Obeying traffic lights is compulsory for every road user (Article 60.I). Lights use green, amber, red and white-yellow; a light can be a circle, an arrow, a pedestrian or bicycle silhouette, or an X (Article 59.I–II).
Round signals
| Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Green | go |
| Flashing green | go, but time is running out — a stop signal comes soon (a countdown display may show the time left) |
| Amber | stop — the signal is about to change |
| Flashing amber | go — the junction (or crossing) is unregulated; watch out |
| Red (steady or flashing) | stop |
| Red + amber | stop — green comes soon |
Arrows and the additional section
Red, amber and green arrows mean the same as the round lights, but only for the direction of the arrow. An arrow allowing a left turn also allows a U-turn unless a sign forbids it. A green arrow in the additional section lets you go that way even when the main light is red or amber; when the section is dark, that direction is closed (Article 59.IV). A black outline arrow drawn on the main green light means there is an additional section, and the green allows the other directions (59.V).
Turning left on green
Problem
Leyla has a round green light and wants to turn left. A bus comes straight towards her, followed by a car turning right. What is the order?
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Solution
Pedestrian, reversible-lane and tram lights
- A light with a pedestrian (bicycle) silhouette is only for pedestrians (cyclists): green — go, red — stop (59.VI). A sound signal may be added for blind pedestrians (59.VII).
- A reversible-lane light hangs over the lane: a red X — do not enter this lane; a green arrow pointing down — you may; a diagonal amber arrow — the signal is changing, move to the lane it points to. If the light over a lane between 1.9 lines is dark, entering that lane is forbidden (59.VIII).
- For trams and public transport in their own lane, a light with four white-yellow signals in a «T»: with the bottom signal, the upper left means left, the middle — straight, the right — right; if only the upper ones are lit — stop (59.IX).
Where to stop
On a stop signal the driver stops before the stop line (1.12); without one — at a junction before the crossing carriageway, without blocking pedestrians; at a level crossing — before the crossing; elsewhere — before the traffic light (Article 60.II).
If the traffic controller’s signals contradict the lights, signs or markings, you follow the controller (Article 60.V) — the subject of the next lesson.
Remember
- Green and flashing green allow; amber, red and red+amber forbid.
- Flashing amber — the junction is unregulated; priority signs and rules apply.
- A driver going on the green arrow of the additional section gives way to traffic from other directions.
- On a stop signal stop at the stop line; on amber continue only if you cannot stop without sharp braking.
- The traffic controller overrides lights, signs and markings.