Traffic Signals
Steady lights

Red –stop and remain stopped
as long as the signal is red

Yellow - a steady yellow light or
arrow indicates that the light is
about to change
 Clear the intersection

Green – go IF the way is clear
1
Traffic Signals
Flashing Lights
Flashing Red
STOP before entering the
intersection
Flashing Yellow - Caution
dangerous intersection
2
Traffic Signals
Arrows
You may proceed in the direction of
the green arrow
You may NOT proceed in the direction
of the red arrow
3
Testing Your Knowledge
When this traffic light is RED
a. STOP and remain stopped
until the light changes
b. Slow down and proceed
with caution
c. Yield to traffic in the
intersection
4
Testing Your Knowledge
a. STOP and remain stopped until the
light changes
Correct!
When the traffic light is RED, you must stop and remain stopped
until the light turns GREEN.
You may turn right on red after stopping unless there is a sign
prohibiting it.
You may turn left on red after stopping if you are on a one-way street
and moving to another one-way street unless there is a sign
prohibiting it.
5
Traffic Signs
Right Turn on Red
At some intersections you may turn right
while the traffic light is red
 BEFORE turning STOP
 Check for traffic and pedestrians
You may NOT turn right on red if one of
these signs is present
6
Traffic Signs
Left Turn on Red
Left turn on red is permitted from one one-way
street to another one-way street
You must:
• Stop
and
• Yield to other traffic and pedestrians
You may NOT turn left on red if there
is a sign prohibiting it
7
Testing Your Knowledge
You are allowed to turn
right or left at a red light
after stopping at all
intersections
a. True
b. False
8
Testing Your Knowledge
b. false
Correct!
Right turn on red can be made at an
intersection that does NOT have a
prohibitive sign or a red arrow.
Left turn on red can only be made from
one one-way street to another one-way
street.
9
Traffic Signs
Signs - Colors have Meaning
Red — prohibitive or stop
Blue — motorist services
Green — guide information, such as
direction or guidance signs
Yellow —general warning
10
Traffic Signs
Signs - Colors have Meaning
Orange — construction and
maintenance work
White — regulatory signs
Brown —recreational and cultural interest
Fluorescent Optic Yellow —school zones,
school crossings and pedestrian crossings
11
Testing Your Knowledge
Red on a sign indicates:
a. caution
b. prohibitive
c. construction zone
12
Testing Your Knowledge
b. Prohibitive
Correct!
RED – means stop or prohibited
Examples:
 Stop
 No Right Turn
 Do Not Enter
13
Testing Your Knowledge
A sign with a White background
a. warning sign
b. traffic law
c. guide sign
14
Testing Your Knowledge
b. Traffic law
Correct!
Signs with a white
background are regulatory
and state traffic laws
15
Testing Your Knowledge
Orange on a sign indicates:
a. Construction/road work
b. Regulatory (the law)
c. Services
16
Testing Your Knowledge
a. Construction/road work
Correct!
The color orange lets the driver
know there is construction ahead
or you are entering a work zone
17
Testing Your Knowledge
A Yellow sign indicates
a. construction
b. services
c. general warning
18
Testing Your Knowledge
c. General warning
Correct!
Yellow signs are general warning signs.
Drivers should proceed with caution
Merge
Pedestrian
Crossing
19
Traffic Signs
Signs - shapes Having Meaning
Octagon —Stop signs
Triangle —Yield signs
Diamond — Warning
Pentagon — School and School Crossings
Pennant — Advance warning of No Passing
Zones
20
Traffic Signs
Signs - shapes Having Meaning
Rectangle — Regulatory or Guide
