Chapter 2
Signs, Signals, and Roadway Markings
2.1
Traffic Signs
Every Traffic sign has a specific shape and color.
Each traffic sign has a specific purpose. A regulatory
sign (stop sign) control traffic. Warning sign (signal
ahead) warns you of a possible hazard or road
condition. A guide sign (interstate) give you
directions.
Types of Signs:
REGULATORY – Tells you laws you must obey.
The two most important are “STOP” and “Yield”.
A. The STOP Sign - Always come to a complete
stop at a stop sign. Never do a rolling stop. Once you
have stopped you must yield the right of way to
pedestrians or other vehicles approaching the
intersection. If there is a stop line-you must stop at
the line. If there is no stop line, stop at the stop sign
without entering the intersection. If your view is
blocked so that you can not see the cross traffic you
can ease forward until you can see and come to a
complete stop.
4 – Way Stops – (1) The driver who stops first
should be allowed to go first.
(2) With vehicles on the right and left, the driver on
the left yields to the driver on the right. (3) When
facing each other the car going straight should go
first.
B. Yield Sign – Always slow or stop and give the
right of way to traffic.
C. Speed Limit Signs – These signs are used to
manage traffic flow at safe speeds. Every state is
permitted to establish their own speed limits.
Basic Speed Law - This law states that you must not
drive faster than what is safe for the existing
conditions no matter what is posted.
D. Minimum Speed Limit – This speed limit tells
you to drive no slower than what is posted unless bad
conditions force you to.
E. Advisory Speed Limit – These are set for special
conditions such as a banked curve. They are usually
located below a warning sign.
Any sign with red words on a white background or
white words on a red background tell you what NOT
to do. Any sign with black words tell you what you
can do. All signs with a diagonal slash through it tells
you what NOT to do.
WARNING SIGNS
These signs help you to avoid surprise situations.
They have black words or symbols on a yellow
background.
A. Diamond Shaped Warning Sign – These yellow
and diamond shaped signs warn you of danger ahead.
Be prepared to slow or stop when you see these types
of signs.
B. School Signs – There are (2) signs used in a
school zone.
(1) School Zone - This sign has two people walking
with NO Lines under them. It is posted within a block
of a school.
(2) School Crossing - This sign has two children
walking with lines under them. This sign is posted
near intersections or crossings used by children.
C. NO – Passing Sign – A yellow pennant shaped
sign posted on the left just before entering a no
passing zone. With this sign there will be a yellow
solid line on the road.
D. Construction Sign – An orange sign in a
rectangle or diamond shape. This warns you of
construction ahead. Be prepared to slow, stop, or
drive around workers and equipment.
Topic 4 Lesson 1
Warning Signs
Give advance warning of hazards to allow
drivers time to safely minimize risks.
Signs
Guide Signs
GUIDE drivers to their destination by identifying
routes well in advance.
Information Signs
Regulatory Signs
INFORM drivers of motorist services and
recreational facilities.
REGULATE the speed and movement of traffic.
T – 1.23
E. Railroad Signs
A round yellow sign with a black X and two R’s
warns of a railroad crossing ahead. This type of sign
is posted around 250 feet before a railroad crossing in
an urban area. This sign may be posted at about 750
feet in a rural area. A large white X may be painted
on the road as an additional warning. A white X with
railroad crossing is posted at the crossing and may
have a number below it telling you how many tracks
you are going to be crossing.
GUIDE SIGNS
Guide signs may mark routes, intersections, service
areas, and other points of interest or information.
A. Route Signs –
Local, state, U.S., and interstate routes are posted
with route signs.
Interstate route signs are red, white, and blue.
B. International Signs –
International signs show information with symbols
rather than words.
Topic 1 Lesson 3
Common Expressway Signs
Interstate signs
Guide signs
Warning signs
Speed limit signs
A major contributor to your decision as to how you will maintain a safe
path of travel, proper lane position, and your lane choice, is based on
the information provided by the road signs and lane markings.
