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Traffic Lights
What you need to know
What each traffic light colour and arrow means, and how to react to signal changes. In the official Ontario tests, questions on this topic come from the Ministry of Transportation's Driver's Handbook (for cars) and Motorcycle Handbook (for riders).
Sample practice questions
What must you do before turning right on a red light in Ontario?
- Slow down and turn without stopping
- Come to a complete stop, check that the way is clear, then turn unless a sign forbids it
- Honk and turn immediately
- Wait for a green arrow
💡 Unless a sign tells you not to, you may turn right on a red light only after coming to a complete stop and waiting until the way is clear.
When may you turn left on a red light?
- Never under any circumstances
- When moving from a one-way road onto a one-way road, after a complete stop and when the way is clear
- Any time you face oncoming traffic
- Only when a green arrow is showing
💡 You may turn left on a red light only when moving from a one-way road onto a one-way road, after a complete stop and once the way is clear.
What does a flashing red light require?
- Proceed with caution without stopping
- Come to a complete stop, then move through only when it is safe
- Stop only if cross traffic is present
- Turn right immediately
💡 A flashing red light means you must come to a complete stop and move through the intersection only when it is safe.
Frequently asked questions
- What must you do before turning right on a red light in Ontario?
- Come to a complete stop, check that the way is clear, then turn unless a sign forbids it Unless a sign tells you not to, you may turn right on a red light only after coming to a complete stop and waiting until the way is clear.
- When may you turn left on a red light?
- When moving from a one-way road onto a one-way road, after a complete stop and when the way is clear You may turn left on a red light only when moving from a one-way road onto a one-way road, after a complete stop and once the way is clear.
- What does a flashing red light require?
- Come to a complete stop, then move through only when it is safe A flashing red light means you must come to a complete stop and move through the intersection only when it is safe.
- What should you do at a flashing yellow light?
- Drive with caution through the intersection A flashing yellow light means you should drive with caution when approaching and moving through the intersection.
More questions on Traffic Lights and every other topic live in the G1 practice test and M1 practice test.