A flashing red traffic light means:

Stop completely, then go when it is safe, as at a STOP sign

The light is about to turn green

Double solid yellow lines in the center of the road mean:

Passing is allowed with caution

Passing is allowed only for the lane next to the broken line

A center lane marked with a solid yellow line and a broken yellow line on each side is a:

Two-way left-turn lane, used only to begin or end left turns

Lane for emergency vehicles only

The light turns steady yellow as you approach an intersection. You should:

Stop if you can do so safely; otherwise continue carefully

Stop immediately, even if it means braking hard in the intersection

Broken white lines between lanes mean:

Lanes go the same direction and you may change lanes when it is safe

Traffic in those lanes moves in opposite directions

Traffic Lights, Lane Lines and Pavement Markings Explained

Traffic signals and pavement markings follow the federal MUTCD in every state. Red means stop, yellow means the signal is about to turn red, and green means go after yielding; a flashing red works like a STOP sign. On the road, yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions, white lines separate lanes going the same way, and solid lines mean do not cross.

Updated on 2026-11-06 · Ver en español

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Signals and markings quiz

A flashing red traffic light means: Slow down and proceed with caution / Stop completely, then go when it is safe, as at a STOP sign / The light is about to turn green / Only pedestrians must stop. Answer: Stop completely, then go when it is safe, as at a STOP sign. A flashing red signal is treated like a STOP sign: come to a full stop, yield to traffic and pedestrians, and proceed when it is safe.
Double solid yellow lines in the center of the road mean: Passing is allowed with caution / No passing in either direction / Passing is allowed only for the lane next to the broken line / The road is one-way. Answer: No passing in either direction. Double solid yellow lines prohibit passing from both directions. In most states you may cross them only to turn left into a driveway or side street.
A center lane marked with a solid yellow line and a broken yellow line on each side is a: Passing lane / Two-way left-turn lane, used only to begin or end left turns / Bus lane / Lane for emergency vehicles only. Answer: Two-way left-turn lane, used only to begin or end left turns. Drivers from both directions use this center lane to make left turns. It must not be used for passing or for traveling long distances.
The light turns steady yellow as you approach an intersection. You should: Speed up to beat the red / Stop if you can do so safely; otherwise continue carefully / Stop immediately, even if it means braking hard in the intersection / Honk and continue. Answer: Stop if you can do so safely; otherwise continue carefully. A steady yellow warns that the signal is about to turn red. Stop before the line if you can do it safely. If you are too close to stop safely, proceed with care.
Broken white lines between lanes mean: Traffic in those lanes moves in opposite directions / Lanes go the same direction and you may change lanes when it is safe / Lane changes are prohibited / The lane is for bicycles. Answer: Lanes go the same direction and you may change lanes when it is safe. White lines separate lanes moving in the same direction. Broken lines allow lane changes when it is safe; a solid white line discourages or prohibits them.

Traffic light basics: red, yellow and green

Traffic signals are the same in every state because they follow the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). On a vertical signal, red is at the top, yellow in the middle and green at the bottom; on a horizontal signal, red is on the left. That fixed order helps color-blind drivers and is a classic test question.

A steady red means stop at the stop line, before the crosswalk or before the intersection, and remain stopped until the signal turns green — unless a right turn on red (or a left turn on red from one one-way street to another) is allowed after a full stop. A steady yellow means the signal is about to turn red: stop if you can do so safely, but do not slam on the brakes in the intersection. A steady green means you may go, but you must still yield to pedestrians and vehicles already in the intersection.

Running red lights is a leading cause of urban crashes, and side-impact crashes at intersections are especially deadly. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tracks red-light running as a major safety problem, and many cities use red-light cameras. The safe habit is to anticipate: if a green light has been green for a while (a “stale green”), be ready for it to change.

Turn arrows and flashing signals

Arrows control only the movement they point to, and flashing signals have their own meanings. Learn this table — it covers most signal questions on the permit test.

What each signal means (MUTCD)
Signal	Meaning
Flashing red	Treat it like a STOP sign: stop completely, yield, then go when safe
Flashing yellow	Slow down and proceed with caution
Green arrow	Protected turn in the direction shown; oncoming traffic is stopped, but still yield to pedestrians
Steady yellow arrow	The protected turn is ending; stop if you safely can
Flashing yellow arrow	Turn allowed after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
Red arrow	Do not turn in that direction; in many states, no turn on a red arrow even after stopping
Dark signal (power outage)	Treat it as an all-way stop in most states

Rules for turning on a red arrow differ: some states allow a right turn on a red arrow after a full stop, others do not. Check your state handbook before test day.

Pedestrian signals and other special signals

Pedestrian signals show a walking person (WALK) and an upraised hand (DON'T WALK). A flashing hand, often with a countdown timer, means pedestrians should not start crossing but those already in the street may finish. As a driver, a flashing hand tells you the signal will change soon. Even on a green light, yield to pedestrians still in the crosswalk.

