Circular No. 51/2024/TT-BGTVT national technical regulations on road signs takes effect from January 1, 2025. This Circular replaces Circular No. 54/2019/TT-BGTVT dated December 31, 2019.
Accordingly, traffic light standards are as follows:
The main traffic control signal lights apply three types of signal colors: green, yellow and red; mainly in circular shape, installed vertically or horizontally.
The order of the signals is installed vertically: red light on top, yellow light in the middle and green light on the bottom.
The order of signal installation is horizontal: red light on the left side, yellow light in the middle and green light on the right side in the direction of travel.
In addition to the three main types of traffic lights, some other lights are added depending on the size of the intersection and traffic organization.
Lights with arrows or symbols in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation shall be installed on a horizontal plane with signal lights. The shapes on the lights may be the shape of a vehicle or a pedestrian.
Each traffic light signal may contain an arrow. If the arrow indicates a left turn, a U-turn is also permitted, unless there is a sign P.124 (a,b) “No U-turn”.
The countdown timer (when operating normally) serves to indicate the time the light is in effect.
A red cross traffic light means that the vehicle must stop. If the vehicle is already in the intersection, it must quickly exit the intersection.
Meaning of traffic lights: Traffic lights have 3 colors: Green, yellow, red; with or without time display. Road users must comply with the following:
Green signal: Green light means go; in case a pedestrian or wheelchair of a disabled person is walking on the roadway, the driver of the vehicle participating in road traffic must reduce speed or stop to give way to the pedestrian or wheelchair of a disabled person to cross the road.
Yellow light signal must stop before the stop line; in case of going on the stop line or having passed the stop line and the light signal is yellow, you may continue.
In case of flashing yellow traffic lights, drivers of vehicles participating in road traffic may proceed but must observe, reduce speed or stop to give way to pedestrians, wheelchairs of disabled people crossing the road or other vehicles.
Red light means no go: Signals that you must stop before the stop line. If there is no stop line, you must stop before the traffic light in the direction of travel.
In case there is no stop line, the nearest traffic light position in the direction of travel is considered the stop line.
At any one time, the same set of signal lights can only light up one of three colors: Green, yellow or red.
Meaning of arrow lights.
If the traffic light has a green arrow, vehicles may only proceed when the arrow is lit. An arrow allowing a left turn also allows a U-turn if there is no other signal prohibiting a U-turn.
If the light shows the shape of a certain type of vehicle, only that type of vehicle is allowed to go.
When the green arrow signal is on at the same time as the red or yellow signal, vehicles must follow the direction of the arrow but must give way to vehicles coming from other directions that are allowed to go.
When the red arrow signal is on at the same time as the main green light signal, vehicles are not allowed to go in the direction of the arrow. Where red arrows are installed, a waiting lane must be arranged for vehicles going in the direction where the red light is on.
When the red signal with the image of a certain type of vehicle is on at the same time as the main green light, that type of vehicle is not allowed to go.
In places where red traffic lights are installed, a waiting lane must be provided for that vehicle.
