Traffic lights and the traffic controller
What traffic light signals, arrows and the controller’s gestures mean.
4 min read
Interactive visual cheat-sheet
Traffic Controller Signals
Switch between the 3 arm positions and your approach side to see allowed directions for cars, trams, and pedestrians.
Green car at bottom = your vehicle · Blue arrows = U-turn · Green arrows = allowed turns
Memory rule
“Chest and back are a brick wall” — never drive toward the officer’s chest or back.
Cars & buses
STOP. Driving onto the chest or back is strictly prohibited.
Trams
STOP. Tram movement is prohibited.
Pedestrians
Cross in front of the chest and behind the back.
Traffic lights and regulator signals
39 official traffic signals and poses classified by purpose and traffic rules.
StopRound
Red signal
Prohibits movement. Stop before stop-line, traffic light, or intersecting carriageway.
StopRound
Red and yellow
Prohibits movement and warns that green will appear shortly.
CautionRound
Yellow signal
Prohibits movement (unless unable to stop without emergency braking).
GoRound
Green signal
Permits movement in all directions (unless prohibited by signs).
CautionRound
Flashing green
Permits movement and warns that the signal is about to change to yellow/red.
CautionRound
Flashing yellow
Permits movement and marks an unregulated intersection or pedestrian crossing.
CautionRound
Turned off traffic light
Intersection is uncontrolled. Priority signs and give-way to the right apply.
GoArrows
Green arrow
Movement is permitted only in the direction indicated by the arrow.
GoArrows
Additional section — left
Permits left turn and U-turn.
GoArrows
Additional section — straight
Permits straight-through traffic.
GoArrows
Additional section — right
Permits right turn.
StopArrows
Section off
Prohibits movement in the direction controlled by this section.
CautionArrows
Contour arrow
Informs drivers of additional sections and allowed directional movements.
GoArrows
Main green + left section
Permits straight, right, and left turns (including U-turn).
GoArrows
Main green + straight section
Permits straight-through traffic alongside other allowed lanes.
GoArrows
Main green + right section
Permits straight and right movements.
GoArrows
Main straight + both sections
Permits movement in all directions.
StopReversible
Red X (lane closed)
Prohibits entry into this reversible lane.
GoReversible
Green downward arrow
Permits traffic in this reversible lane.
CautionReversible
Yellow diagonal arrow
Warns of upcoming signal change; move to the indicated lane.
StopReversible
Reversible — X off
When off, entering a lane bounded by 1.9 marking is prohibited.
StopReversible
Reversible — arrow off
Lane is closed for traffic.
StopReversible
Reversible — diagonal off
Prohibiting state.
GoTram / T-light
Tram — left
Bottom and top-left lights on. Movement allowed to the left only.
GoTram / T-light
Tram — straight
Bottom and top-centre lights on. Movement allowed straight only.
GoTram / T-light
Tram — right
Bottom and top-right lights on. Movement allowed to the right only.
StopTram / T-light
Tram — stop
Three top lights on without bottom light. Movement prohibited.
GoTram / T-light
Tram — straight and right
Bottom, middle, and right on. Allowed straight and right.
StopTram / T-light
Tram — off
Traffic guided by standard vehicular traffic lights.
StopRailway crossing
Two flashing red lights (crossing)
Prohibits entry onto the level crossing. Stop before the crossing.
GoRailway crossing
Flashing white light (crossing)
Permits crossing. Crossing signalling system is operating normally.
StopPedestrian & Cyclist
Red pedestrian (stop)
Prohibits pedestrians from crossing the carriageway.
GoPedestrian & Cyclist
Green pedestrian (walk)
Permits pedestrians to cross the carriageway.
StopHorizontal
Horizontal — red
Red light is on the left. Movement is prohibited.
CautionHorizontal
Horizontal — yellow
Yellow light is in the centre. Caution / prohibiting.
GoHorizontal
Horizontal — green
Green light is on the right. Movement is permitted.
CautionTraffic controller
Controller — arms outstretched or lowered
From chest and back: all movement prohibited. From left and right sides: straight and right permitted; pedestrians may cross.
StopTraffic controller
Controller — right arm raised up
Movement of all vehicles and pedestrians is prohibited in all directions.
GoTraffic controller
Controller — right arm extended forward
From left side: all directions permitted. From chest: right turn only. From right side and back: all movement prohibited.
Round signals
Green permits movement; flashing green warns that a prohibiting signal is about to come on. Yellow prohibits movement — but if you cannot stop without sharp braking, you may continue. Red (including flashing red) and red-and-yellow prohibit movement.
- Flashing yellow: an unregulated intersection or crossing — priority signs and rules apply
Arrows and additional sections
Arrow signals apply only in the direction of the arrow; a left arrow also permits a U-turn. When moving on a green arrow of an additional section while the main light is yellow or red, give way to vehicles from other directions. An additional section that is off prohibits that direction.
The traffic controller
Arm raised: everyone stops. Arms out to the sides or lowered: only traffic from the left and right sides may move (straight and right). Right arm forward: traffic from the left may go in any direction, from the chest side only to the right. The controller’s signals override traffic lights and signs.
Where to stop
On a prohibiting signal, stop before the “Stop line” marking or sign 6.16; if there is none, before the carriageway being crossed or before the traffic light, without impeding pedestrians.
Remember
- ✓ Yellow means stop — unless you can’t without sharp braking
- ✓ Flashing yellow: the intersection is unregulated
- ✓ The controller overrides lights and signs
Common mistakes
- ✗ Moving off on red-and-yellow
- ✗ Driving on an additional-section arrow without giving way to other directions