A 3-minute lesson from the Florida course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Signals keep traffic moving and prevent crashes at intersections. Drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists must all obey them unless an officer is directing traffic. A round light controls the whole intersection. An arrow controls only the movement it points to.
Steady red light:
Stop completely at the stop line and stay stopped until green
Don't stop too far back; some signals change only when sensors detect a vehicle at the line
After stopping, you may turn right if clear and no NO TURN ON RED sign is posted
You may turn left from a one-way street onto a one-way street with traffic moving left
Before turning, yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to oncoming traffic
At a red arrow, the same exceptions as a red light apply: after stopping, a right turn on red (or a left from one-way onto one-way) is allowed if clear and not prohibited, yielding to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
You're waiting to turn left and the signal shows a flashing yellow arrow. You may turn, but oncoming traffic has a green light. Wait for a safe gap and yield to pedestrians before you go.
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.
At a steady red light, after coming to a complete stop, when may you turn right?
Only if a green arrow appears
With no NO TURN ON RED sign, if clear
Only if a police officer waves you through
Never, right turns on red are always illegal
Answer: With no NO TURN ON RED sign, if clear
After stopping at a red light, you may turn right if there is not a NO TURN ON RED sign and the way is clear.