T – 6.6
Topic 4 Lesson 1
Signs — Colors Have Meaning
Red — prohibitive or stop
Blue — motorist services signs
Green — guide information, such as direction or guidance signs
Yellow —general warning
Orange — construction and maintenance work
White — regulatory signs
Brown —recreational and cultural interest
Fluorescent Optic Yellow —school zones, school crossings and
pedestrian crossings
T – 1.24
Topic 4 Lesson 1
Signs — Shapes Have Meaning
Octagon —Stop signs
Round - advance warning of
railroad crossing
Triangle —Yield signs
Crossbuck – railroad crossing
Diamond — Warning
(same as a yield sign)
Pentagon — School and School Crossings
Pennant — Advance warning of No Passing Zones
Rectangle — Regulatory or Guide
•Vertical signs indicate the law
•Horizontal signs give directions or information.
T – 1.25
Traffic Signals –
Types of traffic signals that help traffic flow
smoothly:
A. Traffic Lights 1. GREEN LIGHT – REMEMBER!!! Only
proceed through a green light when the intersection is
clear. When you approach a green light scan left,
front, and right for other “Distracted Drivers”.
2. YELLOW LIGHT – Make every effort to stop
safely for a yellow light. Sometimes you may be too
close to stop. If that happens proceed through the
yellow light with caution.
3. RED LIGHT – Come to a complete stop behind
the stop line or crosswalk. If there are no road
markings you should stop before entering the
intersection.
Right-turn-on-red: This is turning right with the
signal light on red. You must come to a complete
stop and yield to traffic.
B. Flashing signals
1. Flashing RED signal – You must come to a
complete stop before proceeding through the
intersection. These signals are usually set with a stop
sign or stop line.
2. Flashing YELLOW signal – When you see a
warning sign with a flashing yellow light you must
slow down and be prepared to stop at the light.
C. Arrows
All traffic must go in the direction of a green arrow.
When a yellow arrow is showing, slow and prepare for a
red arrow.
When a red arrow appears it is the same as a red light. You
must come to a complete stop and traffic is not permitted in
that direction at that time.
D. Pedestrian signals
This signal is used at intersections with heavy traffic.
Always stop for pedestrians even if you have a green light
or a green arrow.
E. Officer’s signal
Whatever signal the police officer gives you, follow the
orders.
Topic 4 Lesson 1
Signals
o Steady lights
o Flashing lights
o Signal/Sign combinations
Virginia Law: § 46.2-833 — Traffic lights
•Signals by traffic lights indicate the following:
•Steady red – moving traffic shall stop and remain stopped as long as the signal is red, except
for traffic moving in the direction indicated by a green arrow.
•Green – the traffic shall move in the direction of the signal but should yield to other vehicles
and pedestrians in the intersection.
•Steady Yellow – a change is about to occur in the direction of the moving traffic.
•Flashing red – traffic shall stop before entering the intersection.
T – 1.22
Roadway Markings –
These types of markings alert you to a warning ahead or a direction
ahead. They are usually lines, words, or arrows painted in white or
yellow.
A. YELLOW LINE MARKERS:
A broken yellow line will separate two-way traffic. It
means a driver may pass only when traffic is not coming from
the opposite direction.
A solid yellow line located on the driver side of the center
line tells you that passing is not allowed.
A shared left turn lane is very dangerous. They have solid
and broken yellow lines. They will also have left turn arrows
marked on the pavement.
B. WHITE LINE MARKERS:
Broken white lines separate traffic traveling in the same
direction.
Solid white lines indicate a hazardous area and should not be
crossed.
Solid white lines are used along the side of a road to mark the
edge. This makes it easier for you to judge the road at night or in
poor visibility. Solid white lines are also used to mark pedestrian
crosswalks and stop lines.
