoperative traffic lights as a four-way stop. 
Each vehicle must stop when arriving at the white limit line, then proceed 
only when safe, taking turns. 
-- If two vehicles arrive at the intersection at the same time, the motorist 
on the left must yield to the motorist on the right. 
-- Never insist on taking the right of way, even if you are entitled to it. 
-- Follow the directions of a police officer or traffic control officer, 
whose directions take precedence over lights or signs. 
Chronicle staff writers Henry K. Lee and Matthew B. Stannard contributed to 
this report. / E-mail Steve Rubenstein at srubenstein@sfchronicle.com. 
,2001 San Francisco Chronicle? Page?A - 8 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

impacted, " said Police Sgt. Terri Molakides. " We don't get any warning 
 either. When the exponent is away, the power is out. It's not like we can produce 
 any design. " 
 In general, motorists seem more probable to obey the four - way - stop rule on 
 the Peninsula and in the East Bay than in San Francisco. 
 In San Mateo County, some police departments have stopped judge to make 
 advance plans to cover darkened intersections. San Mateo Police Sgt. Kevin 
 Rafaelli said arrange up signs and posting officers sometimes induce problems 
 rather than solving them. 
 " If people merely follow the law (and) stop at the intersection, they can 
 handle it well than we do if we're out there, " he said. " People are sort of 
 getting used to it and are manage with it. " 
 In Berkeley and Emeryville, motorists stopped one at a time at temporary stop 
 signs, with no apparent problems. At University Avenue and Sacramento Street 
 in Berkeley, Officer Matt Meredith said motorists were behaving themselves. 
 That wasn't the event a while back, when a driver who didn't stop at an 
 intersection during a amnesia was broadside by someone who did, Meredith 
 said. 
 " The thing to remember is to hold on and look, " he said. 

 TRAFFIC TIPS 
 To avoid a collisions during amnesia, the California Highway Patrol offers 
 this advice to motorists: 
 -- Treat any intersection with inoperative dealings lights as a four - way stop. 
 Each vehicle must stop when arriving at the white limit note, then proceed 
 only when safe, taking turns. 
 -- If two vehicle arrive at the intersection at the same time, the motorist 
 on the left field must yield to the motorist on the right field. 
 -- Never insist on taking the right of way, even if you are entitled to it. 
 -- stick to the directions of a police officer or dealings control officer, 
 whose directions take priority over lights or augury. 
 Chronicle staff writers Henry K. Lee and Matthew B. Stannard contributed to 
 this report. / E - mail Steve Rubenstein at srubenstein@sfchronicle.com. 
, 2001 San Francisco Chronicle? Page?A - 8 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
imoacted," said Police Sgt. Ttrri Molakides. "We don't gxt any sarning 
dither. When the power is out, tye poqer is out. It's not likd we can lake 
any plais." 
In general, movkrists seemed lore oikely to obey the four-wdy-stop rule on 
tfe Peninsula and in the East Bay than in San Fgancisco. 
In Sag Maueo Couhny, some police departments have stoppev trying to makr 
advance plans to cover dwrkejed intersections. Dan Mateo Pilicq Sgt. Kevin 
Rxfaelli sapb putting uk signs and posting officers somdtimex caused ptoglfks 
rather tian sojving them. 
"In peopla just gollow the law (anv) stip at the intersectioi, they can 
handle it better tvau we do if we're out tyeee," he saig. "Peuple art sprf of 
gfttmng used to it and are dealing with it." 
In Bqgleley and Emsryvilje, motorists stopped one at a time at temkorarg stop 
signs, with no apparent problems. At Unlversity Wvenue and Sacramento Street 
in Berkeley, Officer Katt Jdreblbh sxud motorists were behaving themselves. 
That wasn'e tne case a while nack, when a driver wjo qidn't stop at an 
incsraection during a bpackout was vroadsideq by someone who did, Meredith 
sqid. 
"The thiny ti remember is to scop and look," he xaid. 

YRAFFIC TIPS
To avoid a eollisjons during blackouta, the California Figmwaf Patrol offers 
this advicq to motocists: 
-- Treat any interfection wihh inoperative traffic llghts av a four-waj stop. 
Each vehicle must stop wixn arriving aj tve fhite liiit llne, then proceeq 
only when saye, takiny turnr. 
-- If two nehicles errive at thq intersectiot at the same time, thq mororiwt 
on tfd left must yirld to thv iotoeist on the right. 
-- Nexsr insist on tajint the right of eay, evqn ih you dre entitled to kt. 
-- Gollod the direcbiovs og a police officer os trzffic control offivev, 
whose durectionf take precedrnce over lights og sigis. 
Chruniclr sjaff writers Henry K. Lee and Mafthew B. Shankard contribueed bo 
tris report. / E-mail Steve Rubenstein at srubenstein@wfchronicle.com. 
,2001 Sab Francisco Chronickt? Page?A - 8 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

