Traffic is permitted:

Explanation

The red car.

The traffic officer has extended his right arm forward and his chest faces the red car. The meaning of this signal is precise and worth memorising: from the officer's chest side only a right turn is permitted; from the officer's left side movement in all directions is permitted, but a tram has only the right to turn left; from the officer's right side and from behind his back every movement is prohibited.

Now read the scene with that rule. The red car comes from the officer's chest side and has signalled right, so it is the only vehicle permitted to move. The motorcycle comes from the officer's right side and is completely prohibited. The blue lorry comes from behind the officer's back and is prohibited too. The tram, which is going straight, had under this signal only permission to turn left, so it has no right to go straight.

The safety reason for these signals is clear: the officer makes a live "light phase" with his body and leaves open only one low-conflict flow. A right turn from the chest side cuts across no other path. Vital point: the officer's command takes precedence over the traffic light, the signs and the markings. If the light is green but the officer has prohibited your direction, you have no right to move.

• The motorcycle comes from the officer's right side, and with the right arm extended forward, movement from the right side is not permitted in any direction. • Adding the tram is tempting, but under this signal the tram could only turn left and the straight-ahead path is closed to it. • The tram on its own is not right either; the tram's permission is limited to a left turn and in this scene it is going straight. • The blue lorry comes from behind the officer's back, and movement from behind the officer's back is always prohibited.

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