How to drive when there are two left turn signals, one red and one green?

[SanRhett]

Two left turn arrows, one red and one green, indicate a traffic signal malfunction. If there is a traffic police officer, follow their instructions; if not, proceed slowly. Traffic signals are lights that direct traffic and usually consist of red, green, and yellow lights. A red light means stop, a green light means go, and a yellow light serves as a warning. Traffic signals are categorized into: motor vehicle signals, non-motor vehicle signals, pedestrian crossing signals, directional indicator signals (arrow signals), lane signals, flashing warning signals, and railway crossing signals. When the green light is on, vehicles are allowed to proceed, but turning vehicles must not obstruct the passage of straight-moving vehicles or pedestrians. When the yellow light is on, vehicles that have already crossed the stop line may continue. When the red light is on, vehicles must stop. At intersections without non-motor vehicle or pedestrian signals, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians should follow the motor vehicle signals. When the red light is on, right-turning vehicles may proceed if they do not obstruct the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians. When encountering a stop signal, vehicles should stop in sequence behind the stop line. When turning right and encountering a vehicle in the same lane waiting for the signal, vehicles should stop and wait in sequence.

[JamesonRose]

This is a situation I often encounter when driving in the old town area. When both left-turn signal lights (red and green) are lit simultaneously, it's usually a signal malfunction. As a veteran driver with 20 years of experience, I'm telling you: a red light means stop, and a green light means go. But when both are lit at the same time, it creates a conflict. According to traffic laws, the red light takes precedence. Last week at the intersection of Nanjing Road, I encountered this situation and decisively stopped to wait for the signal to return to normal. Take a peek at how vehicles in other lanes are reacting—if everyone's stopped, don't take the risk. Never charge ahead just because you see a green light; many traffic cameras nowadays will still count it as running a red light. Remember this tip: whenever you see a red light, treat it as a stop sign. It's better to wait an extra three minutes than to get a ticket and lose six points.

[OElla]

As a traffic management officer, I handle about a dozen such cases every day. This kind of traffic light malfunction is mostly caused by program conflicts in the signal controller, such as overlapping settings for left-turn and straight-through phases. When encountering this, first check your lane: usually the red light above corresponds to the left-turn waiting area, while the green light corresponds to the main left-turn lane. Last month, after the renovation at Wenhua Intersection, this issue arose and it was later discovered that the arrow lights were installed backwards. I suggest you follow three steps: first, take a video as evidence; then observe if oncoming straight-moving vehicles are proceeding; finally, stop as you would at a red light. Don’t believe any nonsense about green lights having priority—traffic cameras don’t care about that.

[SanCassidy]

Oh, I have so much to say about this! Last month, I got my driver's license and drove alone for the first time. At the intersection near Wanda Plaza, I was completely stunned when I saw the traffic lights turn red and green simultaneously. The cars behind me were honking incessantly, and I was so anxious that I started sweating. Later, I called my driving instructor, who told me the key is to look at the light group corresponding to your lane. For example, the green light on the left might be for U-turns, while the red light on the right controls left turns. If you can't tell, just do what I did—turn on the hazard lights, pull over, and wait until the lights return to normal before proceeding. Now I know that when traffic lights show both red and green at the same time, it's likely a malfunction, and you can even report it on the traffic management app.

[ReedMarie]

We traffic signal engineers know this situation best. There are two types of dual-light conflicts: equipment failure or backend system logic errors. During the renovation of Binjiang Avenue last year, newly installed smart traffic lights triggered 42 similar alarms due to software bugs. Drivers should identify their travel direction correctly: the left light controls the inner lane, while the right light governs the outer lane. When two lights show conflicting colors, follow the signal directly above your lane. However, more commonly, it's a visual error caused by light cover reflections. We recommend observing from different angles and reporting to 122 if necessary.

[MarianaMarie]

Today's smart traffic signals are much more complex than when I was young. Don't panic when you see dual-color lights—first check the pole number: short poles with red lights control motor vehicles, while long poles with green lights may be for non-motorized vehicles. Last year's new tidal lane on Ping'an Street worked this way, and many drivers mistook it for a malfunction. Remember the three-word rule: stop at red, go at green, and if both are lit, follow the red light. If you're really unsure, adopt us old-timers' trick—watch whether the nearby buses move. Road safety leaves no room for luck; waiting an extra signal cycle is the safest bet.