Chapter 2
Signs, Signals and Roadway Markings
The Road to Skilled Driving
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Standards and Benchmarks
1. Laws and Highway System
a. know the laws outlined in the South Carolina Driver's manual
b. understand the laws outlined in the South Carolina Driver's manual
c. consistently demonstrate knowledge and understanding by responsible
adherence to highway transportation system traffic laws and control
devices
2. Responsibility
d. develop habits and attitudes with regard to responsible driving
7. Lifelong Learning
b. describe past, present and future motor vehicle laws
The Road to Skilled Driving
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Traffic Signs Have Three Purposes
1. Regulate traffic, movement
or parking
2. Warn of potential dangers or
road conditions
3. Provide information and
The Road to Skilled Driving
guidance
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Colors Have Meaning
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Black
White
Orange
Brown
Fluorescent Optic Yellow
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Shapes Have Meaning
The Road to Skilled Driving
Octagon
Rectangle
Triangle
Pennant
Diamond
Rectangle
Pentagon
Circle
Crossbuck
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Three Types of Signs
Regulate
Warn
Guide
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Where are they located?
Where must we stop?
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Where are they located?
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Where must we yield?
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SPEED LIMIT SIGNS
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Speed Limits
 Urban Areas
 Parks
 Rural Interstate
 Urban Interstate
 School Buses
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Rail Grade Crossing Warnings
RR sign or RR painted
on the pavement are
advanced warning
signs.
Crossbucks are yield signs.
The train has the right-of-way!
Flashing red lights
Bells
Gates
The Road to Skilled Driving
If you hear or see a train
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Other Regulatory Signs
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Other Regulatory Signs
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Other Regulatory Signs
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Warning Signs
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Warning Signs
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Warning Signs
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Warning Signs
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Warning Signs
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Warning Signs
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ORANGE Signals Work Zones
REMEMBER
 Common Sense
 Caution
 Concentration
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Tips for Driving Through Work Zones
 Orange signs signal work
zone areas
 Proceed with extreme
caution
The Road to Skilled Driving
 Drive at the posted speed
 Watch out for workers
 Stay in your lane
 Report unsafe conditions
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GUIDE SIGNS
Us Route Marker
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GUIDE SIGNS
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Intersections
 Controlled by signs and signals
 Uncontrolled by signs and signals, multi-lanes, or
pavement
 Single or two-lane road intersecting with
multiple-lane road
 Turning left
 T Intersections
 Railroad grade crossings
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Signals
 Steady lights
 Flashing lights
 Signal/Sign combinations
The Road to Skilled Driving
NO
TURN
ON
RED
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Traffic Lights
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Pavement Markings
Two lane rural
Multi-lane
ONE Way
Left turn
only lane
TWO Way
Stop lines
Crosswalks
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YELLOW LINES
• ALWAYS KEEP TO THE RIGHT OF A YELLOW LINE
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BROKEN YELLOW LINES
• SEPARATES TRAFFIC GOING IN
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
• BOTH DIRECTIONS MAY CROSS
THIS LINE
• PASSING IS PERMITTED
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SOLID YELLOW LINE
• SEPARATES TRAFFIC GOING IN
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
• KEEP TO THE RIGHT OF THIS LINE
• DO NOT CROSS EXCEPT WHEN
TURNING LEFT OFF OF THE
ROADWAY
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DOUBLE SOLID YELLOW LINES
• SEPARATES TRAFFIC GOING IN
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
• KEEP TO THE RIGHT
• BOTH DIRECTIONS OF TRAFFIC MAY
NOT CROSS
• BOTH DIRECTIONS CANNOT PASS
• LEFT TURNS FROM ROADWAY
PERMITTED
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SOLID YELLOW WITH A YELLOW BROKEN LINE
• TRAFFIC WITH THE SOLID
LINE CANNOT PASS
• TRAFFIC WITH THE
BROKEN LINE MAY PASS
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WHITE LINES
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SOLID WHITE
• DO NOT CROSS
• USUALLY A FOG LINE ALONG THE
RIGHT SIDE OF A ROADWAY
• MARKING THE EDGE OF THE
TRAVEL PORTION OF A ROADWAY
• STAY TO THE LEFT OF THIS LINE
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BROKEN WHITE
• SEPARATES TRAFFIC
GOING IN THE SAME
DIRECTION
• ONE WAY STREETS
• YOU MAY CROSS THIS LINE
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DOUBLE SOLID LINES
• SEPARATES TRAFFIC
GOING IN THE SAME
DIRECTION
• BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC
CANNOT CROSS
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Share Lanes – Left Turns Only
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Passing Markings
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Signaling



Left
Right
Slow or Stop
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DRIVING IN TRAFFIC CIRCLES
Good Habits
• See the Yield sign on approach
• Slow, search for pedestrians,
bicyclists
• Stop only if necessary
• Yield to traffic in the circle
• Select a safe gap when entering the
circle
• When traveling in the circle, Yield to
traffic attempting to leave
• Signal for your exit
• Search for pedestrians and bicyclists
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Photo courtesy of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
April 2006