Green arrow signal

How to read it

The MUTCD says traffic facing a green arrow, shown alone or with another light, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement the arrow shows, or any other movement allowed by lights shown at the same time, yielding to pedestrians lawfully in the crosswalk and vehicles lawfully in the intersection. During a protected left turn, the Manual requires the opposing through traffic to face a steady red. The arrow points straight up for through traffic, sideways for a turn of about a right angle or more, and on a slant for a shallower turn. Pedestrians facing only a green arrow, with no pedestrian signal, do not cross. This page describes the national standard and isn’t legal advice; the rules at a signal are set by state law and vary from state to state.

Also searched as: green arrow, green left turn arrow, protected turn.

Protected and permissive turns

The MUTCD calls a turn made only on a green arrow protected, and one made on a circular green or a flashing arrow, after yielding, permissive; some signals offer both in the same cycle. Pennsylvania’s manual explains the difference: a turn on the green arrow is protected because oncoming traffic is stopped by a red light, and if the arrow turns into a green light the turn is still allowed, after yielding to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. California’s handbook also calls it a protected turn, and Oregon’s says the green arrow gives the right of way. Michigan’s adds that where cameras or sensors detect vehicles, the green arrow may be skipped when no one is waiting to turn.

A green arrow with a red light

A green arrow can be lit together with a red light: the MUTCD uses that combination to allow a particular turn while stopping traffic going straight ahead. Florida’s handbook says that when the red light is lit at the same time, the driver must be in the proper lane for the turn. Britain’s Know Your Traffic Signs reads it the same way: if a green arrow shows with a red signal and the way is clear, traffic may go, but only in the arrow’s direction.

What comes after it

The MUTCD requires a steady yellow arrow after a green arrow, except where a circular green ends at the same moment or the arrow points straight ahead. On a protected-then-permissive signal, the yellow arrow warns that the protected turn is ending and that the turn will then be made permissively, after yielding.