This chart puts every US traffic signal on one page, with what it means and what you do. Print it (your browser's Print button works) and keep it with your permit test notes, or use it to quiz someone else. The same rules apply in every state, with the two exceptions noted at the bottom.
Solid lights
| Signal | Means | You |
|---|---|---|
| Solid red | Stop | Stop at the line and wait. Right on red after a full stop is allowed unless posted otherwise |
| Solid yellow | Red is next | Stop if you safely can; if you're too close to stop, go through carefully |
| Solid green | Go | Go when the intersection is clear; a left turn yields to oncoming traffic |
Arrows
| Signal | Means | You |
|---|---|---|
| Green arrow | Protected turn | Turn; oncoming traffic has red. Still yield to anyone in the intersection |
| Yellow arrow | Protected turn ending | Stop if you safely can |
| Flashing yellow arrow | Turn allowed, not protected | Yield to oncoming traffic and people, then turn |
| Red arrow | No turn this way | Wait |
Flashing and dark
| Signal | Means | You |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing red | Stop sign | Stop fully, yield, go when safe |
| Flashing yellow | Caution | Slow down, watch for cross traffic; no stop needed |
| All lights dark | Signal not working | All-way stop: first to stop goes first; tie → the car on the right |
| Railroad lights flashing | Train coming | Stop 15–50 feet from the nearest rail; wait until the lights stop |
Pedestrian signals (what drivers watch for)
| Signal | Means for people walking | Means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Walking person / WALK | They may cross | Yield before turning across the crosswalk |
| Raised hand / DON'T WALK | Don't start crossing | People may still be finishing: yield to them |
| Flashing hand or countdown | Time is running out | Your light is about to change; people still crossing go first |
The two exceptions
- Right on red: banned in New York City unless a sign allows it.
- Left on red (one-way street onto one-way street): allowed in many states, not all.
Details such as left on red and turning on a red arrow differ by state. Check your state's driver handbook.
How to use this chart to study
Cover the right-hand column and say what you would do for each row out loud. Then check. The ones you get wrong are the ones to practice. Pay special attention to the flashing yellow arrow and the solid yellow; those two account for most wrong answers about signals.
For the full explanations, read traffic light meanings, flashing yellow arrow meaning and flashing red light meaning.
Practice it
Test yourself on every signal in Signal LabStart ›Sources for each rule are on rules of the road.
