You are in a left turn lane with a red light, and a green left arrow comes on. What may you do?
Right.Not quite. The answer is B.
A green arrow lets you go in the direction it points, even while the round light is red.
Source: Road Rules 2014 (NSW)
Signal · Turn arrows
Green left turn arrow
You may turn left as the arrow points, even with a red round light beside it.
Road Rules 2014 (NSW) rule 56Asked in general knowledgeShown in 2 practice questions
What it means
What does a green left turn arrow mean in NSW?
This time the arrow is in the left signal head: its bottom lamp shows a green arrow pointing left, while the right hand head glows red at the top. In a left turn lane, that arrow lets you turn left in the direction it points, even though the round light is red. Anyone wanting to go straight stays stopped until their own green comes up.
What to do
- 1
Make sure you are in the lane the arrow controls.
- 2
Turn left in the arrow direction, watching for anyone crossing.
- 3
If you are going straight, stay stopped behind the line.
Practice questions with this sign
The round light is red and a green left arrow is lit. You want to go straight ahead. What may you do?
Right.Not quite. The answer is A.
A green left arrow lets only left turns go. Traffic going straight must wait for its own green.
Source: Road Rules 2014 (NSW) rule 56
Common questions
- Can you turn left on a green arrow when the main light is red?
- Yes. The green arrow lets you turn left in its direction even while the round light is red.
- Does a green left arrow let me go straight?
- No. Only left turns may go. Straight through traffic waits for its own green.
More in turn arrows
Your L plate turns green when you would pass
NSW Learner is also an iPhone app, built on the same lessons and questions as this site. Short lessons for every topic, drills that bring back what you got wrong, and a mock exam in the test's layout, in your pocket and working without a signal.
- Free in the app: one full mock exam, and the speed limits and traffic signs and signals topics with their lessons, drills and 179 questions
- Private the app needs no account, works offline and keeps your progress on your phone
- Pro comes two ways, each bought separately. NSW Learner Pro on this website is A$14.99 one-time and works in any browser you sign in on. The app has its own Pro, bought inside the app through Apple. One does not unlock the other.
Independent study app. Not affiliated with Transport for NSW or Service NSW.