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Traffic signals

The check asks what each light, arrow, flashing light and police hand signal means. Signals are the first thing you must obey on any road, and small details (yellow, arrows, flashing red) are easy to get wrong.

Key rules

• Green: cars may go straight, turn left or turn right.
• Yellow: do not go past the stop position. If you are already so close that you cannot stop safely, you may continue.
• Red: do not go past the stop position.
• A car that has already turned left or right in the intersection may keep going on red. A right-turning car must not block cars going on green.
• Blue arrow: cars may go in the arrow direction even if the light is yellow or red. A right arrow also allows a U-turn.
• Flashing yellow: go with care for other traffic. Flashing red: stop at the stop position first.
• With a white-on-blue left arrow plate, you may turn left on yellow or red. Watch for pedestrians and never block them.
• If a police officer directs traffic, obey the officer. This is stronger than the traffic light.
• Look at the signal in front of you. A red signal on the side does not mean yours is green.

Numbers to remember

Common traps

• "Yellow means you may always pass." Wrong: you must stop unless you cannot stop safely.
• "A blue arrow only works while the main light is green." Wrong: it applies on yellow and red too.
• Flashing red and flashing yellow are different: red = stop first, yellow = go with care.
• A left-turn arrow plate does not remove your duty to give way to people crossing.
• When an officer's signal and the light differ, the officer wins.

Japan drives on the left, and there is no general turn on red. You may turn left on red only where the left arrow plate is posted. A blue arrow means go.

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