Traffic signals

Traffic lights tell you when to go, when to stop and when to take care. Whatever the light shows, you still yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles that have the right-of-way.

Red

• Solid red: stop at the limit line. A right turn on red is possible after a full stop, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted, and only after yielding to pedestrians.
• Red arrow: stop and do not turn in that direction. Stay stopped until a green light or a green arrow appears.
• Flashing red: treat it like a STOP sign. Stop completely, then go when it is safe.

Yellow

• Solid yellow: red is coming. Stop if you can do it safely; if you cannot, cross the intersection carefully.
• Yellow arrow: the protected turn is ending. If you are already in the intersection or cannot stop safely, finish the turn with care, and watch the next signal (green, red or a red arrow).
• Flashing yellow: slow down and go ahead with caution. You do not have to stop.
• Flashing yellow arrow: you may turn left, but the turn is not protected. Yield to oncoming traffic first.

Green

• Solid green: go, but only when the way is clear. Stop for anyone still in the intersection, and do not enter if you cannot get all the way across before the light turns red.
• Green arrow: a protected turn in the direction of the arrow. Oncoming traffic is held by a red light.

Light out

When a traffic light is dark, treat the intersection as if there were a STOP sign in every direction. Stop, then go carefully when it is safe.

Pedestrian signals

• WALK or a walking person: pedestrians may cross.
• DON'T WALK or a raised hand: pedestrians may not cross.
• Flashing DON'T WALK or a flashing hand: pedestrians must not start crossing. Drivers still yield to anyone already crossing.
• Numbers count down the seconds left to cross.
• Diagonal crossings let pedestrians cross in every direction at once, during the walk signal only.
• Beeps, chirps or spoken messages help blind or visually impaired pedestrians.
• A push button calls the WALK signal.
• Where there is no pedestrian signal, pedestrians follow the vehicle lights.