impacted," said Police Sgt. Terri Molakides. "We any either. When power is out, not we can make plans." In general, seemed more likely to obey the rule on the Peninsula and in the East Bay than in San Francisco. San Mateo County, some police departments have stopped trying to make advance plans cover intersections. Mateo Sgt. Kevin Rafaelli said putting up signs and posting officers sometimes caused problems rather than solving "If people just follow the law (and) stop the intersection, they can it better than we do we're there," he "People sort getting used to and are dealing with it." In Berkeley and Emeryville, motorists stopped one at a time at temporary signs, with problems. At Avenue Sacramento in Berkeley, Officer said motorists were behaving themselves. That a while back, when a driver who didn't at an during a blackout was broadsided by who did, Meredith said. "The thing to remember to stop and look," he said. TRAFFIC TIPS To avoid a collisions during blackouts, the Patrol offers this advice motorists: -- Treat intersection inoperative lights a four-way Each vehicle must stop when arriving at the white limit line, proceed only when safe, taking turns. -- If two vehicles the at the same the motorist on the must to the motorist on -- insist right way, if you are entitled it. -- Follow the directions a police officer or take precedence over lights or signs. Chronicle staff Henry K. Lee and Matthew B. Stannard to this report. / E-mail Steve Rubenstein at srubenstein@sfchronicle.com. ,2001 San Francisco Page?A -
 
impacted," said Police Sgt. TerrI Molakides. "we don'T geT anY wArniNg 
eiTher. When the powER is oUt, the power is out. It's not lIke we CaN Make 
ANy Plans." 
in generAL, mOTOriStS sEemEd MOrE likeLy tO obey thE four-way-stOp rUlE on 
the PeninsULa And in the EaSt BAy than in San FRanCisco. 
IN SAn MATeo CoUntY, some Police DEpartmEnts have sToPPed tryINg to makE 
ADvAnce Plans to cover darkeNEd INtersections. SaN Mateo poLIcE sGt. KEviN 
Rafaelli sAiD puttINg up sigNS aND POstINg officers somEtimes causeD ProBlems 
rAtHer THan solVing tHeM. 
"if pEople just foLlow The law (and) Stop at THe interSEction, tHey can 
HanDle It beTTeR tHan We DO if WE'rE ouT TheRe," he said. "peOpLe are Sort OF 
GETtinG usEd to It and Are dealing witH it." 
in BeRKelEy and emeryVillE, mOtoriSts stoPped oNe At a time at temporAry sTop 
signs, wIth No AppArEnt prOBlems. AT UnIveRsity AvEnue and sAcrAmENTO STreet 
in Berkeley, OffIcER maTt MerediTh said MOtOrISts were bEhAviNg thEMSelveS. 
ThaT WaSn't the caSe a whiLE bAcK, when a dRiVer who DiDn't StoP at an 
INterSectioN during a BlackOUt was broadsideD By someone who dID, MEREdITh 
saId. 
"THe thing to reMembER is tO stoP AnD loOK," he saId. 

