Traffic Signals
Red/green/yellow, green arrows, flashing signals, police hand signals
When turning right at a signaled intersection, you must yield to oncoming vehicles going straight and to pedestrians.
🚥 Traffic Signals Cheat Sheet
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TRUE: A flashing red signal has the same meaning as a stop sign — you must stop and yield before proceeding.
A flashing red signal means you must come to a complete stop, check for safety, yield to traffic on the intersecting road, and then proceed when safe.
TRUE: A green arrow signal pointing right allows you to turn right even when the main signal is red.
A green arrow signal allows you to proceed in the direction of the arrow regardless of the main signal color.
TRUE: When all three arrow signals (left, straight, right) are illuminated, it is the same as a green signal.
When all three directional arrows are illuminated simultaneously, it has the same practical effect as a green signal — you may proceed in any direction.
TRUE: When a police officer faces you with their arm raised straight up, it means stop for all traffic facing the officer.
When a police officer raises their arm straight up, all traffic facing the officer must stop.
TRUE: When a police officer extends their arms horizontally, traffic moving parallel to the officer's extended arms may proceed.
When a police officer extends arms horizontally, traffic moving parallel to the extended arms (along the officer's chest) may proceed, similar to a green signal.
TRUE: A green signal means you may proceed, but you must still yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Even with a green signal, you must yield to pedestrians who are in or about to enter a crosswalk.
TRUE: A red signal with a green left arrow means you can only turn left.
When the main signal is red but there is a green arrow pointing left, you may only turn left.
TRUE: In Japan, traffic signals are arranged with red on the right side for horizontal signals.
In Japan, horizontal traffic signals are arranged with red on the right side (as viewed by the driver), yellow in the center, and green on the left.
TRUE: Sound signals at pedestrian crossings help visually impaired people know when it is safe to cross.
Many pedestrian crossings in Japan are equipped with audio signals (bird chirping sounds or melodies) that indicate when the pedestrian signal is green, assisting visually impaired individuals.
TRUE: A yellow signal means you may proceed if you have already entered the intersection.
If you have already entered the intersection when the signal changes to yellow, you should proceed through safely.
FALSE: A flashing yellow signal means you must stop and wait for it to turn green.
A flashing yellow signal means proceed with caution.
FALSE: When a traffic signal turns yellow, you should speed up to get through the intersection before it turns red.
A yellow signal means the signal is about to turn red.
FALSE: A pedestrian signal showing a flashing green man means pedestrians should start crossing the road.
A flashing green pedestrian signal means pedestrians should NOT start crossing.
FALSE: You must obey a traffic signal even if a police officer is also directing traffic at the same intersection.
Police officer directions always take precedence over traffic signals.
FALSE: When a traffic signal malfunctions and shows no light at all, you should treat the intersection as if it has a yield sign.
When a traffic signal is not functioning, you should treat the intersection as an uncontrolled intersection.