Vertical indicates Regulatory
Horizontal indicates directions or information
Round - advance warning of Railroad Crossing
Crossbuck – Railroad Crossing (same as a yield
sign)
21
Testing Your Knowledge
Because this sign is diamond
shaped, we know it means
a. school zone
b. the law (regulatory)
c. caution
22
Testing Your Knowledge
c. caution
Correct!
A diamond shaped sign
does indicate a general
warning!
Deer Crossing
23
Testing Your Knowledge
A round sign indicates
a. warning
b. yield
c. rail road crossing ahead
24
Testing Your Knowledge
c. rail road crossing ahead
Correct!
A round sign is an advanced
warning of a RR crossing
The crossbuck should be
treated as a yield sign at a RR
crossing
25
Traffic Signs
Warning Signs
Give advance warning of hazards to allow drivers time to
safely minimize risks
Yellow General
Warning
Orange
Construction/
Work Zone
26
Traffic Signs
Note the difference between these signs!
A school crossing sign is 5 sided (pentagon)
A pedestrian crossing sign is a diamond shaped sign
Winding road
Slippery when wet – slow down when road
surface is wet
27
Traffic Signs
Guide Signs
Green
GUIDE drivers to their destination by
identifying routes well in advance
28
Traffic Signs
Information Signs
INFORM drivers of motorist services and
recreational facilities
Services - Blue
Recreation/Historical
Landmarks- Brown
29
Traffic Signs
Regulatory Signs
REGULATE the speed and movement/direction of
traffic
Red – Stop or
Prohibitive
White Regulations
30
Testing Your Knowledge
The orange cone indicates
a. construction
b. warning – intersection ahead
c. services ahead
31
Testing Your Knowledge
a. construction
Correct!
The color orange indicates construction
or work zone
These cones are used to channel traffic
thru the work zone
32
Testing Your Knowledge
This sign indicates
a. no left turn
b. left turn only
c. sharp curve to the left
33
Testing Your Knowledge
a. no left turn
Correct!
This is a NO LEFT TURN sign
The shape (rectangle) and color (white)
of this sign identify it as a regulatory
sign.
The RED slash indicates the action
shown is prohibited.
34
Traffic Signs
What does the sign mean?
Review the Virginia Driver’s Manual
Divided highway
begins
Right curve- side
road
Divided highway ends
Right and left
curves
Slippery when wet
SHARP right and left
curves
Winding Road
Low clearance
35
Traffic Signs
What does the sign mean?
No passing
zone ahead
LEFT
LANE
HOV-2
ONLY
6-8 AM
Lane reserved for
high occupancy
vehicles
Slow moving vehicle
travels 25 mph or less
Crossbuck/gate down Stop and remain stopped
until the gate goes up
MON-FRI
Construction
work zone ahead
36
Testing Your Knowledge
This sign indicates
a. two-way traffic/ keep right
b. divided highway begins
c. divided highway ends
37
Testing Your Knowledge
a. two-way traffic
Correct!
This is a warning sign
indicating two-way traffic
The driver should keep right
38
Testing Your Knowledge
If you see this sign, you know
a. it is a warning sign
b. only vehicles with at east
two occupants are allowed
in this lane between 6:30
am and 9:30 am
LEFT
LANE
HOV-2+
ONLY
6:30-9:30 AM
MON-FRI
39
Testing Your Knowledge
b. only vehicles with at east two
occupants are allowed …
Correct!
This sign is a regulatory sign that indicates it is
against the law to be in that lane between
6:30 – 9:30 AM, Monday through Friday if
there are not at least 2 occupants in your
vehicles
LEFT
LANE
HOV-2+
ONLY
6:30-9:30 AM
MON-FRI
40
Virginia Learner’s Permit
General Knowledge Test
80% needed to pass (20 out of 25 correct)
Virginia Driver’s Manual -Sections 2, 3 & 4
Topics

