Traffic lights and arrows

By the end of this topic you can

• You can act correctly on red, yellow and green lights.
• You can follow turning arrows, including red arrows.
• You can judge whether to stop or go on a yellow light.
• You can give way correctly when turning on a green light.
• You can handle lights that are flashing yellow or not working.

What you need to know and understand

• Red means stop behind the stop line and wait.
• Yellow means stop if you can do so safely; it does not mean speed up.
• Green means go if the intersection is clear, but when turning you must still give way to pedestrians and, when turning right, to oncoming traffic.
• A red arrow means you must not turn in that direction, even if the road is clear.
• A green arrow means you may turn in that direction; if the main light is red, you must not go straight ahead or turn the other way.
• Flashing yellow lights mean proceed with caution: obey any stop or give way sign at the intersection, otherwise follow the normal give way rules.
• If the lights are not working, obey any stop or give way sign posted there (NSW uses a stop sign with three black dots for this); if there is none, give way as at an intersection without signs, normally to the right.

The yellow light decision

As you approach green lights that have been green for a while, think 'stale green' and be ready for yellow. If the light changes to yellow and you can stop safely before the line, you must stop. If you are so close that braking hard would be unsafe, continue through carefully.

A steady speed and good following distance make this decision easy; tailgating makes it dangerous.

Turning right on a green circle

1. Signal and move into the right-turn lane or position.
2. Move forward into the intersection if it is safe, keeping your wheels straight.
3. Give way to oncoming vehicles and to pedestrians crossing the road you are entering.
4. Turn when there is a safe gap, or once the lights change and oncoming traffic stops, finish the turn promptly if you are already in the intersection.

Special signals

• Left turn on red after stopping: only where a sign allows it; stop first, then give way to traffic from the right and to pedestrians.
• B and T lights: white signals for buses and trams only; follow the normal lights.
• Pedestrian lights at crossings: stop on red; when the yellow light flashes you may go only after giving way to anyone still on the crossing.
• Red arrow with green circle: you may go straight ahead or turn the other way, but not in the direction of the arrow.

Common mistakes

• Speeding up on yellow to beat the red.
• Turning right on a green circle without giving way to oncoming traffic.
• Treating a red arrow as optional when the road is clear.
• Stopping past the stop line and blocking the pedestrian crossing.

Test yourself: Traffic lights and arrows

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Traffic Light Rules in Australia