Theory Mastery

The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits

What the exam asks here: Everyone learns 'yellow means stop' as an absolute rule, and sometimes brakes too hard exactly because of that.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 14 questions

The trap

Many learners think: On a yellow light you must always stop, even if you have already approached the junction too closely to brake safely.

The rule is: Stopping on yellow is the main rule, BUT anyone who has approached the light so closely that stopping is no longer reasonably possible may proceed. Causing an emergency stop is not required

Challenge

Everyone learns 'yellow means stop' as an absolute rule, and sometimes brakes too hard exactly because of that. The law itself accounts for precisely this moment: there is an exception, but it only applies when stopping genuinely is no longer safe — not simply whenever it is inconvenient.

Read this section on its own page: Challenge: The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits

The model

Green: proceed. Yellow: stop — unless you are too close to stop safely. Red: stop.. A yellow flashing light is something different: it only warns of a dangerous point and does not regulate right of way.

Read this section on its own page: The model: The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits

Core

The yellow exception applies exclusively to drivers who have already approached the light so closely that stopping is no longer reasonably possible — it is a safety valve, not a licence to always speed through. An illuminated arrow restricts the light to exactly that direction: if you are going straight on while only the left-turn arrow is green, that green does not apply to you. An illuminated bicycle image in turn applies only to cyclists, moped riders on a cycle/moped path and mobility-scooter drivers — not to cars. Green gives no right to enter an occupied junction: drivers may not block a junction, not even on green. And the three-colour light outranks a priority sign such as shark's teeth or a B-sign once the light is in operation.

Read this section on its own page: Core: The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits

Why it matters

Misjudging yellow is dangerous in both directions: braking too late causes an emergency stop and a rear-end collision behind you; proceeding too eagerly through a light that has been yellow too long costs you a fine and can leave you stranded mid-junction just as the light turns to allow crossing traffic through at a busy roundabout in Alkmaar.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits

Active recall

Back on the Oude Delft: the light turns yellow while you are two metres from the stop line, at 50 km/h. What is correct?

Read this section on its own page: Active recall: The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits

Teach back

Explain: what do green, yellow and red mean, what is the exception at yellow, and why does a yellow flashing light not regulate right of way?

Read this section on its own page: Teach back: The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits

Memory hook

Green: go (don't block). Yellow: stop, unless too close. Red: stop. Arrow or bicycle in the light = only for that direction/group. Yellow flashing light = warning, no right of way.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits

Source: RVV 1990 art. 14 · RVV 1990 art. 68 · RVV 1990 art. 75 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

The three-colour traffic light (RVV art. 68)TopicRuleRedRedstop (art. 68 para 1 sub c)YellowYellowstop — unless already too close to stop safely (art. 68 para 1 sub b)GreenGreenproceed, but do not block the junction (art. 68 para 1 sub a + art. 14)Yellow flashing lightYellow flashing lightdangerous point, caution — does not regulate right of way (art. 75)
What to look at: Red: stop. Yellow: stop (unless too close). Green: proceed. Yellow flashing: warning, no right of way. Arrow: applies only to that direction.

Signs and law

Test yourself

On the Oude Delft in Delft the light turns yellow at the exact moment you are only two metres from the stop line, still doing 50 km/h. Braking hard would mean an emergency stop. What do you do?

Show the answer

Green: proceed. Yellow: stop — unless you are too close to stop safely. Red: stop.. A yellow flashing light is something different: it only warns of a dangerous point and does not regulate right of way.

Exam questions on this topic

About The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits: which statement is correct?

  1. On a yellow light you must always stop, even if you have already approached the junction too closely to brake safely.
  2. On a green light you may always enter the junction, even if the far side is already jammed with stationary traffic.
  3. The bicycle light applies to cyclists, moped riders on a cycle/moped path and drivers of a mobility scooter, not to other traffic.
  4. An illuminated arrow in the traffic light applies to every direction of travel on that lane, not only the direction the arrow points.
Show the answer

Correct answer: The bicycle light applies to cyclists, moped riders on a cycle/moped path and drivers of a mobility scooter, not to other traffic.

The bicycle light applies to cyclists, moped riders on a cycle/moped path and drivers of a mobility scooter, not to other traffic. The driver follows their own light

Why learners get this wrong: On a yellow light you must always stop, even if you have already approached the junction too closely to brake safely.

Open this question

About The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits: which statement is WRONG?

  1. Drivers may not block a junction, not even on green.
  2. An illuminated bicycle image in the traffic light also applies to drivers who want to turn right.
  3. Stopping on yellow is the main rule, BUT anyone who has approached the light so closely that stopping is no longer reasonably possible may proceed.
  4. Once an arrow is visible, the light applies EXCLUSIVELY to the direction the arrow indicates.
Show the answer

Correct answer: An illuminated bicycle image in the traffic light also applies to drivers who want to turn right.

The bicycle light applies to cyclists, moped riders on a cycle/moped path and drivers of a mobility scooter, not to other traffic. The driver follows their own light

Why learners get this wrong: On a green light you may always enter the junction, even if the far side is already jammed with stationary traffic.

Open this question

About The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits: which statement is correct?

  1. On a green light you may always enter the junction, even if the far side is already jammed with stationary traffic.
  2. An illuminated arrow in the traffic light applies to every direction of travel on that lane, not only the direction the arrow points.
  3. A yellow flashing light only means: dangerous point, caution required.
  4. On a yellow light you must always stop, even if you have already approached the junction too closely to brake safely.
Show the answer

Correct answer: A yellow flashing light only means: dangerous point, caution required.

