CHAPTER 3

Signs, Signals, and Pavement Markings

Regulatory and Warning Signs Roadway signs provide important

information about where you are, where are going, and what rules or laws to follow. Traffic signs have uniform shapes and colors.

Signs may also display words, symbols, or a combination of both.

There are two types of traffic signs Regulatory Warning

Regulatory Signs

Regulate or control the movement of traffic. Inform you of laws that apply at a given time

or place. Most signs are red, white, black, green on

white, or white on black. Most are vertical rectangles (taller than wide).

They show speed limits, turning restrictions, lane use, and pedestrian and parking controls.

A RED CIRCLE WITH A RED SLASH THROUGH IT MEANS NO.

Actions to take

Regulatory signs give commands or set limits.

The four most common are: Stop signs – 8 sided, red, and tell you

where to stop. Speed limit signs – indicate the maximum

speed you may drive under IDEAL conditions.

Yield signs – reveals who has the right of way when crossing or entering a road way.

Railroad signs – indicate railroad tracks crossing the roadway.

Stop Signs

Most often seen at the intersection of two roadways. May be a stop sign on all four corners or on only one or two corners. Sometimes located in the middle of the block indicating crosswalks.

You must come to a FULL STOP. Often a white line is painted in line with the sign. Sometimes there are two lines indicating a pedestrian crosswalk just beyond the stop line. You are required to stop in front of the first white line you come to. (Before the white line.

After you stop, if there is no cross traffic from the right or left, you may proceed.

Yield Signs

At a yield sign you move from one roadway onto or across another one.

As you approach, slow down and check oncoming traffic and the traffic behind you.

Search left and right for cross and oncoming traffic. If a vehicle is coming toward you, you will have to judge its distance and speed then decide whether you can safely enter or cross the road. You may need to slow down or stop and wait until the roadway is clear of traffic before you proceed.

Yield sign

Speed Limit Signs

Show the maximum, or fastest, speed allowed on a roadway. Driving faster than the posted speed is illegal. Some speed limits also post minimum speed limits and are usually seen on expressways. You should not travel slower than the minimum speed limit unless road or weather conditions make it unsafe.

Railroad Signs

Located where railroad tracks cross the roadway.

May also have signals, flashing red lights, and railroad gates.

Regardless of whether or not lights and gates are present, if a train is coming, you must stop.

RR sign

RR crossing

Warning Signs

Alerts you to changes in the condition or use of the roadway ahead.

Include construction and maintenance, school zones and crossings, railroad crossings, curves, intersections, changes in road width, and pedestrian, animal, and vehicle crossings.

May see one when a road or lane is closed, near a school, or when there is a dangerous road condition.

All warning signs are either yellow, fluorescent yellow-green, or orange with black letters. They use numbers or symbols and most are diamond shaped.

Construction sign

What is this sign?

Warning Sign Procedures

Actions to take at Warning signs: When you see a warning sign, increase your

level of alertness to changes in the roadway, in traffic, or in environmental conditions. Always proceed with caution Pedestrian or School Zone signs: you must slow

down and proceed with caution. Inattentive pedestrians and children playing may run in the street. School zone signs are 5 sided and shaped like a house.

Railroad Advance-Warning signs: slow down before you reach the tracks and be prepared to stop.

Guide and International Signs Provide information about where you

are, where you are going, how to get there, how far you have to go, and what services and sites are available.

Guide

Functions of Guide Signs

Identifies roadways and routes, provides mileage information, points out road services (rest stops and service stations), directs you to recreational areas and points of interest. Route Markers: Identify which route you are driving

on. Various symbols and colors are used to identify the route as an interstate highway or a state or county road North and South routes are ODD numbered East and West routes are EVEN numbered Interstate routes that lead INTO cities have three digits and

begin with an ODD digit. Interstate routes that go AROUND a city have three digits

and begin with an EVEN digit.

Destination & Mileage Signs

Typically located over highway lanes. Tells you where you are, which lane to

take to get to your destination, what exits are coming up, how far away exits are.

Green with white lettering.

Roadside Service Signs

Blue signs with white letterings that refer you to gas, food, or phone.

Roadside service

Recreational-Area Signs

Brown with white lettering and guide you to national parks, historic sites, and other places of interest.

Rec. signs

Rec. signs

International Signs

One you can understand without knowing another language.

Use colors, shapes, and symbols, to provide fast, accurate communication.

International signs

Pavement Markings

Provide drivers and pedestrians with important information, directions, and warnings about roadway travel.

Yellow and White Lines

Provide directions or warnings for drivers.

Yellow lines: Separate traffic traveling in opposite directions. May be single, double, solid, or broken. Single Solid: No passing allowed Single Broken: Passing allowed Double Solid: No passing either side

allowed Double Broken: Passing allowed both sides

Example

White Lines

Mark lanes for traffic moving in the same direction. Broken Lines: Allowed to move from lane to

lane Solid Lines: Not allowed to move from lane

to lane. Solid lines also indicate the sides of the road and where the shoulder starts.

HOV Lane: High Occupancy Vehicle sign specifies the minimum number of passengers required (2 or more) to use the restricted lane.

Shared Left Turn Lanes

Found on large roads with four or five lanes traveling in each direction.

Delineated by right or left turn arrows on the ground pointing in the direction that lane leads to.

Vehicles moving in either direction can use this lane to make left turns into an entrance.

Drivers who want to make left turns onto the roadway can also move into the shared left-turn lane and wait for a gap in traffic.

Demarkated by parallel solid and broken yellow lines with white arrows that point alternately left and right.

Procedures for using Shared Left-Turn Lanes

Don’t get in the lane too soon: The longer you drive in the center lane, the more likely you are to meet someone traveling in the opposite direction. Give yourself just enough time to check traffic in all directions, signal, enter the lane, straighten out your vehicle and, if necessary stop, and yield before turning.

Watch for Vehicles pulling out of driveways and cross streets: Other drivers may cut across in front of you or turn into the shared lane to wait for a gap in traffic.

Use the shared left-turn lane only to turn left: If you do not intend to turn stay out of the lane!

Double-Dashed Lines

Yellow lines that are broken and used to mark a reversible lane.

Used in large cities with heavy rush hour traffic to improve traffic flow in one direction in the morning and the opposite direction in the evening.

During non-rush hour traffic you may switch lanes to pass other vehicles as long as it is safe to do so.

Traffic-Control Devices

Keeps traffic moving in an orderly manner. Includes traffic lights, pedestrian signals, traffic officer signals.

Traffic Signals

Used to control traffic by indicating who has been granted the right of way. It is important to know what each color and symbol mean as well as how to respond to them. Signal Sequence: Standard is Green, Yellow,

Red. Upright = Red (top), Yellow (middle), Green

(bottom) Horizontal = Red (left), Yellow (middle), Green

(right) Flashing Traffic Signal: Red flashing light is to

be treated the same as a stop sign.

Traffic light

Pedestrian Signals

Located at busy intersections. Words or signals telling pedestrians how

to proceed. Flashing pedestrian signals might flash

“Walk” or “Don’t Walk”. (it may also use colors such as white and orange)

Pedestrian signals

New Pedestrian signals

Traffic Officer’s Signals

Overrule ALL other signals Follow the officer’s signals even if they

contradict the normal traffic sign or signal.

Chinese Traffic Officer

Geico Commercial

Lane Use Lights

Indicate which lane or lanes you can use at any given time.

Often found in tunnels or on bridges.

Holland tunnel