2.3 Traffic Signals, Arrows, Flashing Signals & Lane-Use Signals
Key Takeaways
After a complete stop at a steady red light you may turn right, or turn left from a one-way street onto another one-way street, unless a sign prohibits it, and you must yield.
A steady red arrow means you must stay stopped for that movement until the arrow changes; a flashing red arrow means stop, yield, then go in the arrow's direction when clear.
A flashing red signal at a railroad crossing requires a complete stop even if you do not see a train.
Never drive in a lane under a red X; a steady yellow X means leave the lane safely; a flashing yellow X means the lane is for left turns from both directions.
When a traffic signal is not working, stop as you would for a stop sign, yield, and remain stopped until it is safe to continue.
Steady Signals
| Signal | What the manual requires |
|---|---|
| Steady red | Come to a complete stop at the stop line; if there is none, stop before the crosswalk and before entering the intersection. Stay stopped while it is red. |
| Steady yellow | The signal is changing from green to red. Stop if you can do so safely; 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. |
Turning on Red
Unless a sign prohibits it (such as No Turn on Red), after coming to a complete stop at a steady red light you may:
- Turn right, or
- Turn left from a one-way street onto another one-way street.
When turning on red you must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and all other traffic. A turn on red from or onto a two-way street to the left is not allowed. Failing to stop for a steady red signal carries 2 points under the MVA point system.
Arrow Signals
| Arrow | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Steady red arrow | If you want to go the way the arrow points, stop before the stop line, crosswalk or intersection and remain stopped as long as the arrow is red. |
| Steady yellow arrow | Permission to turn in that direction is ending. Slow down and proceed with caution. |
| Steady green arrow | Proceed with caution in the arrow's direction, still yielding to pedestrians and vehicles already in the intersection. |
| Flashing red arrow | Stop before the stop line, crosswalk or intersection, yield to all traffic and pedestrians, then go in the arrow's direction when clear. |
Many Maryland intersections also use a flashing yellow arrow for left turns. It works like a green ball: the turn is allowed, but you must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
Flashing Signals
- Flashing red: come to a complete stop at the stop line (or before the crosswalk and intersection), yield to all traffic and pedestrians, and proceed when clear, exactly like a stop sign. At a railroad crossing, a flashing red signal means you must stop even if you do not see a train, and you proceed only after the lights stop and the way is clear.
- Flashing yellow: slow down and proceed with caution.
When a Signal Is Not Working
If a signal is dark or malfunctioning:
- Stop at the clearly marked stop line; if there is none, before the crosswalk; if there is neither, before entering the intersection.
- Yield to vehicles and pedestrians in the intersection.
- Remain stopped until it is safe to enter and continue.
In practice, every approach treats the intersection like an all-way stop.
Lane-Use Signals for Reversible Lanes
On some roads a lane carries traffic one way at certain hours and the other way at other hours. These are reversible lanes, and signals over each lane tell you how to use it.
| Overhead signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red X | Never drive in this lane. |
| Green arrow | You may drive in this lane. |
| Steady yellow X | Move out of the lane as soon as you safely can. |
| Flashing yellow X or two-way left-turn arrows | You may use the lane for a left turn, and you will likely share it with left-turning drivers from the opposite direction. |
Pedestrian-Activated Crosswalk Signals
Some crossings use a signal that stays dark for drivers until a pedestrian pushes the button. The manual shows both views:
| Pedestrian sees | Driver sees and does |
|---|---|
| Stop; push button to cross | Dark or go: proceed normally |
| Wait | Flashing yellow: slow down |
| Continue to wait | Solid yellow: get ready to stop |
| Walk: look both ways and start after traffic has stopped | Solid red: stop |
| Don't start; finish crossing if started | Flashing red: stop, then proceed with caution when the crosswalk is clear |
| Stop; traffic has started moving | Proceed with caution |
The key exam point: during the flashing red phase you must stop first, then go only if no pedestrian is still crossing.
Yellow Light Judgment
A steady yellow is not a signal to speed up. Decide early: if you can stop smoothly before the stop line, stop. Enter on yellow only when you are so close that a hard stop would be unsafe. If you are still entering the intersection when the light turns red, you are running a red light, which costs 2 points and invites a crash with cross traffic that is starting to move.
Scenarios
- A green arrow points left, but a pedestrian is still finishing the crossing. You must still yield to the pedestrian.
- You approach a one-way street's red light and want to turn left onto another one-way street with no sign posted. Stop completely, yield, then turn.
- An overhead steady yellow X appears above your lane on a bridge. Signal and move out of that lane promptly.
What should you do at a flashing red arrow signal?
Proceed in the arrow direction without stopping
Stop, yield to traffic and pedestrians, then go in the arrow's direction when clear
Remain stopped until the arrow turns green
Slow down and turn without stopping, since flashing arrows mean the turn is protected
An overhead lane-use signal above your lane shows a steady yellow X. What does it mean?
The lane is reserved for buses
You may use the lane only for left turns
Move out of the lane as soon as you safely can
The lane is open, but slow to 25 mph
You approach a flashing red signal at a railroad crossing and no train is in sight. What must you do?
Slow down and cross carefully without stopping, because no train is visible
Proceed if the gates are up
Stop only if another vehicle is ahead of you
Stop completely; go only when the flashing stops and the way is clear
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.