New Jersey driving lesson · Signs, Signals, and Road Markings
Traffic signals
A 3-minute lesson from the New Jersey course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Signals control the flow of traffic at intersections for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Each color and arrow has an exact meaning, and a police officer directing traffic outranks them all.
Know the rule
During heavy traffic or emergencies a police officer may direct traffic and can overrule signals; always obey the officer. Stealing or damaging traffic, airport or railroad-crossing signs brings court penalties.
Vertical signals: red is always on top, yellow in the center, green third, and a green arrow, if any, on the bottom. Horizontal signals: red is always on the left.
Flashing red lights at a railroad crossing mean a train is approaching. Yield to it and go only when the lights stop flashing and all other active warning devices shut off.
If a signal has no working bulbs and no one is directing traffic, treat it as a four-way stop: look left and right, yield to traffic from either side, and go when safe.
Raised palm (don't walk): pedestrians must not leave the curb or enter the roadway; those already crossing should go quickly to a safe spot. Pedestrians already in the crosswalk will have time to finish.
Walking person or countdown: pedestrians facing it may cross. New Jersey law requires turning drivers to yield to pedestrians crossing on this signal and to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Your light turns green, but a pedestrian is still in the crosswalk finishing her walk and a car that entered on yellow is clearing the intersection. Wait for both; green means go only after yielding to those already in the intersection.
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.
When traffic signals are hung vertically, which light is always on top?
Yellow
Green
A green arrow
Red
Answer: Red
When traffic signals are hung vertically, red is always on top, yellow in the center, and green third in line.
Red lights are flashing at a railroad crossing. When may you go?
After stopping, if no train is visible
Once the gates begin to rise
When the lights stop and all devices deactivate
After waiting at least 30 seconds
Answer: When the lights stop and all devices deactivate
Flashing red lights at a railroad crossing mean a train is approaching; go only when the red lights stop flashing and all other active warning devices deactivate.