C. RUMBLE STRIPS:
These are sections of road that alert you by the noise it makes
when your tires run over them. They warn you about dangerous
intersections ahead. They also warn you about toll plazas, places
where you need to slow down, and that you may be driving too
close to the edge of the roadway.
If you are having difficulty seeing at night you can use the raised
Markers to align your vehicle and make sure you are traveling in
the right direction.
OTHER ROADWAY MARKINGS:
When you see an “X” or “R/R” painted on the road you
should not pass and begin looking for a railroad ahead.
When you see a white “SCHOOL” painted on the road be
alert for children crossing the street.
CURBS may be painted to show a warning or that you are
not allowed to park there. YOU can NOT park alongside a curb at
an intersection or fire hydrant. The curbs may be painted in white,
yellow, or red.
Topic 4 Lesson 1
Pavement Markings
Two-Lane Rural
Shared Left
Turn Lane
Multi-Lane
ONE Way
TWO Way
stop lines
cross walks
T – 1.26
Topic 4 Lesson 1
Pavement Markings — Yellow Lines
Traffic Flow
Solid Yellow center lines indicate two-way traffic
with no passing allowed. ALWAYS KEEP TO THE
RIGHT of the line.
Traffic Flow
Broken Yellow Center Line
• Passing on the left is permitted in either direction.
• Pass only when the way ahead is clear because you will be entering a lane with oncoming
traffic.
Broken Yellow Line alongside a Solid Yellow Line
• Passing is permitted on the side
with the broken line.
White arrows show direction of traffic flow.
• Passing is NOT permitted on the
side with the solid line.
T – 1.26a
Topic 4 Lesson 1
Pavement Markings — Yellow Lines
Double Solid Yellow Lines
• Passing is NOT permitted in either direction.
• Crossing the lines is permitted
when making a left turn.
Yellow Lines
MARK the left edge on divided highways.
MARK the left edge on one-way roads.
White arrows show direction of traffic flow.
T – 1.26b
Topic 4 Lesson 1
Pavement Markings — White Lines
White lines separate lanes of traffic going in the same direction.
Traffic Flow
Broken White Lines
• Drivers may cross with caution.
Traffic Flow
Solid White Lines
• Solid white lines designate turn lanes and prevent lane
changes near intersections.
• Arrows indicate which turns may be made from the lane.
-
A curved arrow and the word ONLY indicate you must
turn in the direction of the arrow; and
-
both a curved and straight arrow indicate you may
either turn or go straight.
• Stop lines, crosswalks and parking spaces also are marked by
white lines.
• Solid white lines mark the right edge of pavement.
T – 1.26c
Topic 4 Lesson 3
Turning
When you make a turn you must signal your intentions, whether
using hand or vehicle signals, 100 feet or 4 seconds before turning.
Left Turn
Vehicle Signal — move the signal lever all the way down.
Hand Signal — extend your left hand and arm straight out
of the driver’s side window.
Right Turn
Vehicle Signal — move the signal lever all the way up.
Hand Signal — extend your left arm out the driver’s side
window and bend it at the elbow so that your left hand
points upward at a 90 degree angle.
For more information on turning, see Module 4 Topic 3
T – 1.36
Topic 1 Lesson 3
Common Expressway Signals
Lane Signals
Reversible
lane signals
A GREEN arrow over a lane — the lane is
open for travel.
A RED “X” over a lane — travel in that lane
is closed or prohibited.
A YELLOW “X” over a lane — travel in that
lane is about to change or close.
T – 6.7
Topic 1 Lesson 3
Expressway Lane Markings
Solid YELLOW line
Traffic Flow
 marks the left edge of the roadway.
 should always be on the driver’s
left side.
Solid WHITE line
 marks the right edge of the roadway,
or entrance and exit lanes.
Broken WHITE line
 separates lanes of traffic going in
the same direction.
HOV lanes (high occupancy vehicle)
 are marked with a white diamond.
 require a minimum number of passengers in
the vehicle.
T – 6.8