U.S. DMV Questions about Traffic Signals

You may turn in the direction of the arrow. Oncoming traffic is stopped by a red light. This is known as a protective turn. B aware that not all traffic is stopped by a red light. You may face vehicles turning left from the opposite direction.

Don’t enter an intersection if you cannot get completely across, You must yield to vehicles and pedestrians that lawfully entered the intersection and haven’t cleared it. If you block the intersection, you can be cited. A green light means go, but it does not give you the right-of-way.

Red always means stop. In some states you must also stop when you approach a steady yellow light, if you can stop safely. You may, however, proceed against the yellow light if you are too close to the intersection to stop safely. Flashing yellow lights means yo should slow down och use caution.

The flashing yellow arrow has been introduced recently. It allows turns in the direction of the arrow, if the way is clear. It is known as a permissive or unprotected turn. Oncoming traffic is not stopped by a red light.

State laws in United states allow right turns on red light. You must come to full stop, yield to pedestrians and vehicles close enough to be hazard, and proceed only when safe. You cannot turn on red if there is a sign that prohibits a turn on red (No Turn on Red). Local ordinances, most notably New York City, may also prohibit such turns.

A flashing yellow light is a warning. Slow down, proceed with caution, and stay alert. Look both ways when crossing an intersection. Crossing traffic often faces a flashing red signal.

In most states, you are required to be cautious and proceed as though there is a stop sign in all directions. Yield to vehicles reaching the intersection before you and go only when it is safe.

You should always stop when a traffic light turns yellow. This is also the law in many states. If you have already entered the intersection, do not stop or back up. Instead you should continue through when traffic allows.

A steady yellow light means caution, the traffic signal is about to change from green to red. If you have already stopped at a crosswalk or stop line, you may not proceed against the yellow light. If you have entered the intersection when the yellow light comes on, do not stop or back up continue through.

A flashing red signal means stop. Check traffic and yield to vehicles and pedestrians. You may then proceed if safe. A flashing red red signal and a stop sign have the same meaning.