Turn arrow signals — District of Columbia Permit Test

At a steady red arrow, stop before the intersection, stop line or crosswalk for the direction the arrow points, and stay stopped while it is red.

The red arrow holds turning cars while people cross or oncoming traffic moves through.

Come to a complete stop before reaching the intersection, stop line or crosswalk for the direction indicated by the arrow.

A steady yellow arrow, like a steady yellow signal, means the signal is changing from green to red.

The turn is about to lose its protected time, so finishing it late puts you in front of moving traffic.

Like the steady yellow signal, the yellow arrow means that the signal is changing from green to red.

On a steady green arrow, proceed with caution in the direction it points, yielding to all pedestrians and vehicles already in the intersection.

An arrow protects your turn from oncoming cars, but a person still finishing the crossing is still in your way.

Proceed with caution in the direction the arrow points.

You want to turn left and the left-turn arrow is a steady red. What should you do?

Stay stopped until the arrow changes. The red arrow holds turning cars while people cross or oncoming traffic moves through. DC Driver Manual, p.87: “Come to a complete stop before reaching the intersection, stop line or crosswalk for the direction indicated by the arrow.”