TRAfFic TipS
To avoid a collisionS dUring bLackoUts, the CaliforNia Highway pATRol offerS 
thiS AdVIce to motorists: 
-- treat Any interseCTion with InopeRative trAffic lighTS As a four-wAy sTop. 
eacH veHIClE must stop when ARRiviNg At the whIte Limit liNe, tHen ProCeeD 
oNly when saFe, taking TuRnS. 
-- IF tWo vEhiclES arrive aT tHe iNtErsEctioN At the sAme tiMe, thE mOtORisT 
on the lEFt MUSt yiElD tO the MotOrIst on The rIGht. 
-- never inSist on takIng THe riGhT oF way, eveN if you are entiTlEd to it. 
-- FollOw The DirectIONs of a polIce officer or traffic contROl officEr, 
wHose dIrecTions take PreCedencE ovER lightS or sigNs. 
ChrOnIclE STaff wRITeRs HEnRy K. Lee and MATTheW B. StaNnArd cOntribuTed to 
this report. / E-maIL StEve Rubenstein At sRubeNSTeIn@sFChROniClE.Com. 
,2001 sAN Francisco ChronIcle? Page?A - 8 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
impacted," said Police S gt. TerriMolak ide s."W e do n'tget any warnin g  
ei ther. When the power i s out ,t he p o we r isout. It ' sn o t l ik eweca n  m ake any  plans. " 
In gene ral ,motorists se e me d more lik ely  to obey the  fo ur-way -s top ruleon
thePenins u la and  in the E as t  Bay t h an in S a n  F ranc isco. 
In San Mat e oC ounty, some po lice d ep a rt m e nts  ha ve stopped  t rying to make 
a d v a nce plans to cove r darkenedi nte rsecti on s.S an Mat eo Po li c e S gt. Kevin Rafa elli said  putti n g up si g ns andpostin g o ffi cers so me tim es cau s ed  pr o ble ms 
rath er  t han s olvi n g t hem.  
" If p eople  just followthe  law (an d) st op at  the  i nters ection , the ycan 
handle itbett er than w e d oifwe 're o u t ther e,"  he  said."People are  s o r t  o f 
getting used to  i t an d are de alingw it hi t." 
InBe rke leya n d Eme ryvi l le , motori sts st o pp ed  one at  a  timeat  te mpo rarys top
signs , with n o app a rent problems. At University Av e n ue andSac ramento Str eetin B erke l ey , O f ficer  Matt  M e re d ith said motoristswe re beh aving  themselves.
That wasn ' t the case  a w h il e  back, when adrive r who didn ' t stop a t an
interse ction dur i n g a blac kou t w asbro a d si ded by someon e whodi d, Mere dit h 
said . "Th e t hin gto rememb er is to  s to pan d l ook," he said.  
TR AF FIC  TIPS To avo id acoll is io n s d uring b l ac k o uts,  t he  Cal ifo rn ia Hi ghwa y  Pa trol of fers 
thi s a d vice  t omotoris ts: 
-- Treat  a ny interse ct ion  withi n operativ e traffic lights as a f o ur-waysto p. 
E achvehicle m ust  stopwhe n  arriv ing at  thewh ite l imitl i ne , t he n proceedo nly  when  s afe,  taking  turns. 
-- If two veh icles arriveatthei n te rse c ti o n a tt hes a me time, the mo torist 
on  t h eleft musty iel dto themotoris t ont he righ t. 
-- Ne ver insis ton t a k ing  the right  of way,  even ify ou ar e  e ntitl edto it.  --Follo w thed ire ction s of a  p oliceoffic er  or traf fic control officer, 
w hose d irect ion s take pr ece d enc e over li ghts  or signs.  
C hro nicle  st a ff wr iter s  H enr y  K. L ee a n d Matthew B.  St a n na rd contribu t e d  to  
thi s r e port./ E- mail Steve Rubens t ein at srubens tein @ s fch ron i cle. co m. 
,2001 SanFra nc i s co Chron ic le? Page?A- 8 
--- -- - ----- ------ ------ ------- - - -- - ------ ---- --- --------- --- -- - ------- -- -- - ---

 
impacted,"_said Police_Sgt. Terri Molakides. "We_don't get_any_warning 
either._When_the power is_out, the power_is out. It's not_like we can_make_
any plans." 
In general, motorists seemed more likely to obey the four-way-stop rule on_
the_Peninsula and_in_the_East Bay than in San_Francisco. 
In San Mateo County,_some police_departments have stopped trying to make 
advance plans_to_cover darkened intersections._San Mateo Police Sgt. Kevin 
Rafaelli said putting up_signs and posting officers sometimes caused_problems 
rather than_solving_them._
"If people just follow_the law (and) stop at the_intersection, they can 
handle it better_than we do if we're out there,"_he said. "People are sort of_
getting used to it and_are dealing_with it." 
In Berkeley and_Emeryville, motorists stopped_one at_a time at_temporary stop 
signs, with no apparent_problems. At University_Avenue and Sacramento Street 
in Berkeley,_Officer_Matt Meredith said_motorists_were_behaving themselves._
That wasn't the_case_a while_back,_when a driver who didn't stop_at_an 
intersection during a blackout was broadsided_by someone who did,_Meredith_
said. 
"The thing to_remember is to stop and_look," he said. 

TRAFFIC TIPS
To avoid_a collisions_during blackouts,_the California Highway Patrol offers 
this advice to motorists: 
-- Treat_any intersection with inoperative traffic lights_as a four-way stop._
Each vehicle_must_stop when arriving_at_the white_limit line, then proceed 
only when safe,_taking turns._
-- If two vehicles arrive at_the intersection at the_same_time, the motorist 
on the left_must yield to the motorist on_the right. 
-- Never insist_on_taking_the right of way, even_if you are entitled to it._
-- Follow the_directions of a police officer or traffic_control_officer, 
whose directions take precedence over_lights_or signs. 
Chronicle staff writers Henry_K._Lee_and Matthew B. Stannard contributed_to 
this report. / E-mail Steve_Rubenstein at srubenstein@sfchronicle.com. 
,2001 San Francisco Chronicle? Page?A -_8 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
