Traffic Signals, Signs, Right-of-Way, Roundabouts and Pedestrians

Written for aiforu2 as the source for a practice-test bank and the on-device tutor for the California Class C knowledge test. The facts follow the official handbook; the wording is ours.

Source: California Driver's Handbook (DL 600), California Department of Motor Vehicles, 2025 edition, section 7 "Laws and Rules of the Road", first part (pp. 33–42).

Traffic signals

At or near signals and signs, yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and nearby vehicles that may have the right-of-way.

• Solid red: STOP. You may turn right on red if there is no NO TURN ON RED sign, after stopping at the stop or limit line and yielding to pedestrians.
• Red arrow: STOP, and do not turn; stay until a green light or green arrow appears.
• Flashing red: STOP, then go when safe.
• Solid yellow: CAUTION, the light is about to turn red; stop if you can do so safely, otherwise cross cautiously.
• Yellow arrow: the protected turning time is ending; if you cannot stop safely or are already in the intersection, finish the turn cautiously and watch for the next signal (green or red light, or red arrow).
• Flashing yellow: PROCEED WITH CAUTION; slow down and stay alert, no stop required.
• Flashing yellow arrow: you may turn, but the turn is not protected; turn left only after yielding to oncoming traffic.
• Solid green: GO, but still stop for any vehicle, bicyclist or pedestrian in the intersection, and do not enter unless you can get completely across before the light turns red.
• Green arrow: GO in the arrow's direction; a protected turn, since oncoming traffic has a red.
• Dark signal: treat the intersection as an all-way STOP, then go cautiously when safe.

Pedestrian signals

WALK or a walking person: you may cross. DON'T WALK or a raised hand: do not cross. A flashing DON'T WALK or raised hand: do not start crossing, the light is about to change; drivers must still yield to pedestrians already crossing. Numbers count down the seconds left. Diagonal (scramble) crosswalks let pedestrians cross in any direction at once, only on WALK. Sounds (beeps, chirps, voice messages) help blind pedestrians. The push button requests the WALK signal. With no pedestrian signal, pedestrians obey the vehicle signals.

Signs

Obey every warning sign regardless of shape or color.

• STOP: full stop before the crosswalk or at the limit line; with neither, before the intersection; check traffic in every direction.
• YIELD (red): slow down and be ready to stop to let any vehicle, bicyclist or pedestrian pass first.
• Red-and-white regulatory signs give an instruction: NO U-TURN, NO LEFT TURN, NO RIGHT TURN, DO NOT ENTER (do not enter the road or ramp), WRONG WAY (you are against traffic: back out or turn around when safe; at night the road reflectors shine red in your headlights when you are going the wrong way).
• Red circle with a red slash: the picture inside shows what you may not do.
• White rectangular regulatory signs state rules you must obey: NO PARKING ANY TIME, ONE WAY, DO NOT BLOCK INTERSECTION, speed limits.
• Yellow-and-black round sign, or the X-shaped crossbuck: a railroad crossing; look, listen, slow down, prepare to stop and let trains pass. Many crossings add a blue-and-white sign with the number to call if a vehicle stalls or there is an emergency on the tracks.
• Five-sided (pentagon) sign: a school; drive slowly and stop for children in the crosswalk.
• Diamond-shaped (yellow) sign: warns of specific road conditions and dangers ahead: slippery when wet, merging traffic, divided highway begins or ends, two-way traffic, lane ends, signal ahead, pedestrian crossing, added lane, crossroad, stop ahead, yield ahead, directional arrow, curve, T intersection, winding road.
• Fluorescent yellow-green warning signs relate to pedestrians, bicyclists, schools, playgrounds, school buses and passenger loading zones.
• Orange signs: highway construction and maintenance.
• Green guide signs give directions and distances; blue signs give services.
• Hazardous-load placards on trucks; the slow-moving vehicle emblem (orange triangle) on vehicles that travel slowly.

Right-of-way: who goes first

The vehicle that arrives first has the right-of-way and others wait, but never assume another driver will give it to you, and give up yours when that prevents a collision. An intersection is anywhere one road meets another; controlled intersections have signs or signals, uncontrolled and blind ones do not. Look left, right and ahead before entering, be ready to slow or stop, and remember pedestrians always have the right-of-way.

• No STOP or YIELD signs: first to arrive goes first; arriving at the same time, yield to the vehicle, pedestrian or bicyclist on your right. At a four-way stop, stop first, then follow the same rule.
• T intersection without signs: traffic on the through road has the right-of-way.
• Turning left: yield to pedestrians and to any approaching vehicle close enough to be dangerous.
• Turning right: check for pedestrians crossing and for motorcycles and bicycles beside you.
• Green light: proceed with caution; pedestrians have the right-of-way.
• Entering traffic: yield to traffic already in the lanes. It is illegal to block an intersection by entering when there is not room to cross completely before the light turns red.
• Mountain roads: where two vehicles meet on a steep narrow road and neither can pass, the vehicle facing uphill has the right-of-way; the one facing downhill backs up, since it has more control in reverse.

Roundabouts

Traffic circles one way around a central island. Slow down on approach, yield to everything already in the roundabout, enter to the right when the gap is large enough, follow the signs and markings, travel counterclockwise without stopping or passing, signal when changing lanes or exiting, and if you miss the exit go around again. In a multi-lane roundabout, choose the lane by destination: right turn from the right lane, exiting in the right lane; straight from either lane, exiting in the lane you entered; left by entering and continuing around to the exit you want.

Pedestrians

Pedestrians, or vulnerable road users, include anyone walking, anyone on roller skates, a skateboard or similar, and anyone with a disability using a tricycle, quadricycle or wheelchair. They have the right-of-way but must also follow the rules. When a pedestrian is crossing, with or without a crosswalk, use caution, slow down or stop until they finish. Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk, since it may be hiding a pedestrian. A pedestrian who makes eye contact is ready to cross: yield. Give seniors, people with small children and people with disabilities the extra time they need.

Crosswalks may be marked with white lines, yellow at school crossings, or not marked at all; pedestrians have the right-of-way in both marked and unmarked crosswalks. With a limit line before the crosswalk, stop at the limit line. Some crosswalks have flashing lights; watch for pedestrians whether or not they flash.

Blind pedestrians with a guide dog or white cane have the right-of-way at all times. Take special care turning or backing, and especially in a hybrid or electric vehicle, since they rely on sound. Do not stop in the middle of a crosswalk, which could force them into traffic; do not honk at a blind person; when they pull in the cane and step back from the intersection, that usually means you may go.

Practise this with California Driver License questions

More of this guide