Key:traffic_signals

traffic_signals=* may be used in combination with highway=traffic_signals to give details about the type or function of traffic signals.

Special traffic signals can be used as landmarks for navigation. For example, it may be easier to find a junction if you know there's a blinker there.

Known values

Value	Meaning	Usage count	Charts
Regular signals at intersections
signal	A standard traffic signal, typically with three steady aspects. This is the default value in iD for a traffic signal node. Since this kind of signal is assumed for highway=traffic_signals, please choose a more specific value for a more specialized signal.			📈
traffic_lights	A typical traffic signal. This value was the second most common value as of 2021-09-15 despite being undocumented until that point. As of August 2025, about 36% of its usage comes from bulk edits by one user in May 2025.			📈
secondary	Sometimes, road users need to pass multiple consecutive traffic signals at a single intersection. All signals after the first signal can be tagged with traffic_signals=secondary. These secondary signals are usually coordinated with the initial signal, such that there is only a small probability of a road user having to stop at the secondary signal.			📈
blink_mode	A normal traffic signal that can be activated but is normally set to blink. It may be changed to normal operation in the future when an intersecting road is completed or may be used only for special events.			📈
continuous_green	Used for intersections where some lanes, separated from the controlled portion of the intersection, never have to stop and thus get a continuous green signal.			📈
Mini signals at intersections
blinker	A 'mini' traffic signal, mounted in the normal place above the intersection, that flashes yellow if you have right-of-way and red if you must stop. Also known as an intersection control beacon.			📈
stop	A flashing intersection control beacon at an all-way stop, similar to traffic_signals=blinker but emphasizes the all-way stop.			📈
Signals at crossings for non-motorised traffic
pedestrian_crossing	A traffic light that only turns red to let pedestrians cross – and also in use for highway=crossing + crossing=traffic_signals to indicate the traffic signals for pedestrians. That means it has two different meanings depending on the context.			📈
cyclist_crossing	A traffic light that only turns red to let cyclists (and possibly also pedestrians) cross.			📈
Signals for crossing other infrastructure
bus_priority	A signal that is normally off, green, or blinking yellow, and that changes to red to give priority to a bus, tram, etc. If it is turned off or green in normal state, it may first change to yellow before changing to red. At some places it has only two lamps (yellow and red) instead of three. In other regions, all states are white with different shapes conveying priority. The same value can also be used for tagging the corresponding signal on the busway.			📈
tram_priority				📈
*_priority
level_crossing	A road traffic light in connection with a railroad crossing.			📈
train_priority				📈
bridge	A red signal in front of a movable bridge that is activated when the bridge is about to open.			📈
movable_bridge				📈
Signals for special purposes
ramp_meter	A signal on an onramp to a motorway that limits traffic to promote free-flowing traffic. May be activated only during rush hours.			📈
emergency	A normal-looking traffic signal, which turns red only in emergency situations, for example to give emergency vehicles right-of-way (in front of a fire station) or to stop traffic in case of an accident in a tunnel (in front of the tunnel). Colour details may be different (e.g. flashing yellow instead of solid green in the bottom lens) and it may also be turned off and only activated when needed. Often a sign mounted next to the signals states 'emergency signal' or 'emergency vehicles exit'.			📈
Other values
controller	Not widely used. May overlap with man_made=street_cabinet + street_cabinet=traffic_control, or with widely used man_made=monitoring_station + monitoring:traffic=yes			📈
on_demand	An on-demand traffic light? Meaning unclear, perhaps means the signal will stay red as long as there is no traffic (but many of such signals have one of the different values for traffic_signals=* mentioned above).			📈

Possible uses by data consumers

The value of traffic_signals=* is relevant for the probability that a vehicle has to stop and the likely duration of that stop. Routers can use this information to refine their heuristic travel time estimates.

The value is also relevant for what the traffic signal looks like. Map renderers may for example adjust the number of lenses shown in the traffic signal symbol.

See also

• traffic_signals:direction=forward/backward - Indicates the direction of travel affected by the traffic signals
• traffic_signals:sound=yes/no - Indicates that sound is emitted on tag:crossing=traffic_signals when crossing is permitted
• traffic_signals:vibration=yes/no - Indicates that vibrations occur on tag:crossing=traffic_signals when crossing is permitted
• traffic_signals:arrow=yes/no - Indicates the presence of a push button on a pedestrian crossing with an tactile arrow on top
• traffic_signals:minimap=yes/no - Indicates that there is a small tactile map at the traffic light pole to indicate the crossing layout for blind persons.
• traffic_signals:floor_vibration=yes/no - Indicates that there is a device that lets the floor vibrate at walk signal
• traffic_signals:operating_times=*
• tactile_paving=* - Indicate if a specific place can be detected or followed with a blindman's stick
• Proposed features/Emergency Traffic Signals - abandoned
• man_made=street_cabinet - may collide with traffic monitoring stations.