Traffic signals — Michigan Permit Test

It is illegal to drive across public or private property, such as a store parking lot, to avoid a traffic-control device.

Cutting through a lot puts you among shoppers who do not expect through traffic.

It is illegal to drive across public or private property, such as a store parking lot, to avoid a traffic-control device.

A red light means stop; it is at the top of a signal in Michigan, and you stop behind the crosswalk or stop line.

Red is at the top of the signal, so you can tell which light is lit by where it is, not just its color.

Red light means stop. It is at the top of a traffic signal in Michigan.

A yellow light means the signal is about to turn red and you are required to stop; if you cannot stop safely, do not speed up but drive cautiously through.

Speeding up to beat the light is how red-light crashes happen.

If you cannot stop safely, do not speed up but drive cautiously through the intersection.

A yellow light means the signal is about to turn red, and you are required to stop on a yellow light.

Yellow is a warning that red is coming, not a signal to hurry.

Yellow light means the signal is about to turn red. You are required to stop on a yellow light.

A green light means proceed with caution after checking for pedestrians and vehicles.

Someone may still be in the intersection or running the red on the cross street.

Green light means proceed with caution after checking for pedestrians and vehicles.

On a 5-section-head signal, a green arrow means a protected turn: all oncoming or conflicting traffic is stopped.

With a green arrow you can turn without waiting for a gap in oncoming traffic.

When the green arrow is lit, turning drivers have a “protected turn,” meaning all oncoming or conflicting traffic is stopped.

A flashing red light means come to a full stop, and proceed when the road is clear.

A flashing red light works just like a stop sign: stop, look, then go.

A flashing red light means come to a full stop. Proceed when the road is clear.

A flashing yellow light means proceed carefully through the intersection, scanning across traffic in both directions.

You do not have to stop, but cross traffic may not stop either.

A flashing yellow light means proceed carefully through the intersection.

A flashing yellow arrow allows you to turn left when oncoming traffic, which has a green light, is clear, with no pedestrians or bicyclists crossing.

Oncoming traffic has a green too, so you must wait for a real gap.

A flashing yellow arrow allows you to turn left when the oncoming traffic, which has a green light, is clear.

A solid green arrow means oncoming traffic is stopped and you may turn left, still yielding to people in the crosswalk.

Even on a protected turn, a pedestrian crossing your path has the right of way.

A solid green arrow indicates that oncoming traffic is stopped and you may turn left.

A solid red arrow means you must stop and cannot turn until the signal changes.

The red arrow means turning traffic must wait, even if the way looks clear.

A solid red arrow means you must stop. You cannot turn until the signal changes.

A solid yellow arrow warns that the left-turn signal is about to turn red; stop if approaching, but if already in the intersection with no conflicting traffic you may complete the turn.

The yellow arrow gives drivers already turning time to finish.

However, if you are already within the intersection and there is no conflicting traffic present, you may complete your left turn.

What does the law say about cutting through a parking lot to avoid a red light?

It is illegal to do so. Cutting through a lot puts you among shoppers who do not expect through traffic. What Every Driver Must Know, p.49: “It is illegal to drive across public or private property, such as a store parking lot, to avoid a traffic-control device.”