Pavement Markings

Sharing the Road

Safe Driving

Parking

Speed Limits

Use of Lights

Right of Way

Dangerous Driving Behaviors

Changing Lanes/Passing

Aggressive Driving

Turning

Distracted

Alcohol/Drugs & Driving

Drowsy


Signals
Maintaining Space

Safety Belts, Air Bags & Child
Safety Seats
41
Pavement Markings
Lesson 2
Understanding
Pavement Markings
42
Pavement Markings
Yellow Line = Two-way Traffic
White Line = One-way Traffic
Solid Line = No Passing
Broken Line = Pass With
Caution
Is this a one-way or two-way road?
Would passing be allowed?
43
Pavement Markings
Yellow Line
Two way traffic pass
with caution
Traffic Flow
Traffic Flow
Two way traffic no
passing
44
Pavement Markings
White Lines
One-way traffic
Broken - pass with caution
Traffic Flow
Traffic Flow
Stop line
Left turn only - arrow
No passing - solid line
45
Pavement Markings
Multi-Lane
ONE WAY – pass
with caution
TWO WAY – no passing over solid
lines
46
Pavement Markings
Triangles painted on the
pavement show that you
must yield
47
Pavement Markings
Arrows Indicate the Flow of Traffic
This lane may continue
straight or turn left
This lane must turn
left
48
Pavement Markings
Shared Left Turn Lane
 Traffic from both directions
uses this lane to turn left
 Do not travel more than 150
feet in this lane
49
Pavement Markings
Diamond Shaped Pavement Marking
 HOV
 Bus Lanes
 Bicycle Lanes
50
Testing Your Knowledge
When approaching this
pavement marking
a. stop
b. yield
c. proceed with caution
51
Testing Your Knowledge
b. yield
Correct!
Triangles painted on the
pavement mark an area in
which you must yield
52
Testing Your Knowledge
If you are driving in this
lane, you must
a. turn left
b. turn right
53
Testing Your Knowledge
a. turn left
Correct!
This is a shared left
turn lane –
Vehicles in this lane
must turn left
54
Testing Your Knowledge
This roadway is
a. one way – no passing
b. one way – passing
allowed
c. two way – passing
allowed
55
Testing Your Knowledge
b. one way – passing allowed
Correct!
White lines indicate one-way traffic
and broken lines indicate passing is
allowed
56
Understanding the Virginia
Driver’s Manual
Lesson 3
Right of Way
57
Right of Way Concepts
 Right-of-Way is not a right or privilege –
it must be given!
 Right of Way is determined by a set of
rules
 Drivers must understand right-of-way
rules governing
 Intersections
 Merges
 Special conditions
58
Right–of–Way Concepts:
Intersections
Determine Who Should YIELD In The
Following Situations
 Controlled Intersections
 Uncontrolled Intersections
 Single or two-lane roads
 intersecting with multiple-lane roads
 When turning left
 “T” Intersections
 Railroad grade crossings
59
Right–of–Way Concepts:
Intersections
Controlled Intersections
A controlled intersection has signs or signals to
regulate the flow of traffic
 Signs and/or signals

determine who should
yield

regulate the flow of traffic
and pedestrians
60
Uncontrolled or 4-Way Stop
Intersections
 An uncontrolled intersection has NO signs or
signals to regulate the flow of traffic
 A 4-way stop has a stop sign at each corner
First Car Rule
Same Time Rule
Vehicles approaching an
intersection must yield to
vehicles already in the
intersection
When two or more vehicles
approach an intersection at
approximately the same time, the
driver of the vehicle on the left shall
yield the right-of-way to the vehicle
on the right
61
Uncontrolled or 4-Way Stop
Intersections
In these illustrations,
the Blue
Car must yield the right-of-way
62
Testing Your Knowledge
If both of these vehicles
arrive at this uncontrolled
intersection at the same
time, who must yield?
a
a. Car a
b
b. Car b
63
Testing Your Knowledge
a. Car a
Correct!
At and UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTION or 4WAY STOP if two vehicles approach at the same
time, the vehicle on the left must yield
64
Right–of–Way Concepts:
Intersections
T-Intersections
At a T-intersection, the vehicle on
the side street must stop and yield
right of way
Traffic Circles
Vehicles entering the traffic
circle shall yield to vehicles
already in the intersection
65
Right–of–Way Concepts:
Intersections
T-Intersections
In the illustration above, the
Blue Car must yield the rightof-way
Traffic Circles
In the illustration above, the
White and Yellow Cars must
yield the right-of-way
66
Testing Your Knowledge
Who must yield at a traffic
circle (roundabout)?
a. Vehicles in the circle
b. Vehicles entering the
circle
67
Testing Your Knowledge
b. Vehicles entering the circle
Correct!
Vehicles entering a traffic circle must yield
to vehicles already in the circle
68
Right–of–Way Concepts: Emergency
Vehicles
Yield the Right-of-Way to
Emergency Vehicles
Vehicles must yield the right-of-way to
police, fire, and rescue vehicles using a siren
and/or flashing lights