Pedestrian hybrid beacon (sometimes called a HAWK): dark until a pedestrian pushes the button, then flashing yellow (slow down), steady yellow (prepare to stop), steady red (stop) and alternating flashing red (stop, then go if the crosswalk is clear).
Rectangular rapid-flashing beacons: bright yellow lights under a pedestrian crossing sign; when they flash, yield to the person crossing.
Lane-use control signals over reversible lanes or toll plazas: a green downward arrow means you may use the lane, a steady red X means do not use it, a steady yellow X means move out of it, and a flashing yellow X marks a lane for left turns only.
Ramp meters on freeway on-ramps: one vehicle goes on each green unless signs say otherwise.
Railroad crossing signals: flashing red lights and gates mean stop and wait until the lights stop and gates are fully raised.

Yellow and white lines: what they mean

Pavement markings follow two simple rules. First, color: yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions and mark the left edge of divided highways and one-way roads; white lines separate lanes moving in the same direction and mark the right edge of the road. Second, pattern: broken lines may be crossed when it is safe, and solid lines discourage or prohibit crossing.

Common lane lines
Marking	Meaning
Single broken yellow	Two-way road; passing allowed in both directions when safe
Solid yellow beside a broken yellow	Passing allowed only from the side with the broken line
Double solid yellow	No passing in either direction; cross only to turn left where allowed
Broken white	Lanes going the same way; lane changes allowed when safe
Solid white	Lane changes discouraged; also marks the right edge of the road and turn lanes
Double solid white	Do not cross, for example at the edge of HOV or express lanes
Dotted white extensions	Guide your path through an intersection or along an exit lane

Passing rules and no-passing zones

Pass only where markings and signs allow it and only when you can see far enough ahead to complete the pass safely. On a two-lane road, you need a large gap: at highway speeds, passing can take 10 seconds or more and cover a quarter mile or more. Signal, check your mirror and blind spot, pass on the left, and return to your lane only when you can see the front of the passed vehicle in your rearview mirror.

Do not pass where you see a solid yellow line on your side, a DO NOT PASS sign or the yellow pennant NO PASSING ZONE sign.
Do not pass on hills or curves where you cannot see oncoming traffic.
In many states, do not pass within 100 feet of an intersection, railroad crossing, bridge or tunnel.
Never pass a school bus with its red lights flashing or a vehicle stopped for pedestrians at a crosswalk.
Passing on the right is allowed only in limited cases, such as on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left, and never by driving onto the shoulder.
When someone passes you, keep right and do not speed up.

Turn lanes, special lanes and other markings

Many roads use markings for specific purposes. A two-way left-turn lane in the center of the road, marked with a solid yellow and a broken yellow line on each side, is shared by drivers from both directions to start or finish left turns — never for passing or traveling. Enter it just before your turn and watch for oncoming drivers using the same lane.

Arrows and words such as ONLY in a lane mean you must follow the indicated movement.
Stop lines show where to stop for a sign or signal; yield lines (a row of triangles, often called shark's teeth) show where to yield.
Crosswalks may be two parallel lines or bold ladder-style stripes.
Diamond symbols mark HOV or other preferential lanes, reserved for vehicles with a minimum number of occupants during posted hours.
Bike lanes are marked with a bicycle symbol and sometimes green paint; shared-lane markings (a bicycle with chevrons) show where cyclists may ride in the travel lane.
Reversible lanes change direction at different times of day and are controlled by overhead signals and double broken yellow lines.
An X with the letters RR on the pavement warns of a railroad crossing ahead.

Curb colors and parking markings

Curb colors are not fully standardized; each state and city sets its own rules, so read your handbook and the posted signs. California's system is widely used and often tested there: red means no stopping, standing or parking; yellow is a loading zone for commercial vehicles; white is for picking up or dropping off passengers; green means limited-time parking; and blue is parking for people with a disability placard or plate.

Blue spaces marked with the wheelchair symbol are reserved for drivers with disability placards or plates in every state, and fines for misuse are high. Also never park in a crosswalk, in front of a driveway, beside a curb painted for a fire lane, or within the distances your state sets from hydrants, intersections, stop signs and railroad crossings. Our permit test tips list the parking numbers most often tested.

How signals and markings appear on the permit test

Questions usually describe a light or a line pattern and ask what you may do: pass, turn, change lanes or stop. The fastest way to answer is to identify the color first (yellow: opposite directions; white: same direction) and then the pattern (broken: may cross; solid: do not). For signals, remember that flashing red equals STOP, flashing yellow equals caution, and a flashing yellow arrow means yield before turning.

Signals, markings and signs are tested together, so pair this page with our road signs guide. Then test yourself with practice questions by topic and a full mock exam.

Traffic signals and pavement markings FAQ

What does a flashing yellow light mean?

Slow down and proceed with caution. A flashing yellow arrow means you may turn after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

What does a flashing red light mean?

Treat it like a STOP sign: stop completely, yield to traffic and pedestrians, and go when it is safe.

What do double yellow lines mean?

Double solid yellow lines mean no passing in either direction. If one line is broken, drivers on the broken-line side may pass when it is safe.

What is the difference between yellow and white lines?

Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions; white lines separate lanes moving in the same direction and mark the right edge of the road.

Can you cross a solid white line?

Crossing a single solid white line is discouraged and prohibited in some places, such as near intersections or where signs say so. Never cross double solid white lines.

What should I do if a traffic light is not working?

In most states, treat a dark signal as an all-way stop: stop completely and take turns, yielding to the vehicle that arrived first or to the vehicle on your right.

Who can use the center two-way left-turn lane?

Drivers from both directions, only to begin or finish a left turn. It must not be used for passing or as a travel lane.