Signal lights: green, yellow, red and turning

Explanation

Stop lights and signs control traffic flow and show who has the right of way at intersections and pedestrian crossings.

• Green light: go. You have the right of way, but only drive through if the intersection is clear of other vehicles and pedestrians.
• Steady yellow light: the green has ended and the light is about to turn red. Your right of way is ending. If you are too close to stop safely, you may complete your movement.
• Red light: stop. Traffic from other directions has the right of way. Don’t enter until your light turns green and the intersection is clear.
• Green arrow (shown with a red or green light): you have the right of way to turn, as long as the intersection is clear.
• Green light with no arrow: you may turn if the intersection is clear, but you must yield to all oncoming traffic. Only one vehicle at a time may move into the intersection to turn left.

Example

You want to turn left. The light is green but there is no arrow, and oncoming cars are going straight. You may turn only when the intersection is clear, after yielding the right of way to all oncoming traffic. If a car ahead of you has already moved into the intersection to turn left, don’t follow it in: only one vehicle at a time may move into an intersection to turn left.

Common mistake

Thinking a plain green light means you have the right of way for a left turn. Only a green arrow gives turning drivers the right of way. On a plain green, oncoming traffic goes first.

What the manual says

If you are facing a green light, you have the right of way and may drive through an intersection as long as the intersection is clear of other vehicles and pedestrians.

If you are approaching the intersection and are too close to stop safely, you may complete your movement.

You must yield the right of way to all oncoming traffic. Only one vehicle at a time may move into an intersection to turn left.