Traffic Signals

Official Florida Driver License Handbook.

Red Light:

•  Come to a complete stop at the stop line. Remain stopped until the light turns green.

• Don’t stop too far away from the stop line. Some signals change only when sensors detect vehicles at the stop line. 

•  After stopping, you may turn right if there is not a NO TURN ON RED sign and the way is clear. 

•  You may turn left from a one-way street onto a one-way street that has traffic moving to the left. 

•  Before turning, you must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in the crosswalk and oncoming traffic.

•  Running (driving through) a red light is against the law and is extremely dangerous! 

Yellow Light:

•  Warning—the light is changing to red. 

•  Stop if you can safely do so. It is extremely dangerous to be in an intersection when the light turns red. 

Green light:

• Go, but only if the intersection is clear. 

•  Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and vehicles in the intersection. 

•  Approach at a speed that will allow you to slow down if the light changes. 

•  When turning left, you must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. 

Red Arrow:

• Do not make the movement shown by the arrow until the green light appears. 

•  After stopping, you may turn right if there is not a NO TURN ON RED sign and the way is clear.

• You may turn left from a one-way street onto a one-way street that has traffic moving to the left.

•  You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in the crosswalk and oncoming traffic.

Yellow Arrow:

◆ The green arrow is ending or the light is about to turn red.

◆ Stop if you can safely do so.

Green Arrow:

•  You may make a turn in the direction of the arrow.

•  If the red light is illuminated at the same time, you must be in the proper lane for such a turn.

•  You must yield the right-of-way to vehicles and pedestrians in the intersection.

Flashing Yellow Arrow:

•  The green arrow is ending or the light is about to turn red.

•  Stop if you can safely do so.

Flashing Red Light:

Used at dangerous intersections. Treat it like a stop sign; stop and

proceed when safe.

Flashing Yellow Light:

•  Used at, or just before, dangerous intersections.

•  Also used to alert you to a warning sign such as a school crossing or sharp curve. Proceed with caution.

Lane Signals:

Lane signals are used:

• when the direction of the flow of traffic changes during the day;

•  to show that a toll booth is open or closed; or

•  to show which lanes are opened or closed.

Red X:

Never drive in a lane under the red X.

Yellow X:

The lane signal is about to turn red.

Green Arrow:

You may use this lane and you must also obey all other signs and signals.

Ramp signals:

Ramp signals: 

•  control the rate of vehicles entering an expressway; and 

• alternate between red and green. You must wait for the green signal before entering the expressway.