Mississippi · Handbook chapter 5 · 3 min read
Chapter 5: Traffic signals and officers
Mississippi's rules for red, yellow and green lights, arrows and flashing yellow arrows, flashing and broken signals, turning right on red, lane control signals, traffic officers and pedestrian signals.
Why this chapter matters
Signals control the busiest and most dangerous places on the road: intersections. The exam often asks about the tricky cases, such as turning right on red, the flashing yellow arrow and a signal that is out.
Steady lights
| Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Solid red | Stop completely and stay stopped until green |
| Solid yellow | The light will soon turn red: slow down and prepare to stop |
| Solid green | Go if it is safe, yielding to pedestrians and traffic already in the intersection. Turning left on green, you must yield to oncoming traffic |
Turning right on red
You may turn right on red after a complete stop, yielding to traffic and pedestrians, unless a sign forbids it. Slowing and yielding without stopping is illegal.
Arrows
| Arrow | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Green arrow | Turn in that direction from the proper lane. Oncoming traffic has a red light: a protected turn |
| Flashing yellow arrow | You may turn, but you must yield to oncoming traffic, which has a green light: not protected |
| Solid yellow arrow | Same as a solid yellow light: the arrow is about to turn red. Slow down and prepare to stop |
For left turns, a flashing yellow arrow and a solid green light mean the same thing: yield to oncoming traffic.
Some signals control a lane where you may go straight or turn left. A red light there means you may neither turn nor go straight; a green arrow plus red light lets you turn left but not go straight; a green arrow plus green light lets you do either.
Flashing lights and broken signals
- Flashing red: stop completely, then go with caution, following right-of-way rules.
- Flashing yellow: slow down and use caution.
- A broken signal flashing yellow: slow down and take care.
- A signal with no working lights: stop completely, then go with caution, following right-of-way rules.
Every time you go through an intersection, yield to pedestrians and to traffic already in the intersection.
Lane control signals
Signals over lanes show which lanes are open. Drive only in a lane under a green light. Never drive in a lane marked with a red light.
Traffic officers
Always obey signs and signals unless an officer is directing traffic: then the officer's directions come first.
- Stop: a hand raised, palm toward you, and one long whistle blast.
- Go: a wave of the hand and a series of short blasts.
- At night an officer may signal with a flashlight.
Pedestrian signals
A walking person (or WALK) means pedestrians may leave the curb. An upraised hand (or DON'T WALK) means they may not. If the signal is flashing, pedestrians must not start crossing, but those already crossing should finish.
Frequently asked questions
Must I stop before turning right on red?
Yes. Stop completely first, then yield. Rolling through while yielding is illegal.
What does a flashing yellow arrow mean?
You may turn but must yield to oncoming traffic. The turn is not protected.
What do I do at a signal with no lights working?
Stop completely, then go with caution, following right-of-way rules.
Whose directions do I follow, the signal's or the officer's?
The officer's.
Based on the Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Department of Public Safety, revised December 2024), sections Traffic Signal Lights, Lane Direction Control, Traffic Officers and Pedestrian Crossing.