If traffic is congested and prevents moving to the right edge of the road, adjust
lane position and leave a clear path for the emergency vehicle to pass

On an undivided highway, all traffic must pull over to the edge of the road and
allow the emergency vehicle to pass
69
Right–of–Way Concepts:
Pedestrians
Yield the Right-of-Way to Pedestrians
 Intersections
 Crosswalks
 Making Right Turns
 Making Left Turns
70
Right–of–Way Concepts: School Bus
Yield the Right-of-Way to School Buses
All traffic must stop for a school bus
with flashing red lights and an
extended stop sign
UNLESS
the vehicles are traveling on the
opposite side of a highway separated
by a physical barrier or unpaved
median area
71
Right–of–Way Concepts: School Bus
If a School Bus is loading or unloading students on a two lane road,
traffic from both directions must stop
At an intersection, all traffic must stop
In these illustrations, the RED cars must STOP and YIELD Right-of-Way
72
Right of Way Concepts:
School Bus
Vehicles traveling on the
opposite side of a divided
highway separated by a
barrier or unpaved median
do not have to stop
In this illustration, the RED cars must STOP and YIELD Right-of-Way
73
Railroad Crossings
Railroad crossings are specialized intersections
Passing and overtaking is not permitted
Virginia law requires certain vehicles
(e.g., school buses, oil tankers, etc.) to
stop at all railroad crossings
If you follow one of these “Must STOP
Vehicles”, be prepared to stop, since you
cannot pass or overtake them at an
intersection
74
Railroad Crossings
Advance warning signs – a round, yellow sign with a black “
RR” indicates a highway-rail crossing is ahead - be prepared
to stop
Pavement markings – “RR” painted on the pavement - be
prepared to stop
Crossbuck signs are like yield signs – drivers must YIELD to
trains
• Slow down and be prepared to stop when you see
the crossbuck sign.
• A sign below the crossbuck indicates the number of
tracks drivers must cross
75
Railroad Crossings
Flashing red lights and warning bells
 STOP - if you see flashing red lights or hear warning bells
 Gates - flashing red lights and/or bells
STOP
Never go around the gates, it’s against the law
 Flag operator - Proceed only when given the “all clear”
signal
 Train whistle - STOP if you hear a train whistle, or see a
train
Cross when the gates are up, the lights and bells stop, and all tracks are clear in both
directions!
76
Testing Your Knowledge
You must always stop for a stopped
school bus with it flashing lights and stop
arm unless
a. You are at an intersection
b. There are no children
or unloading
loading
c. There is a median between you and the
bus
77
Testing Your Knowledge
c. There is a median between you and the
bus
Correct!
You must always stop for a school bus with
flashing lights and a stop arm unless there is
a median between you and the bus
78
Testing Your Knowledge
When you approach this sign, you should
a. stop
b. proceed with caution
c. slow down, look and listen
for trains
79
Testing Your Knowledge
c. slow down, look and listen for trains
Correct!
The crossbuck should be regarded as
a yield sign
Drivers should slow down, listen and
look for trains and be prepared to
stop
80
Speed Limits
A speed limit is the maximum legal speed you can travel
on a road under ideal conditions
Basic Speed Limits
• School, Business or Residential Zones
25 MPH
• Rural Expressway (Interstates)
65 MPH
• Rustic Roadways
35 MPH
• All other roadways
55 MPH
UNLESS OTHERWISE POSTED
81
Speed Limits
The 2010 Virginia General Assembly raised the
maximum allowable speed limit in Virginia to 70 MPH.
 These 70 MPH speed zones will only apply to
roadways specifically designated by VDOT.
 Driving above 80 MPH will still constitute reckless
driving.
82
Virginia Driver Education
Go to:
http://www.dmvnow.com/dmvweb/kats
/sne_intro.asp
and take the general
knowledge practice test.