A 4-minute lesson from the Indiana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Signals decide who has the right of way at an intersection. Learn what every steady light, flashing light, and arrow means, and what to do when a signal is dark.
Steady signals
Steady signals
Signal
Meaning
Green
Go: you have the right of way if the intersection is clear
Steady yellow
Green has ended; your right of way is ending
Red
Stop: don't enter until green and the intersection is clear
With a steady yellow, if you're approaching the intersection and too close to stop safely, you may complete your movement. On red, traffic from other directions has the right of way.
Facing a green light without an arrow, you may turn when clear but must yield to all oncoming traffic. Only one vehicle at a time may move into the intersection to turn left.
A flashing yellow arrow means you may turn only after yielding to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. A steady yellow light or arrow means your right of way is ending.
Facing a red light or arrow, your right of way has ended. If you're already in the middle of the intersection, you may turn once oncoming traffic has stopped.
A flashing yellow light (no arrow) means slow down and use caution. Cross traffic must yield to you, but when turning left you must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
A flashing red light equals a stop sign: stop completely, then proceed with caution. Where all traffic stops, yield to vehicles already in or stopped before you. If you arrive together, the vehicle on the left yields.
You're stopped at a red light on a one-way street and want to turn left onto another one-way street. Stop fully, check for pedestrians and traffic, make sure no No Turn on Red sign is posted, and use the correct lane before turning.
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.
What should you do if you are facing a steady yellow light and are too close to stop safely?
Brake hard and stop wherever you are
Finish crossing the intersection
Stop inside the crosswalk
Speed up to beat the red light
Answer: Finish crossing the intersection
If you are too close to the intersection to stop safely on yellow, you may complete your movement.
