Photo: Luke Stewart, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Traffic lights work in much the same way across Australia, though some rules differ by state. Red means stop. Yellow also means stop, unless you cannot stop safely. Green means go if it is safe. This explainer covers arrows, flashing yellow lights, twin red lights and the one place you may turn left on red: where a sign says so.
Key facts
- Yellow (amber) means stop. You may only go through if you cannot stop safely before the stop line.
- Left turn on red is not allowed unless a sign at the lights permits it. Even then you must stop first and give way.
- A red arrow overrides a green light for traffic turning that way.
- A flashing yellow arrow means you may turn, but must give way to pedestrians and other traffic as shown.
- Twin flashing red lights (at level crossings, bridges, fire and ambulance stations) mean the same as a red light. Stop and wait until they stop flashing.
- U-turns at traffic lights depend on the state. In NSW, Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT you may only U-turn at lights where a U-turn permitted sign is shown. In Victoria a U-turn at lights is allowed unless a No U-turn sign is shown. See U-turns in Victoria.
What each light means
| Signal | What you must do |
|---|---|
| Red light | Stop before, and as close as possible to, the stop line. With no line, stop before the intersection. |
| Yellow light | Stop, unless you cannot stop safely before the line. Do not speed up to beat it. |
| Green light | Go if it is safe, giving way to pedestrians and other traffic as required. Do not enter unless there is room for your car on the far side of the intersection. |
| Red arrow | Do not turn in that direction, even if the main light is green. |
| Yellow arrow | Stop before the line, unless it is unsafe to stop. |
| Green arrow | Turn in that direction, giving way to pedestrians if necessary. |
| Flashing yellow arrow | Turn after giving way to pedestrians and to traffic on the road you are entering. |
| Flashing yellow light | Slow down and proceed with caution (see below for intersections). |
| Twin red lights | Same as a red light. Do not go until they stop showing. |
Is yellow a stop light?
Yes. The Tasmanian Road Rules handbook describes yellow as the beginning of the red light phase, not the end of the green. There is a penalty for failing to stop at a yellow light when you could have stopped safely. The NSW handbook also says you should not stop suddenly.
If you are already in the intersection when the light changes, keep going and clear it. In the Northern Territory’s explanation of red-light cameras, a car that crossed the line on yellow does not trigger the camera. The camera only records vehicles that cross after the light turns red.
Can you turn left on a red light in Australia?
Only where a sign at the intersection allows it. The sign reads “Left turn on red permitted after stopping”. Where you see it:
- Stop at the red light first.
- Give way to pedestrians and to traffic approaching from the right.
- Turn when it is safe.
Without the sign, a left turn on red is not allowed.
Turning right at traffic lights
- Green light, no arrow: move forward and wait for a break in oncoming traffic. Give way to oncoming vehicles going straight or turning left, and to pedestrians on the road you are entering.
- If the light turns yellow or red while you are waiting in the intersection: complete your turn as soon as it is safe.
- Green right arrow: turn. Oncoming traffic faces a red light.
- Green right arrow goes out but the round green light stays on: you may still turn, but you are no longer protected. Give way to oncoming traffic and pedestrians as you would on a plain green.
- Red right arrow: do not turn, even if the main light is green. You may still go straight or turn left if those are green.
Flashing yellow lights and lights that are out
States describe this slightly differently, so learn your own state’s version.
- Victoria: if the lights are not working or flashing yellow, give way as at any uncontrolled intersection.
- Tasmania: when all the lights flash yellow, the rules for uncontrolled intersections apply. Give way to the right, to vehicles whose path you cross, and to pedestrians.
- Western Australia: Drive Safe says flashing yellow at an intersection means the signals are not working properly. Treat it as if you face a give way sign. If no light is showing at all, slow down and treat it the same way.
- New South Wales: some lights have a stop sign with three black dots. If the lights are out or flashing yellow, follow the stop sign rules.
If police or an authorised person are directing traffic, follow their signals even if it means disobeying another rule. See giving way in Australia for the uncontrolled intersection rules.
Flashing yellow at pedestrian crossings
Pelican crossings have an extra flashing yellow phase. The light means you may go, but you must give way to any pedestrian still on or entering the crossing. Western Australia warns drivers not to confuse this with flashing yellow at an intersection.
Twin red lights
Twin flashing red lights are found at railway level crossings, bridges, and fire and ambulance stations. The rule is the same as a red traffic light. Stop before the line, or before the lights if there is no line, and do not go until the lights have stopped. At level crossings, also wait until any boom gates are fully open. See railway level crossings in Australia.
Signals for buses, trams and bikes
- White “B” signal: only buses may go. It lights up just before the normal lights change. Wait for your own green.
- White “T” signal: only trams may go.
- Bicycle lights: apply only to cyclists.
- Bicycle storage area: a marked box at the front of the lane. Do not stop your car in it.
Melbourne drivers also meet Hook Turn signs at some lights. See how to do a hook turn in Melbourne.
Pedestrians at traffic lights
When turning at lights, give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into. This applies even if their signal is flashing red, because they may still finish crossing. Some intersections let pedestrians cross in any direction when their green symbol shows.
Wig wags and red light cameras
- Wig wags (NT): flashing warning lights before some intersections in the Northern Territory. They warn that the lights ahead are about to change. Slow down whenever they flash, even if the lights ahead look green.
- Red-light speed cameras: these detect vehicles that cross the stop line after the light turns red. They also detect speeding at any time, whatever colour the light is.
Common questions
Can I turn left on red if no one is coming?
No. Only where a “Left turn on red permitted after stopping” sign is shown, and only after stopping and giving way.
Is it illegal to go through a yellow light?
You must stop at a yellow light unless you cannot stop safely before the stop line. Tasmania notes there is a penalty for failing to stop when you could have.
What does a flashing yellow right arrow mean?
You may turn right, but you must give way to pedestrians and to oncoming traffic as required. NSW describes it as permission to turn while giving way to pedestrians crossing the road you are entering.
Can I make a U-turn at traffic lights?
Outside Victoria, only where a U-turn permitted sign is shown. In Victoria you may, unless a No U-turn sign is shown, and you must still give way to all vehicles and pedestrians. A permitted U-turn does not give you priority, and line markings can still rule it out; for example, the NT bans U-turns across a continuous centre line or double centre lines. Details: U-turns in Victoria.
What should I do if the traffic lights are not working?
Follow your state’s rule. That means uncontrolled intersection rules in Victoria and Tasmania, give way sign rules in Western Australia, and stop sign rules at NSW lights with a three-dot stop sign. Follow any police directions.
Do twin red lights at a fire station mean I have to stop?
Yes. Victoria’s handbook says you must stop when twin red lights are flashing, for example outside a fire or ambulance station. Wait until they stop.
Sources
- Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook” (nsw.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Planning Victoria, “Road to Solo Driving” (transport.vic.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users” (transport.wa.gov.au)
- Department of State Growth Tasmania, “Tasmanian Road Rules, Version 2.1” (transport.tas.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “NT Road Users’ Handbook” (nt.gov.au)
- Access Canberra, “ACT Road Rules Handbook” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)