A police officer directs you to stop even though your traffic light is green. Which instruction should you follow?
Correct answer: Stop as the officer directs.
Follow the authorized person's traffic directions. A green light is not permission to ignore an officer controlling the intersection.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Traffic Controls. ↗
All signal lights at an intersection are out and no officer is directing traffic. How should you approach it?
Correct answer: Treat the intersection as a four-way stop.
Colorado's handbook says to treat an inoperative or malfunctioning signal as a four-way stop. Stop, observe and yield before proceeding safely.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Traffic Signals. ↗
You are stopping for a red light with a clearly marked stop line before the crosswalk. Where should your vehicle stop?
Correct answer: Before crossing the marked stop line.
Stop at the marked stop line without entering the crosswalk. Do not block pedestrians' crossing space.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Traffic Signals / Stop Location. ↗
Your light turns green while a pedestrian is still in the crosswalk across your path. What should you do?
Correct answer: Yield until your path is clear.
A green light permits movement after yielding to people and vehicles already in the intersection or adjacent crosswalk. Wait for a clear path.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Steady Green Light. ↗
You may turn left on a circular green light, but an oncoming car is too close for a safe gap. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait and yield before making the left turn.
A circular green is not a protected left-turn arrow. Yield to conflicting oncoming traffic and pedestrians before making the permitted turn.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Steady Green Light / Green Arrow. ↗
A green arrow points left beside a circular red light. With a clear path and no conflicting instruction, what movement does the arrow permit?
Correct answer: A turn in the arrow's direction.
The arrow applies to the movement it points toward. Check for people or vehicles still in the path and use the appropriate lane.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Green Arrow. ↗
A steady red left arrow controls your turn lane. There is no instruction overriding it. May you begin the left turn?
Correct answer: No; wait for an indication that permits that movement.
A steady red arrow prohibits entering to make the movement it indicates. It is not treated like a permissive flashing yellow arrow.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Red Arrow. ↗
A flashing yellow left arrow is showing. What must you do before turning?
Correct answer: Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, then turn when safe.
A flashing yellow arrow permits a cautious left turn after yielding. It does not give the same protected movement as a green arrow.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Flashing Yellow Arrow. ↗
What action is required at a flashing red traffic light?
Correct answer: Stop, then yield and proceed when safe.
A flashing red light has the meaning of a stop sign. Make a complete stop and yield before moving.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Flashing Red Light. ↗
You approach a flashing yellow traffic light. What is the appropriate response?
Correct answer: Slow down and proceed cautiously.
A flashing yellow light warns you to use caution. Slow down, scan for hazards and proceed only as the situation safely allows.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Flashing Yellow Light. ↗
A circular light changes from green to steady yellow. What does the yellow indication warn you about?
Correct answer: The green movement is ending and red is about to appear.
Yellow warns that the signal is changing to red. Prepare to stop when it is safe; do not speed up to beat the signal. It is not the same indication as a steady red light.
Source: CDOT Guidelines for Traffic Signal Vehicle Change and Clearance Intervals, 2024 edition, published 11/04/2024; physical PDF5 (printed2), Yellow Change Interval / Applicable Statutes. Safe-stop advice also in Driver Handbook physical10, flashing-yellow-arrow transition. ↗
You face a circular red light, want to turn right, and no sign prohibits the turn. What must happen before you turn?
Correct answer: Stop fully and yield to pedestrians and other traffic.
A permitted right turn on a circular red requires a complete stop and yielding. A prohibition sign or other controlling instruction still applies.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Steady Red Light. ↗
After stopping at a circular red, you want to turn left from a one-way street onto another one-way street carrying traffic to your left. No sign prohibits it. What does Colorado permit?
Correct answer: The left turn after yielding to pedestrians and other traffic.
The handbook permits this one-way-to-one-way left turn after stopping and yielding, unless prohibited. This does not make a left turn on red from a two-way street permissible.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Steady Red Light. ↗
Your green left arrow goes out but the circular green remains on; no sign or red arrow prohibits a left turn. What changes?
Correct answer: You must yield to conflicting traffic before turning.
When the protected arrow ends but a circular green remains, a permitted left turn must yield to through traffic and pedestrians.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Green Arrow. ↗
A stop sign has no stop line, but there is a crosswalk on your side of the intersection. Where should you stop?
Correct answer: Before entering the crosswalk.
Without a stop line, stop before the near-side crosswalk. An empty crosswalk is not a reason to use it as the stopping space.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Stop Signs. ↗
There is a stop sign but no stop line or crosswalk. Where does the handbook direct you to stop?
Correct answer: At the nearest point before entering the intersecting roadway where you can see approaching traffic.
Stop before entering the intersecting roadway at the nearest point with a view of approaching traffic. Yield and proceed only when the movement can be made safely.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook, DR2337 (12/05/24), physical PDF 10 (printed 7); Stop Signs. ↗
