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Can you go on a green arrow with a red light?

Yes, if you are going the way the arrow points and the way is clear, even with the main light on red. A green filter arrow is for that direction alone. If you are going another way, you MUST NOT move forward over the white line while the red light is showing, even when the car beside you goes.

You know the rule. Can you spot it on the road?

Try it in a free scene
From above, a red car and a blue car wait side by side at the traffic lights of a crossroads.
You are going straight ahead at traffic lights, in the left-hand lane. The car beside you is turning right.

Why it is easy to go on someone else’s arrow

You have been sitting at a red light, waiting for something to change. Then a green light comes on, the car next to you pulls away, and it is easy to go with it.

That car moving tells you about its driver’s route and nothing about yours. And the road ahead may not be empty: if you go on red, a person could be crossing in front of you.

Three checks before you move

Read the signal itself before you think about the traffic around you:

  • Which way does the arrow point?
  • Is that the way you are going, and is your lane the one for it?
  • What is the main light showing?

If the arrow is yours, and if it is not

If the arrow points your way, you may go in that direction when it or the full green light shows, as long as the way is clear, whatever other lights are showing. Sitting still does not help: DVSA lists waiting at a clear junction with a green light or green filter light showing as one of its examples of not responding properly to traffic lights.

If the arrow is not yours, stay behind the line. Edging forward so that you are ready to go still breaks the rule, because you MUST NOT move over the white line while the red light is showing, even a little.

Think about this as you approach too. Do not enter a filter lane unless you want to go in the direction of its arrow, and give other traffic, especially cyclists, time and room to move into the correct lane.

How we mark each mistake

Practice marks only: on a real test, the examiner decides. How faults work.

  • You went through a red light Dangerous fault

    The green arrow was only for traffic turning right; your light was still red. You MUST NOT move over the stop line while the red light is showing, and someone was crossing the road ahead.

  • You crossed the stop line on red Serious fault

    Your light was still red. You MUST NOT move forward over the white stop line while the red light is showing, even a little.

See if you would make them

What the Highway Code says

  • Rule 175: You MUST stop behind the white ‘Stop’ line across your side of the road unless the light is green.
  • Rule 176: You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing.
  • Rule 177: You may proceed in the direction of the green arrow when it, or the full green light shows.

MUST and MUST NOT are the law. Should is advice, which can still be used in evidence in court.

Where this fits on the test

Top 10 fail reason: not responding appropriately to traffic lights. DVSA driving skills: Junctions, Anticipation and planning.

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