The traffic lights are flashing amber. What does it mean?

The lights are out of order: slow down and look out

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Junctions, Roundabouts and Right of Way

Many accidents happen at junctions, so the FTT and BTT test them closely. At a junction with no lights or signs, traffic going straight has priority over turning traffic, and you give way to traffic from your right; at a roundabout, give way to traffic on your right. Driving Through Junctions is one of the largest FTT topics.

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No lights or signs: who gives way

Going straight	give way to traffic going straight from your right
Turning left	give way to traffic going straight from your right
Turning right	give way to traffic going straight from all directions, traffic turning right from your right, and traffic turning left from the opposite side
T-junction	give way to traffic on the major road

Look right, left, then right again; do not go on signals from unauthorised people. BTT p.52-53; p.50

Turning right

Check front and rear, signal early, check your right blind spot, then take the lane the road markings show. p.43
Slow down. If the light allows, move slowly towards the centre of the junction and give way to oncoming traffic; wait for a safe gap or the green arrow. p.43
Turn swiftly into the correct lane, watching for people crossing. Into a two-way road: the lane just left of the centre line. Into a one-way road: the extreme right lane. p.43; BTT p.53
Using a shared right-turn and straight lane: signal early so traffic behind can pass. p.44

Turning left

Signal early, check your left blind spot and keep left; do not swing out to the right before or after the turn. p.41; BTT p.53
Look right and ahead, watch for motorcycles and bicycles, and give way to people crossing. Turn into the nearest lane. p.41
The rear wheel on the inside cuts closer to the kerb than the front: take care not to brush cyclists or pedestrians. BTT p.53

Traffic lights

Amber and room to stop: stop at the stop line. Too close to stop safely: go on. p.45
Road ahead jammed: do not go, even on green, yellow box or not. p.45
Stop before the stop line, and put the handbrake on while you wait at red. p.46-47
Turning on green: people may be crossing on their Green Man. Stop and let them clear your path. p.47
Flashing amber: the lights are out of order. Slow down and obey any police officer directing traffic. p.48

Roundabouts

Slow down, decide your exit early and get into the right lane. Give way to traffic on your right. Do not enter if your exit is blocked. p.52
Three lanes: left lane for the first exit (left), middle lane straight on, right lane to turn right. Two lanes: left lane for left or straight, right lane for straight or right. BTT p.53
Inside: give way to vehicles crossing in front, signal early to change lanes, and signal left before you leave. p.52

Stop, give way and yellow boxes

STOP sign: stop behind the line and give way to traffic on the main road. GIVE WAY sign: slow down, stop if necessary. p.48
Yellow box: do not enter unless your exit is clear, even on green. You may wait in it to turn right against oncoming traffic, or when crossing pedestrians hold up your turn. BTT p.54-55
In a hold-up, it is courteous to let traffic from a minor road go. p.45

Test traps

Amber means stop if you can do so safely, not speed up. p.45
Green but the road ahead is jammed: wait behind the line. p.45
Turning right into a one-way road: the extreme right lane; into a two-way road: just left of the centre line. BTT p.53
Roundabout: give way to traffic on your right. p.52
Flashing amber: the lights are out of order, not a signal to go. p.48

Penalties (car)

Stopping in a yellow box	$100, no points
Not giving way, no lights or at a roundabout	4 points, $150
Not giving way to oncoming traffic at lights	4 points, $150
Wrong lane to turn left or right	4 points, $150
Not obeying traffic light signals	12 points, $400

In school and silver zones and Friendly Streets, some offences add 2 points and $100. BTT p.6-7

Test yourself

At a crossroad with no lights or signs, you go straight. A car from your right also goes straight. Who gives way?
- A. You
- B. The other car
Show the answer
A. Going straight, give way to traffic going straight from your right. BTT p.52
Turning right into a one-way road, which lane do you turn into?
- A. The extreme left lane
- B. The extreme right lane
Show the answer
B. Into a one-way road, the extreme right lane; into a two-way road, just left of the centre line. BTT p.53
At a roundabout, give way to traffic:
- A. On your left
- B. On your right
- C. Behind you
Show the answer
B. Give way to traffic on your right, already in the roundabout. p.52
The traffic lights are flashing amber. What does it mean?
- A. Go, you have priority
- B. The lights are out of order: slow down and look out
Show the answer
B. Flashing amber = out of order; obey any police officer directing traffic. p.48

Slides for social media

7 slides to post together as a carousel on Facebook, Instagram or X. Use the arrows to see them all; the icon saves the slide shown. Want one picture for your phone instead? Download the full sheet as an image.

Junctions, Roundabouts and Right of Way, slide 1 of 7 — 1 / 7

Practise Basic Driving Techniques Practise BTT Traffic Rules

Based on the official Final Theory of Driving handbook, pages 40-52 (and Basic Theory of Driving pages 6-7 and 52-55); page numbers are the handbook's. The drawings are our own simple versions. An unofficial study aid by sgdriving.net, not a Traffic Police publication: where anything differs, the official handbook prevails. The handbooks are free from the Traffic Police Online Learning Portal.