A 3-minute lesson from the Connecticut course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Traffic lights tell you when to stop and go, but each color comes with conditions: you still yield on green, you don't slam the brakes if you're already in the intersection on yellow, and flashing lights mean something different from steady ones.
Traffic signal
Know the rule
Traffic lights are usually at intersections. When together, they are green, yellow and red from bottom to top. Some locations have single green, yellow or red lights.
Red means stop. Wait until the light turns green and there's no crossing traffic. You may turn right on red after a full stop if no traffic is coming and no sign prohibits it; watch for pedestrians.
Yellow means the light is about to turn red: stop if it is safe to do so. If you're already in the intersection when it turns yellow, don't stop — continue through.
Green means you may go, but you must yield to emergency vehicles and others as required. If the light turns green while you're stopped, let crossing traffic clear first. On a steady green, turn left only when safe; turning right, yield to pedestrians.
High-Intensity Activated crossWalK: a push-button pedestrian signal with one yellow light centered below two red lights. When activated, vehicles must stop while pedestrians cross.
You're approaching a HAWK signal that turns flashing red after the solid red. Stay stopped until the pedestrian finishes crossing, then proceed with care — the signal is about to go dark.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
You are stopped at a red light and want to go straight. When may you proceed?
When no cross traffic is visible
After a full stop, if the way is clear
When it turns green and crossing traffic clears
When the cross street's light turns yellow
Answer: When it turns green and crossing traffic clears
You must wait until the traffic light turns green and there is no crossing traffic before you may move ahead.
