Photo: Gary Doherty / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.
Irish traffic lights work on red, green and amber, with green filter arrows and a flashing amber at pelican crossings. Section 7 of the Rules of the Road also covers the signals drivers give with indicators, brake lights and the arm. Two hand signals are asked on the Irish driving test. This guide explains every light, when you must signal, and all 7 hand signals.
Key facts
- A green light is not a right of way. It means you may go on with caution if the way is clear.
- On amber you must stop, unless you are so close that stopping would be dangerous.
- Failing to obey traffic lights: 3 penalty points on payment of the fixed charge, 5 on conviction.
- You must signal before moving off, turning, changing lane, overtaking, slowing down or stopping.
- The driving test includes 2 hand signal questions, done at the desk.
What each traffic light means in Ireland
| Light | What you must do |
|---|---|
| Red | Stop. Do not go past the stop line, or past the light if there is no line |
| Amber | Stop at the line, unless you are so close when it appears that stopping would be dangerous |
| Green | Go on if the way is clear. Take special care when turning and give way to pedestrians crossing |
| Green arrow (filter) | You may go in the direction of the arrow if safe, even if a red light is also showing |
| Flashing amber arrow pointing left | You may go past the light, but first give way to traffic already coming through the junction |
| Flashing amber at a pelican crossing | Yield to pedestrians on the crossing. Go only when it is clear |
Approach every set of lights at a speed that lets you stop if the amber appears.
Reading arrows and turning across cycle tracks
- A green arrow covers only the direction it points. A left arrow does not let you go straight ahead.
- At a junction with several sets of lights, follow the signal for your lane. Don’t move off because the next lane starts moving.
- A flashing amber arrow is not a protected turn. Before turning across a cycle track, look back along it for a cyclist on the way, not just at the point where your paths cross.
- Green still means wait if people are crossing your exit, or the road beyond is queued and you would be left blocking the junction.
If the lights are not working
If the lights at a junction are out of order, stop at the stop line first. Then go only when it is safe, giving way to traffic that has right of way, and take extra care because other drivers may be unsure who goes first. If a Garda is directing traffic, follow their signals.
Turning right at lights with a right filter arrow
On green, drive into the junction without blocking oncoming traffic, then finish the turn when safe. Wait for the filter arrow only if you are already in the junction and turning before it appears would be dangerous. Where there is a right-turn box marked on the road, wait inside it. See Irish road markings.
Cycle track lights
- A red cyclist light means the cyclist must stop.
- A green cyclist light means the cyclist may go if it does not endanger others.
- A flashing green or amber cyclist light means the cyclist may not cross unless they were already crossing on a steady green.
Cyclists must obey ordinary traffic lights too. See sharing the road with cyclists.
Lane control lights
On national roads, motorways and in tunnels, a green down arrow means the lane is open. A red X means the lane is closed and you must not pass. A green diagonal arrow means move into that lane. See Irish road signs explained.
When must you signal?
You must signal clearly and in good time before:
- moving off
- turning left or right
- changing lanes
- overtaking
- slowing down
- stopping
A signal shows what you intend. It never gives you right of way. Before any manoeuvre, take extra care when changing lane, turning across oncoming traffic, entering or leaving a roundabout, and driving or reversing into a parking space.
If you think your indicators or brake lights are not giving an adequate signal, add a clear hand signal. Then have them repaired.
The 7 hand signals in the Rules of the Road
All are given with the right arm. The same signals are used by cyclists, motorcyclists and people in charge of horse-drawn vehicles, and by drivers of farm machinery without indicators.
To traffic behind you
| Meaning | How to give it |
|---|---|
| I am going to move out or turn right | Right arm straight out of the window, level |
| I am going to turn left | Right arm out of the window, rotated in an anti-clockwise circle |
| I am going to slow down or stop | Right arm out of the window, palm down, moved slowly up and down |
To a Garda on point duty or oncoming traffic
| Meaning | How to give it |
|---|---|
| I want to turn right | Right arm out of the window, pointing right |
| I want to turn left | Right forearm and hand across the inside of the windscreen, fingers pointing left |
| I want to go straight on | Right hand raised inside the windscreen, palm facing forward |
| I want to slow down or stop | Right arm out of the window, moved up and down |
When a hand signal helps
The Rules of the Road gives these examples, and says learners should be guided by their ADI:
- turning right just after moving out to pass stationary traffic on the left
- showing oncoming traffic that you are giving way at a pedestrian crossing
- when another road user may not be able to see your indicators
- when you think your indicators are not working
Hand signals on the Irish driving test
Under the RSA’s 2025 procedures, the oral part has 14 questions. Two are hand signals, done at the desk before the drive. If 3 or more oral questions, including hand signals, are wrong or unanswered, a Grade 2 fault is recorded. Practise all 7 sitting in the driver’s seat. See pre-test checks.
Penalties
| Offence | Points on payment | Points on conviction | Fixed charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failing to obey traffic lights | 3 | 5 | €80 |
| Failing to give appropriate signals | not in points schedule | not in points schedule | €60 |
Full list in penalty points in Ireland.
Common questions
Can I go through an amber light in Ireland?
Only if you are so close to the line when it changes that stopping would be dangerous. Otherwise you must stop.
Can I turn left on red in Ireland?
No, unless a green filter arrow pointing left is lit, or a flashing amber left arrow lets you go after giving way.
Does indicating give me right of way?
No. A signal only shows what you intend to do.
Do I still need to know hand signals if my car has indicators?
Yes. They are tested on the driving test and in the Rules of the Road, and you need them if your indicators fail.
Which arm do I use for hand signals?
Your right arm, out of the driver’s window or across the windscreen.
Related: junctions in Ireland, pedestrians and crossings, Garda signals and emergency vehicles. Back to learning to drive in Ireland.
Sources
- Road Safety Authority, “Rules of the Road”, Section 7 Traffic lights and signals (Revision 5, hosted on garda.ie)
- Road Safety Authority, “Standard procedures and requirements for conducting driving tests 2025” (rsa.ie)
- Road Safety Authority, “RSA driver tester marking guidelines” (rsa.ie)
- Law Reform Commission, Road Traffic Act 2002, First Schedule, revised (revisedacts.lawreform.ie)
- Irish Statute Book, “S.I. No. 526 of 2022, Road Traffic Act 2010 (Part 3) (Fixed Charge Offences) Regulations 2022” (irishstatutebook.ie)
- Road Safety Authority, “Rules of the Road”, current edition reflecting the law at 1 March 2025, printed page 109 (traffic lights out of order) (rsa.ie)