Drivers Guide: Traffic Lights and Signals

When you think of traffic lights, the classic red, yellow, and green signals might come to mind, and you may think you know everything there is to know. After all, green means go, yellow means slow down, and red means stop, right? While this basic understanding is essential, there's much more to traffic lights and signals than just stop and go. In this blog post, we’ll explore the meanings behind both common and uncommon traffic lights and signals so you’ll know exactly what to do when you encounter them on the road.

At Gold Star Professional Driving School, our goal is to equip our students with the knowledge they need to navigate any driving situation safely. So, whether you’re looking for the best driving school in Burnaby or are just curious about traffic signals, read on!

What Do Green Traffic Lights Mean?

A steady green light indicates that drivers can continue through the intersection if it's clear. However, not all green lights are created equal. For instance, a flashing green light signals that the intersection is controlled by pedestrians, meaning drivers should be prepared to stop if pedestrians are present. Always proceed only when the intersection is clear.

Another variation is the green arrow. A green arrow pointing in a specific direction means you may turn in that direction, while a green arrow pointing straight indicates that you can only go straight through the intersection. Sometimes, you might encounter a flashing green arrow alongside a steady green light. In this case, drivers can either turn in the direction of the arrow or proceed straight through the intersection.

Understanding the nuances of green traffic lights is a fundamental part of our curriculum at Gold Star Professional Driving School, one of the best driving schools in Burnaby. We emphasize these details in our driving lessons in Burnaby to ensure our students feel confident behind the wheel.

What Do Yellow or Amber Traffic Lights Mean?

A steady yellow (or amber) light is your cue to slow down and prepare to stop before the intersection. However, if you're too close to the intersection to stop safely, you may proceed with caution. This judgment depends on several factors, including the weather, road conditions, the speed you're traveling at, and how close you are to the intersection.

A flashing yellow light indicates that drivers should slow down and proceed with caution. You might also come across a yellow arrow paired with a steady green light, which signals that the advance left turn signal (typically indicated by a steady or flashing green arrow) is about to change. In this situation, drivers should slow down and stop unless they can't do so safely.

At Burnaby driving schools, like Gold Star Professional Driving School, we focus on teaching our students how to assess these situations accurately. Whether it's understanding the difference between a steady and flashing yellow light or knowing how to handle intersections safely, we’ve got you covered in our driving lessons in Burnaby.

What Do Red Traffic Lights Mean?

A steady red light means stop, and you must remain stopped until the light changes. However, there are exceptions. After coming to a full stop, drivers may turn right (or left onto a one-way street) unless a sign explicitly forbids it. Flashing red lights, on the other hand, indicate that you must stop and proceed only when it is safe to do so. This scenario often occurs when the light is malfunctioning, at intersections with stop signs, or at a single-lens light.

You might also see a steady red light paired with a flashing green arrow. In this case, a left turn is allowed, but through traffic must stop. Another rare signal is a red light with a steady white rectangular light, which is a transit priority signal—only buses may proceed when this signal is illuminated.

Understanding these variations is crucial for safe driving, and it’s something we cover extensively at our driving school in Burnaby. Our instructors make sure that every student knows exactly what to do when they encounter these signals on the road.

When Might a Right Turn Be Prohibited on a Red Light?

While right turns on red lights are generally allowed, there are certain situations where this maneuver is prohibited. For instance, right turns are often banned when visibility is inadequate, or the road angles are too restrictive. Irregular intersections or those with more than four approaches may also prohibit right turns on red. Other situations include double left turn lanes by opposing traffic or double right turn lanes.

Another critical factor is accident history. If there have been numerous accidents involving right turns on red lights at a particular intersection, authorities might prohibit this maneuver. Additionally, right turns are not allowed when there's a railway crossing near the intersection or if there are hazardous conflicts with pedestrians.

Knowing when not to turn on red is just as important as understanding when you can. At Gold Star Professional Driving School, we teach our students how to navigate these rules confidently. Our Burnaby driving schools pride themselves on thorough, practical education.

Lane Control Signals

In addition to standard traffic lights, drivers in certain areas may encounter lane control signals. These signals are used in counterflow lanes to indicate which lanes are open for driving. A red lane control signal means do not drive in that lane. An amber lane control signal means move out of that lane and into one with a green arrow. If all lanes have flashing yellow lane control signals, slow down and proceed with caution. A green lane control signal means you can drive in that lane.

At Gold Star Professional Driving School, we include lane control signals in our driving lessons in Burnaby to ensure our students are well-prepared for any driving situation.

Conclusion: Traffic Lights and Signals

Traffic lights and signals are more than just red, yellow, and green. Understanding the full spectrum of traffic signals, from flashing green arrows to lane control signals, can make you a more informed and safer driver. At Gold Star Professional Driving School, one of the best driving schools in Burnaby, we prioritize comprehensive driving education, covering everything from basic signals to more complex scenarios.

If you're looking to improve your driving skills or need a refresher on traffic signals, Gold Star Professional Driving School offers driving lessons in Burnaby tailored to your needs. Contact us today to learn more about our courses and how we can help you become a confident, knowledgeable driver.