Traffic signals — Massachusetts Permit Test

A steady red circle means stop, and you may turn right on it only after coming to a complete stop and yielding.

The right turn is allowed, the rolling stop is not. Everything that has the right-of-way goes first.

You can make a right turn on a red light only after you come to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians or other vehicles in your path.

You may not turn right on red where a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted.

The sign is there because the intersection has something a driver cannot see from the stop line.

You may not turn on red if a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted.

You can turn left on a red light only when driving on a one-way street and turning onto another one-way street.

Both streets have to be one-way. On any other pair of streets a left on red is simply running the light.

You can turn left on a red light when driving on a one-way street and turning left onto another one-way street.

A steady red arrow means the same as a steady red circle, but it applies only to vehicles going in the direction of the arrow.

The arrow narrows the rule to one movement. Everything else at the intersection may be on green.

However, it only applies to vehicles going in the direction of the arrow.

A steady yellow circle means the signal is changing from green to red, and you must stop if it is safe.

Yellow is not an instruction to hurry. If you are already stopped at the line you may not move off on it.

A steady yellow circle means the traffic signal is changing from green to red. You must stop if it is safe.

A steady green circle means go, but you must first yield to other vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians in the road.

Green gives you the intersection and does not clear it for you. What is already in it goes first.

But first, you must yield to other vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians in the road.

Turning left on a steady green light means yielding to oncoming traffic.

A green circle is not a protected turn. The oncoming lane has the same green and does not have to stop.

If you are turning left on a steady green light, you must yield to oncoming traffic.

You must never block an intersection, and should only cross one if you have enough room to get completely through.

A car stopped across the box holds up every direction at once. Waiting behind the line costs you one light cycle.

If you are crossing an intersection, make sure you have enough room to make it completely through. Never block an intersection.

A green arrow means you can make a protected turn in the direction of the arrow.

Protected means pedestrians and oncoming vehicles should be stopped for red lights. Should, not certainly, which is why you still look.

A green arrow means you can make a “protected” turn in the direction of the arrow.

What must you do before turning right on a steady red light?

Come to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians and vehicles. The right turn is allowed, the rolling stop is not. Everything that has the right-of-way goes first. Massachusetts Driver's Manual, p.81: “You can make a right turn on a red light only after you come to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians or other vehicles in your path.”