Traffic signals — Utah Permit Test

A red traffic light means a driver must stop before entering the intersection and wait behind the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection until the light turns green.

Red is the only signal with no judgment in it. Where you stop matters as much as that you stop.

RED TRAFFIC LIGHT—you must stop before entering the intersection. You must wait behind the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection until the light turns green.

A Utah driver may turn right on a red light after coming to a complete stop, unless posted otherwise.

The complete stop is the condition, not a formality. Turning without it is running a red light with an excuse.

You may turn right on a red light after coming to a complete stop unless posted otherwise.

A green traffic light means a driver may go through with caution if the way is clear.

Green is permission, not protection. The intersection still has to be empty before you use it.

GREEN TRAFFIC LIGHT—you may go through with caution if the way is clear.

A green arrow means vehicles may proceed only in the direction of the arrow, after yielding to vehicles and pedestrians still in the intersection.

The arrow holds the crossing traffic but not the people already crossing. They finish first.

GREEN ARROW LIGHT—vehicles may proceed only in the direction of the arrow after yielding to vehicles and pedestrians still in the intersection at the time of the light change.

A yellow traffic light means the light is about to change to red.

Yellow is a warning, not an invitation. The distance you are from the line decides whether you stop or go.

YELLOW TRAFFIC LIGHT—the light is about to change to red.

A flashing yellow traffic light means slow down and proceed with caution, prepared to stop for any traffic.

A flashing yellow means the intersection is live and nobody is being held. It is a warning with no protection behind it.

FLASHING YELLOW TRAFFIC LIGHT—slow down and proceed with caution. Be prepared to stop for any traffic.

A flashing yellow arrow means turns are permitted but the driver must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, because oncoming traffic has a green light.

The arrow says you may turn, not that anybody is stopping for you. The gap is yours to find.

FLASHING YELLOW ARROW LIGHT—turns are permitted, but first you must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Oncoming traffic has a green light.

A flashing red traffic light means stop and look both ways before entering the intersection.

A flashing red is a stop sign in lights. It has the same duty and the same look before moving.

FLASHING RED TRAFFIC LIGHT—stop and look both ways before entering the intersection.

A red arrow means the turn it points to is prohibited, and a driver must stop and remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown.

A red arrow is stricter than a red light: there is no stop-and-turn version of it, in either direction.

RED ARROW LIGHT (RIGHT TURN)—right turns are prohibited. Stop and remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown.

A driver stranded by a red left turn arrow may make a left turn from a one-way street onto a one-way street when it is safe to do so.

A signal that never detects your car would hold you there forever. This is the one exception Utah writes for it.

If, for some reason, the light does not change and you have been stranded by the red arrow light (left turn), and it is safe to do so,

Utah traffic lights are red, yellow, and green from top to bottom, and on a horizontal signal red is on the left, yellow in the middle, and green on the right.

A driver who cannot tell the colors apart can still read the position, which is why the order never varies.

If traffic lights are horizontal, the red light is on the left, the yellow light is in the middle, and the green light is on the right.

A driver turning left may see a green arrow for a protected turn, a solid green light for a permitted turn, or a flashing yellow arrow for a permitted turn.

Protected means the oncoming traffic is stopped. Permitted means it is not, and everything after that is your judgment.

A driver turning left may see either the green arrow (protected), the solid green light (permitted), or a flashing yellow arrow (permitted) signal.

Where must a Utah driver wait at a red light?

Behind the stop line or crosswalk. Red is the only signal with no judgment in it. Where you stop matters as much as that you stop. Utah Driver Handbook 2026-2027, p.46: “RED TRAFFIC LIGHT—you must stop before entering the intersection. You must wait behind the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection until the light turns green.”