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Green arrow sign at a red light in the German driving test: what the examiner looks for

§ 37 (2) no. 1 StVO·With Pro·Updated: October 2026·DriveDE

In short: At "Green arrow sign at a red light" the examiner mainly wants to see: First stop at the stop line, as at red; The green arrow allows turning right at red after the stop; Indicate right; Cross traffic from the left has priority, cyclists on the cycle path too. A severe mistake that can end the test: roll slowly round the corner without stopping.

You want to turn right at a junction with traffic lights. The light is red. Next to the red light is the green arrow sign. A cyclist is coming from the left on the cycle path, pedestrians are crossing the road you want to turn into.

The examiner says„An der Ampel bitte rechts abbiegen.“
"Turn right at the lights, please."

What you have to show

The right order

  1. Mirrors, indicate right, position on the right, stop at the stop line
  2. Look left: cross traffic and cyclists on the cycle path have priority
  3. Let crossing pedestrians go
  4. Shoulder check right
  5. Turn carefully from standstill

Typical mistakes

Roll slowly round the corner without stopping severe mistakeWith the green arrow, stopping at the stop line is mandatory. Without stopping it counts as running a red light.
After stopping, turn briskly, the green arrow gives you priority severe mistakeThe green arrow gives no priority. Cross traffic, cyclists and pedestrians still have priority.

What the examiner records in the protocol

The examiner files every situation under five competence areas in the electronic test protocol. This is how the points of this situation are spread:

Observation of traffic
  • The green arrow allows turning right at red after the stop
  • Cross traffic from the left has priority, cyclists on the cycle path too severe mistake
  • Let crossing pedestrians go severe mistake
Adaptation of speed
  • First stop at the stop line, as at red severe mistake
  • Turn carefully from standstill, hindering or endangering nobody
Communication
  • Indicate right

How the examiner grades: the electronic test protocol explained →

A strong answer

The green arrow sign allows me to turn right at red, but only after stopping. I indicate right and first stop at the stop line. Then I look left: the cross traffic and the cyclist on the cycle path have priority, I let them pass. I let the crossing pedestrians go. After a shoulder check I turn carefully from standstill, without hindering or endangering anyone.

What the law says

§ 37 (2) no. 1 StVO: with the green arrow (sign 720) you may turn right at red after stopping at the stop line (without a line: before the light, at the sight line) and only if nobody is hindered or endangered, in particular not the traffic with green and pedestrians and cyclists.

Legal text: § 37 StVO · Anlage 2 StVO (Verkehrszeichen) (gesetze-im-internet.de)

Quick check

You are at the stop line, the light is red, the green arrow is there. No car comes from the left, but a cyclist on the cycle path does. What do you do?

  1. Turn, the green arrow applies to me
  2. Let the cyclist pass, then turn
  3. Honk so he waits
Show the answer
B. The cyclist is riding at green and has priority. You only turn when you hinder nobody.
Answer it yourself

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