Traffic lights and roundabouts

Key points

1. On a steady red, stop before the crosswalk and wait for green.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “Steady Red Light: Stop before reaching the crosswalk and wait until the light is green”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 40

2. Unless a sign forbids it, you may turn right on red after a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and vehicles.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “Except when a sign is placed prohibiting a right turn on red, vehicles may turn right on a steady red light after the driver has stopped completely and yielded the right-of-way to pedestrians and other vehicles.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 40

3. A steady yellow means red is next: slow down, and proceed with caution only if you cannot stop safely.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “A yellow light tells a driver that a red light is next. Slow down and proceed with caution if a stop cannot be made safely.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 40

4. A flashing yellow means slow down, cover the brake, then proceed with caution.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “Flashing Yellow Light: Slow down, cover the brake, then proceed with caution.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 40

5. At a flashing red, make a full stop and yield to all vehicles on your right and left, like a stop sign.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “When nearing a flashing red traffic light, you must make a full stop and yield the right-of-way to all vehicles on your right and left. Treat the flashing red signal as a stop sign.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 40

6. A red arrow means stop; you may not go in the direction of the arrow.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “When a red arrow is displayed, you must stop and may not proceed in the direction of the arrow.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 40

7. On a flashing yellow arrow, turn only after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “you may proceed with turning in the direction of the arrow only after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 40

8. Roundabouts move traffic counterclockwise and use yield signs instead of stop signs or signals.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “Roundabouts are intersections that direct traffic in a counterclockwise direction around a center island.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 39

9. Entering a roundabout, yield to vehicles already in it, wait for a gap, then merge counterclockwise.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “Yield to vehicles in the roundabout. Wait for a gap in traffic, and then merge into traffic in the roundabout in a counterclockwise direction.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 39

3 questions from the Rhode Island practice test

1. 1. At a Rhode Island intersection, how should you treat a flashing yellow light?

   1. Slow down, cover the brake, and proceed with caution
   2. Stop fully and wait for a green signal
   3. Accelerate because cross traffic must stop
   4. Treat it exactly like a flashing red signal
   Show answer

   Slow down, cover the brake, and proceed with caution. A flashing yellow signal calls for caution rather than an automatic full stop. Slow down, place the foot over the brake in case a hazard develops, and continue only after checking the intersection. A flashing red signal has a different rule and is treated as a stop sign, so applying that response to yellow is too restrictive. Never treat the permissive signal as a command to accelerate; the intersection still requires active observation.

2. 2. How should a driver respond to a flashing red traffic signal in Rhode Island?

   1. Slow down and continue without stopping
   2. Make a full stop, yield to traffic on both sides, then proceed when safe
   3. Treat it as a flashing yellow signal
   4. Stop only if a pedestrian is waiting
   Show answer

   Make a full stop, yield to traffic on both sides, then proceed when safe. A flashing red signal has the same stopping meaning as a stop sign. The driver must stop completely, yield to vehicles on the right and left, and proceed only after the intersection is safe. Treating it as flashing yellow would remove the required stop. Waiting for a pedestrian is not enough, because cross traffic also has priority. See flashing red, stop first and check both directions.

3. 3. What does a red arrow displayed at a traffic light require?

   1. Stop and do not proceed in the direction of the arrow
   2. Turn in the arrow's direction after yielding to pedestrians
   3. Continue straight until the arrow becomes flashing yellow
   4. Treat the arrow as permission to pass the intersection
   Show answer

   Stop and do not proceed in the direction of the arrow. A red arrow controls movement in the direction it points. The driver must stop and may not proceed that way until the signal changes. Yielding alone is not enough, because the instruction is a stop and prohibition rather than a permissive turn. A flashing yellow arrow has a different rule, allowing a turn after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. When the red arrow appears, remain stopped in the marked turn lane and wait for a permitted signal.

Source: the Rhode Island Driver's Manual, IV. Signals and Roadway Markings. 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.