How to Interpret Round Traffic Lights?

[Grover]

When encountering a round traffic light that turns red at an intersection, vehicles in the right-turn lane can proceed to turn right directly. If you encounter an arrow-shaped right-turn signal at an intersection, you must not turn right when the arrow is red. Turning right under such circumstances would be considered running a red light. At some intersections with more complex road conditions, if there is a sign indicating "No Right Turn on Red," you must wait for the green light before proceeding. Turning right under a red light would constitute running a red light.

[Nathaniel]

The round red light is actually quite simple. When I first started learning to drive, I often got confused, but later I figured it out: just stop at the red light, but there's an exception—when turning right, as long as there's no red arrow or no-turn sign, you can proceed without stopping (of course, yielding to pedestrians is a must). Green means go, but don't just stomp on the accelerator—keep an eye out for cars that might still be in the intersection. The yellow light is the most annoying; if your car has already crossed the line, go ahead quickly, but if not, hit the brakes immediately and wait. I remember once I almost rear-ended someone because the car in front suddenly braked hard at a yellow light. Now I always check the countdown timer on the signal pole in advance, which gives me peace of mind and makes driving much safer. When turning right, be especially cautious of electric scooters—they often dart out without checking the light.

[AugustFitz]

The core principle of circular traffic lights is 'red means stop, green means go,' but some people stumble on the details. First, when the light is red, besides stopping, you must also pay attention to the lane. You cannot turn right from a straight lane on red; you need to be in the right-turn lane. When the light turns green, driving straight is fine, but left-turning vehicles must yield to those going straight. Don’t overthink the yellow light—it’s simply a reminder to brake, and you can only proceed if your vehicle has completely crossed the line. I’ve seen many people get confused at circular lights: some were fined for turning right without checking the crosswalk, others had collisions for not yielding to straight-going traffic when turning left. Here’s a handy tip: while waiting at a red light, observe the cross traffic—when their green light ends, yours is about to turn green. Shifting gears in advance can save time.

[CadenAnn]

Round traffic lights are much simpler than arrow lights, just three rules: stop at red (except for right turns), go on green, and make a quick decision at yellow—either speed through or stop. But in reality, you need to stay alert, especially during right turns where pedestrians often run red lights—I once almost hit someone glued to their phone. Never gamble with a yellow light; last time at Changjiang Intersection, I saw a car rushing through yellow collide with a left-turning vehicle, crushing the front end completely. At night, watch out for light illusions—shadows from leaves can distort colors, so it’s best to slow down and double-check. Also, a reminder: don’t tailgate large vehicles, or you’ll miss the light entirely and risk a ticket.

[MorganMarie]

When dealing with roundabout traffic lights, focus on the key points. Stop at red lights, but right turns have high priority—you can turn directly unless there are special signs, but remember to check your right rear for any sudden e-bikes. Green lights don’t guarantee complete safety; some intersections allow left turns and straight traffic simultaneously, so left-turning vehicles must yield to straight-moving ones—I’ve learned this the hard way. Yellow lights act as a buffer: legally, you must stop if you haven’t crossed the line, but you can proceed if you have—don’t imitate those reckless drivers who hit the gas. During rush hour, here’s a tip: if buses in the perpendicular lane start moving, your light is about to turn green—releasing the brake early can give you half a car length’s advantage.

[SanBriella]

The round traffic light may look simple, but there's more to it than meets the eye. When stopping at a red light, there are three taboos: don't go straight in a right-turn-only lane, don't stop on the crosswalk, and don't get too close to the car in front (at least make sure you can see its rear wheels). When the light turns green, stay alert in all directions - once I almost hit a motorcycle running a yellow light while I was going straight, luckily I was driving slowly. Many people misunderstand the true meaning of a yellow light - it's not for rushing through, but for preparing to stop. The most dangerous situation is when there are only two seconds left on a green light; it's better to wait for the next cycle. Also remember to turn on your wipers in rain or fog, as getting your license plate covered in mud could lead to accidentally running a red light - a friend of mine once got penalized for this.