Traffic lights are something everyone at least knows the basics of – green for go, yellow for caution, and red for stop.
However, for the driver’s test, you need to know the rarer traffic lights.
To begin, yellow lights must be more thoroughly explained:
- When a light goes from green to yellow that means stop if you can do so safely. If you cannot stop safely, continue through the intersection.
- A yellow light does not mean speed up so you can make it through before the light turns red. It is illegal to not stop at a yellow when you have enough time to safely do so.
A good trick is to monitor when a green light is about to turn yellow. You can do this by checking crosswalk signals. If they have turned to a solid DON’T WALK signal, then be prepared to break for yellow.
LESS COMMON TRAFFIC SIGNALS
Green arrow light coupled with another light:
• A green arrow coupled with a solid green light means you can either turn in the direction of the arrow, go straight ahead, or turn the other direction through the intersection without stopping.
• A green arrow coupled with a solid red light means you are only permitted to turn in the direction of the arrow and all other traffic must stop.
• A flashing red light with no green arrow means to come to a full stop and then proceed through the intersection. This is the same as what you would do when at a stop sign.
A flashing yellow light:
• A flashing yellow light indicates that you must proceed through the intersection with caution, meaning you must proceed slowly and pay close attention to what is going on around you.
A flashing green light:
• A flashing green light means the driver can go ahead and turn left, right or go straight through the intersection without stopping.
• Opposing traffic will be facing a red light. Drivers must still yield to pedestrians or other vehicles lawfully in the intersection.