A yellow flashing light only means: dangerous point, caution required. It does not regulate right of way; that follows from the signs or the right-hand rule on site

Why learners get this wrong: On a green light you may always enter the junction, even if the far side is already jammed with stationary traffic.

Open this question

About The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits: which statement is WRONG?

  1. Stopping on yellow is the main rule, BUT anyone who has approached the light so closely that stopping is no longer reasonably possible may proceed.
  2. A yellow flashing light regulates right of way at the junction just like a normal traffic light.
  3. Once an arrow is visible, the light applies EXCLUSIVELY to the direction the arrow indicates.
  4. Drivers may not block a junction, not even on green.
Show the answer

Correct answer: A yellow flashing light regulates right of way at the junction just like a normal traffic light.

A yellow flashing light only means: dangerous point, caution required. It does not regulate right of way; that follows from the signs or the right-hand rule on site

Why learners get this wrong: On a yellow light you must always stop, even if you have already approached the junction too closely to brake safely.

Open this question

Back on the Oude Delft: the light turns yellow while you are two metres from the stop line, at 50 km/h. What is correct?

  1. You may proceed — you are too close to stop safely
  2. You must always stop on yellow, even if that means an emergency stop
Show the answer

Correct answer: You may proceed — you are too close to stop safely

Anyone too close to stop safely may proceed.

Why learners get this wrong: On a yellow light you must always stop, even if you have already approached the junction too closely to brake safely.

Open this question

Stopping on yellow is the main rule, BUT anyone who has approached the light so closely that stopping is no longer reasonably possible may proceed.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

Stopping on yellow is the main rule, BUT anyone who has approached the light so closely that stopping is no longer reasonably possible may proceed. Causing an emergency stop is not required

Why learners get this wrong: On a yellow light you must always stop, even if you have already approached the junction too closely to brake safely.

Open this question

About The three-colour traffic light: green, yellow, red — and its limits: which statement is correct?

  1. Once an arrow is visible, the light applies EXCLUSIVELY to the direction the arrow indicates.
  2. An illuminated bicycle image in the traffic light also applies to drivers who want to turn right.
  3. On a green light you may always enter the junction, even if the far side is already jammed with stationary traffic.
  4. On a yellow light you must always stop, even if you have already approached the junction too closely to brake safely.
Show the answer

Correct answer: Once an arrow is visible, the light applies EXCLUSIVELY to the direction the arrow indicates.

Once an arrow is visible, the light applies EXCLUSIVELY to the direction the arrow indicates. Other directions are governed by a different light or sign

Why learners get this wrong: An illuminated bicycle image in the traffic light also applies to drivers who want to turn right.

Open this question

An illuminated arrow in the traffic light applies to every direction of travel on that lane, not only the direction the arrow points.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Once an arrow is visible, the light applies EXCLUSIVELY to the direction the arrow indicates. Other directions are governed by a different light or sign

Why learners get this wrong: An illuminated arrow in the traffic light applies to every direction of travel on that lane, not only the direction the arrow points.

Open this question

At a junction in Leeuwarden you are in a lane for straight ahead and left. In the traffic light a green arrow to the left is lit; the light for straight ahead is red. The cycle light next to you is green. You want to go straight ahead. What do you do?

  1. You wait; the green arrow applies only to traffic turning left
  2. You drive on; the green in your traffic light applies to every direction
  3. You drive on; the green cycle light next to you also applies to cars
Show the answer

Correct answer: You wait; the green arrow applies only to traffic turning left

False — you follow a light that is not for you. A light with a bicycle image applies to cyclists, moped riders on the cycle path and disabled vehicles, not to cars. You follow your own light, and for straight ahead that is red.

Why learners get this wrong: An illuminated arrow in the traffic light applies to every direction of travel on that lane, not only the direction the arrow points.

Open this question

At a junction in Breda all traffic lights flash yellow at night. There are no priority signs and no shark's teeth. A car is approaching from the right. You must let that car go first.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

False — you think the flashing yellow light regulates priority, like a normal traffic light. Flashing yellow only means: dangerous spot, be careful. Priority then follows from signs or shark's teeth, and if there are none, traffic from the right goes first.

Why learners get this wrong: A yellow flashing light regulates right of way at the junction just like a normal traffic light.

Open this question

All practice questions of this topic

Frequently asked questions

‘On a yellow light you must always stop, even if you have already approached the junction too closely to brake safely’ – is that true?

No. Stopping on yellow is the main rule, BUT anyone who has approached the light so closely that stopping is no longer reasonably possible may proceed. Causing an emergency stop is not required

‘On a green light you may always enter the junction, even if the far side is already jammed with stationary traffic’ – is that true?

No. Drivers may not block a junction, not even on green. If the far side is jammed, you wait before the junction until there is room

‘An illuminated arrow in the traffic light applies to every direction of travel on that lane, not only the direction the arrow points’ – is that true?

No. Once an arrow is visible, the light applies EXCLUSIVELY to the direction the arrow indicates. Other directions are governed by a different light or sign

‘An illuminated bicycle image in the traffic light also applies to drivers who want to turn right’ – is that true?

No. The bicycle light applies to cyclists, moped riders on a cycle/moped path and drivers of a mobility scooter, not to other traffic. The driver follows their own light

‘A yellow flashing light regulates right of way at the junction just like a normal traffic light’ – is that true?

No. A yellow flashing light only means: dangerous point, caution required. It does not regulate right of way; that follows from the signs or the right-hand rule on site

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