Traffic signals — Texas Permit Test

A driver must obey traffic signals except when a law enforcement officer is directing traffic, and an officer must be obeyed at all times.

An officer standing in the road can see what the signal cannot. When the two disagree, the person wins.

officer is directing traffic. You must obey a law enforcement officer at all times when they are directing traffic even if he/she is telling you to do something which is ordinarily considered against the law

At a steady red light a driver stops before entering the crosswalk or intersection and may turn right unless the law prohibits it.

Red does not mean the car is stuck there. It means stop first, then turn if turning is allowed.

Stop before entering the crosswalk or intersection. You may turn right unless prohibited by law

At a steady red light a driver may also turn left if both streets are one way, unless the law prohibits it.

Turning left between two one-way streets crosses nothing. That is the only left turn a red light allows.

turn left if both streets are one way, unless prohibited by law

At a flashing red light a driver stops completely before entering the crosswalk or intersection, then proceeds when it is safe.

Traffic on the crossing road may not have to stop at all. Treating it as a stop sign is exactly right.

Stop completely before entering the crosswalk or intersection, then proceed when you can do so safely

At a steady yellow light a driver must stop before the nearest crosswalk if it can be done safely, and may go through cautiously if it cannot.

Slamming on the brakes is how you get hit from behind. The rule turns on whether stopping is the safer of the two.

before entering the nearest crosswalk at the intersection if you can do so safely. If a stop cannot be made safely, then you may proceed cautiously through the intersection before the light changes to red

A flashing yellow light warns drivers to slow down and proceed with caution.

It is a warning, not an instruction to stop. Something about the intersection needs more attention than usual.

A flashing yellow light warns drivers to slow down and proceed with caution

A flashing yellow arrow lets a driver turn left, but the driver must yield to oncoming traffic.

It is permission to try, not protection while you do. The oncoming lane still has a green.

A flashing yellow arrow allows a driver to turn left, but the driver must yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic

A green arrow displayed at the same time as a red light lets a driver proceed carefully in the direction of the arrow after yielding to other vehicles and pedestrians.

The arrow clears one movement while the red holds the rest. People on foot may still be finishing their crossing.

A green arrow displayed at the same time as a red light means the driver can proceed carefully in the direction of the arrow after yielding the right-of-way to other vehicles and pedestrians

A driver may turn left on a green light, but must yield to all traffic approaching from the opposite direction before turning.

A round green means go, not go first. Everything coming the other way is still moving.

You can turn left on a green light. However, you must yield the right-of-way to all traffic that is approaching from the opposite direction before turning

A steady green light means a driver may go ahead or turn if it is safe, unless another sign or signal prohibits it.

Green is permission that depends on the intersection being clear. Somebody running the other red is still coming.

A steady green light means the driver can proceed on a green light if it is safe to do so

Whose direction outranks a traffic signal in Texas?

A law enforcement officer directing traffic. An officer standing in the road can see what the signal cannot. When the two disagree, the person wins. Texas Driver Handbook, p.25: “officer is directing traffic. You must obey a law enforcement officer at all times when they are directing traffic even if he/she is telling you to do something which is ordinarily considered against the law”