A 3-minute lesson from the Maryland course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Signals, signs and pavement markings are traffic control devices, and everyone must obey them. Ignoring them is a major cause of crashes. Start with the three steady lights and what to do when a signal goes dark.
Traffic control devices
Traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings (lines on the road) that regulate, warn, and guide traffic.
Steady red: come to a complete stop at the stop line. With no stop line, stop before the crosswalk and before entering the intersection. Stay stopped as long as the signal is red.
Steady yellow: the signal is changing from green to red. It gives you time to stop safely and lets vehicles already in the intersection clear it. If you are too close to stop safely, carefully continue through.
Steady green: proceed with caution after checking that no other vehicles are in the intersection. Go straight or turn unless a sign or signal prohibits it, and yield to pedestrians and vehicles already in the intersection.
You're stopped at a red light on a one-way street and want to turn left onto another one-way street. With no NO TURN ON RED sign, you may turn after a full stop, yielding to pedestrians and all other traffic.
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 must you do at a steady red traffic signal?
Slow down and proceed if clear
Stop fully and stay stopped
Stop only if other vehicles are present
Yield only, no full stop required
Answer: Stop fully and stay stopped
At a steady red signal, you must come to a complete stop and remain stopped as long as the signal is red.
Unless a sign prohibits it, what turn may you make after stopping at a steady red signal?
A left turn from any street
A U-turn in any direction
A right turn, after yielding
No turns are ever allowed on red
Answer: A right turn, after yielding
After a complete stop, you may turn right on red (or left from a one-way onto a one-way) unless a sign prohibits it, yielding to pedestrians and traffic.
