What is the difference between traffic lights with red arrows and those with solid red lights?
- Red arrows are only used to stop traffic which is turning.
- Red arrows are only used for protected turn lanes.
- You cannot turn on a red arrow, even if you stop first. ✓
Answer: C. You cannot turn on a red arrow, even if you stop first.
You cannot turn on a red arrow, even after stopping first.
Why this is the answer
The California Driver Handbook separates solid red lights from red arrows. At a solid red light, you may turn right after stopping at the line, yielding to pedestrians, and making sure it is safe, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted. A red arrow is different: it means stop, and you must not turn. You stay stopped until a green light or green arrow appears. The handbook repeats this for right turns, saying you may not turn right at a red arrow and must wait for green.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Red arrows are only used to stop traffic which is turning. — A red arrow does tell turning traffic to stop, but the handbook's point is stronger: it forbids the turn entirely, so it is not merely a stop signal for turning traffic.
- B. Red arrows are only used for protected turn lanes. — The handbook does not say red arrows are only for protected turn lanes; it uses red arrows to mean stop and no turn, while protected turns are described with green arrows.
Remember it
Think of the arrow as a locked door: red means no turn in that direction, while a plain red light can still allow a right turn after a full stop.