Traffic signals and arrows

Key points

1. You must obey directions from law enforcement, highway personnel and school crossing guards.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “Traffic control also can be provided by law enforcement, highway personnel, or school crossing guards. You must obey directions from these persons.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 7

2. If a signal is not working or malfunctioning, treat the intersection as a four way stop.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “If the traffic signal is not operating or is malfunctioning, treat the intersection as a four way stop.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 7

3. On red, after stopping and yielding to pedestrians and traffic, you may turn right unless a sign forbids it.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “After stopping and yielding to pedestrians and other traffic, and if not prohibited by a traffic sign, you may turn right while the light is red.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 7

4. Steady yellow: a red light is about to appear. Stop unless you are already in the intersection.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “Steady yellow light: A red light is about to appear. Stop unless you are already in the intersection.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 7

5. A red arrow means stop, and you may not turn in the direction shown.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “A lighted red arrow means you must stop and may not turn in the direction shown.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 7

6. If the green arrow goes off but the circular green stays on, you may still turn after yielding.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “If the green arrow goes off, but the circular green is on, you may still turn after yielding to through vehicles and pedestrians”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 7

7. A flashing yellow arrow means turn left with caution, yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “A flashing yellow arrow means the driver turning left should proceed with caution and must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 7

8. A flashing red light means the same as a stop sign.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “A flashing red light means the same as a STOP sign. Stop; then go only after yielding to pedestrians and other traffic.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 7

9. HAWK signals flash yellow and red to alert drivers that pedestrians need to cross.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “HAWK signals operate in a yellow red flashing sequence to alert motorists that pedestrians need to cross the road.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 7

3 questions from the Colorado practice test

1. 1. What should you do if a traffic signal is malfunctioning?

   1. Follow the vehicle ahead without stopping
   2. Proceed as if you have a green light
   3. Wait only for a flashing yellow signal
   4. Treat the intersection as a four-way stop
   Show answer

   Treat the intersection as a four-way stop. A malfunctioning signal removes the normal assignment of movement, so Colorado treats the intersection as a four-way stop. Approach cautiously, stop, check for other road users, and proceed according to stop-sign right-of-way. Assuming a green light or following another vehicle can put you into the path of traffic that also lacks a working signal. A flashing yellow signal is a separate operating condition and does not replace the four-way-stop instruction for a broken signal.

2. 2. What does a flashing yellow arrow require from a driver turning left?

   1. Stop and wait until a green arrow appears
   2. Proceed with caution and yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
   3. Turn immediately because opposing traffic must yield
   4. Use the arrow as permission to pass through the intersection
   Show answer

   Proceed with caution and yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. A flashing yellow arrow permits a left turn only after the driver checks the path and yields to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. It is not the same as a protected green arrow, so the opposing lane still controls whether the turn can safely begin. Stopping forever for a green arrow misunderstands the signal, while turning immediately ignores the required yield. Slow down, scan the crosswalk and opposing lane, and enter only when the route is clear.

3. 3. A circular green light remains on after the green arrow goes off. When may you still turn?

   1. Without yielding because the arrow was green earlier
   2. Only if a police officer is standing nearby
   3. After yielding to through vehicles and pedestrians
   4. Never, because the missing arrow always prohibits turns
   Show answer

   After yielding to through vehicles and pedestrians. When the arrow ends but the circular green remains, Colorado allows the turn only after yielding to through vehicles and pedestrians unless a sign or red arrow prohibits it. The earlier arrow phase no longer protects the movement. Treat the circular green as permission to proceed when the path is clear, not as priority over crosswalk users or oncoming traffic.

Source: the Colorado Driver Handbook, Traffic Controls and Traffic Signals. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.