New Jersey: Traffic signals Practice Test
Signal lights, arrows, flashing signals and pedestrian signals.
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "New Jersey Driver Manual" (2026), New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).
All 20 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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In New Jersey, is it legal to cut across private property to avoid a traffic signal or sign?
- Yes, if the owner does not object
- No, it is a motor vehicle violation
- Yes, if you drive below 10 mph
- Yes, if the property is a parking lot
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Correct answer: No, it is a motor vehicle violation
Driving on private property to avoid a traffic signal or sign is a motor vehicle violation.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 67 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 67)
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In New Jersey, when may you turn right on a red light?
- Never; New Jersey law bans all turns on a red light
- After a full stop, unless a sign prohibits it
- Only while a green right arrow is lit
- Only after slowing to about 5 mph
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Correct answer: After a full stop, unless a sign prohibits it
Unless a No Turn on Red sign is posted, New Jersey allows a right turn on red after a full stop and a check for traffic.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
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Before turning right on a red light, whom must you yield to?
- No one, since you have already stopped
- Only pedestrians who wave at you
- All oncoming traffic and pedestrians
- Only vehicles turning left toward you
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Correct answer: All oncoming traffic and pedestrians
A motorist must yield to all oncoming traffic and pedestrians before turning right at a red light.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
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According to the New Jersey Driver Manual, when do most crashes at traffic signals happen?
- After the light has been green for several minutes
- Only while the signal is flashing yellow
- In the first few seconds after the light has changed
- In the last few seconds before a green light turns yellow
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Correct answer: In the first few seconds after the light has changed
The manual states that most crashes at traffic signals happen in the first few seconds after the light changes, so use caution even when your light has just turned green.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 74 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 74)
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If the traffic light changes while you are already in the intersection, what should you do?
- Back up to behind the stop line
- Go through the intersection with caution
- Stop right where you are in the intersection
- Wait in the intersection for the next green light
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Correct answer: Go through the intersection with caution
If the light changes while a driver is already in the intersection, the driver should go through with caution.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 74 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 74)
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What is a "stale green" light?
- A green light that is flashing instead of steady
- A green arrow that allows only protected turns
- A green light that has just changed from red
- A light that has been green for some time
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Correct answer: A light that has been green for some time
The manual defines a stale green light as a light that has been green for some time, so it may change soon.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 74 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 74)
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When you are approaching a "stale green" light, what should you be prepared for?
- The light changing to a green turn arrow
- The light staying green for at least another minute
- The light changing to yellow and then to red
- The light changing straight from green to flashing red
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Correct answer: The light changing to yellow and then to red
A stale green light has been green for some time, so be prepared for it to change to yellow and then to red, and slow down and stop accordingly.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 75 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 75)
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A police officer directing traffic signals you to do something different from what the traffic light shows. What should you do?
- Obey the police officer's directions
- Do whatever seems safest to you at the moment
- Stop and wait until the light turns green
- Follow the traffic light, since signals take priority
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Correct answer: Obey the police officer's directions
A police officer can overrule traffic signals, and law enforcement orders or directions must always be obeyed.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 211 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 211)
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On a traffic signal that is hung vertically, which light is always on top?
- The green arrow
- Green
- Red
- Yellow
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Correct answer: Red
When traffic signals are hung vertically, the red light is always on top, with yellow in the center and green third.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 212 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 212)
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If a vertically hung traffic signal includes a green arrow, where is the arrow located?
- Always on the bottom
- Always between red and yellow
- Always beside the red light
- Always on the top
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Correct answer: Always on the bottom
The manual states that if there is a green arrow, it is always on the bottom of the signal.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 212 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 212)
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When traffic signal lights are arranged horizontally, where is the red light?
- Next to the green arrow
- Always on the right
- Always in the center
- Always on the left
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Correct answer: Always on the left
On a horizontal traffic signal, the red light is always on the left.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 212 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 212)
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You face a steady red traffic light and plan to go straight. What must you do?
- Stop only if pedestrians are waiting in the crosswalk
- Stop before the intersection or crosswalk; wait for green
- Slow down and proceed with care
- Stop, then continue straight if the road looks clear
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Correct answer: Stop before the intersection or crosswalk; wait for green
At a steady red light, a motorist going straight must stop before the intersection or crosswalk and remain stopped until the light changes to green.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 212 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 212)
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You are approaching an intersection when the light turns steady yellow (amber). What should you do?
- Stop at once, even if you are already very close
- Speed up to clear the intersection before it turns red
- Stop, unless you are too close to stop safely
- Keep your speed, since yellow means go with care
Show answer
Correct answer: Stop, unless you are too close to stop safely
On a yellow light a motorist should stop before entering the intersection or crosswalk, unless the vehicle is so close that it cannot be stopped safely.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 212 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 212)
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What does a yellow arrow on a traffic signal mean?
- The lane is only for buses and car pools
- You may turn only after a full stop
- The signal is about to change to green
- The signal is changing from green to red
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Correct answer: The signal is changing from green to red
A yellow arrow means the signal is changing from green to red, giving the motorist a chance to stop safely.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 212 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 212)
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The light turns green as you wait at an intersection. What must you still do?
- Yield to pedestrians and vehicles still in the intersection
- Sound your horn before entering
- Nothing, since a green light gives you priority over everyone
- Wait three seconds before moving
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Correct answer: Yield to pedestrians and vehicles still in the intersection
On a green light a motorist should proceed, but must yield to pedestrians and vehicles still in the intersection.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 212 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 212)
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A green arrow is shown, either alone or together with a red light. What may you do?
- Stop and wait for a full green light
- Go straight or turn in any direction, after yielding
- Proceed only in the direction the arrow shows
- Proceed only if no other cars are in sight
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Correct answer: Proceed only in the direction the arrow shows
When a green arrow is shown alone or with the red signal, proceed only as shown by the arrow, carefully, and yield to pedestrians.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 212 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 212)
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What does a flashing yellow (amber) traffic light mean?
- Slow down and proceed with care
- Speed up to clear the intersection
- Come to a full stop
- Treat it as a four-way stop
Show answer
Correct answer: Slow down and proceed with care
A flashing amber/yellow light means slow down and proceed with care.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 212 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 212)
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What should you do at a flashing red traffic light?
- Stop and wait until it turns steady green
- Stop, yield, and go only when safe
- Yield only to vehicles coming from your left
- Slow down and go through without stopping
Show answer
Correct answer: Stop, yield, and go only when safe
A flashing red light means stop, yield to traffic and pedestrians, and go only when it is safe.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 212 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 212)
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You reach an intersection where the traffic signal has no working bulbs and no one is directing traffic. How should you treat it?
- As a yield sign for your direction
- As a four-way stop
- As a flashing yellow light
- As a green light if the road looks clear
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Correct answer: As a four-way stop
If none of a signal's bulbs are working and no one is directing traffic, stop: it is considered a four-way stop sign. Yield to traffic from the left or right and go only when safe.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 213 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 213)
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At some traffic signals there are pedestrian push buttons. What happens a short time after the button is pushed?
- All the signals switch to flashing yellow
- The signal goes dark for about 30 seconds
- The side street gets a longer green
- The main street gets a longer green light
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Correct answer: The side street gets a longer green
A short time after a pedestrian push button is pushed, the flow of traffic at the intersection changes to a longer green for the side street.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 213 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 213)