Traffic signs, signals, and road markings

• Chapter 5 focuses on signs, signals, road markings, and communication.
• The goal is to understand traffic control devices and roadway communication.

Traffic-Control Devices

• Include traffic signs, signal lights, and road markings.
• They aim to promote road safety and orderly traffic flow.
• They provide information about location, direction, laws, and hazards.
• These devices direct drivers to slow, stop, merge, and make other maneuvers safely.
• Traffic-control devices use color, shape, wording, and placement to convey information.

Colors and Their Meanings

• Yellow indicates a general warning or caution.
• Fluorescent Yellow-Green indicates warning.
• Orange indicates a temporary work zone.
• Green provides directional guidance or indicates permitted movement.
• Brown indicates recreational and cultural-interest guidance.
• Blue provides motorist services guidance
• Red indicates stop or prohibition.
• Black and White provide regulatory information.
• Fluorescent Pink indicates incident management.
• Purple indicates electronic toll collection.

Traffic Signs

• Have standard shapes, colors, and information types for recognition.
• Drivers can quickly interpret intended messages by recognizing general sign meanings.
• Signs use symbols, words, or both.

Sign Types

• Regulatory signs inform drivers of what they may or may not do based on laws.
• Warning signs alert drivers to potentially hazardous conditions.
• Guide signs provide information about routes, exits, and distances.

Regulatory Signs

• STOP signs are eight-sided, red, and white, requiring a complete stop.
• YIELD signs are inverted triangles with a red border, requiring yielding to other traffic.
• DO-NOT-ENTER signs are red circles with a white bar on a square, prohibiting entry to specific roadways.
• Most regulatory signs are vertical rectangles. A red circle with a red slash through a sign means "Prohibited".

Warning Signs

• Typically yellow and diamond-shaped.
• They warn of potentially hazardous conditions a short distance ahead.
• Exceptions include orange construction-zone signs and fluorescent yellow-green pedestrian signs.

Specific Warning Signs

• Railroad advance warning signs are round.
• Railroad-crossing signs (crossbuck) are black-on-white and X-shaped.
• Pedestrian signs can be five-sided and fluorescent yellow-green.
• No-passing zone signs are pennant-shaped and located on the left side of the road.
• Chevron alignment signs are rectangular with arrowhead symbols indicating sharp curves.
• Temporary work zone signs are orange.
• Slow-moving vehicle signs are yellow-orange triangles with a red border.

Variable Message Signs

• Electronic signs displaying changing messages based on traffic conditions.
• They can display information about missing persons, special events, and risky driving behaviors.

Guide Signs

• Come in various shapes and colors to provide information.
• They indicate routes, exits, distances, points of interest, and services.

Route Numbering

• Interstate signs are shield-shaped and blue with a red band.
• East-west routes have even numbers, and north-south routes have odd numbers.
• Loops have three-digit route numbers starting with an even number.
• Spurs use three-digit route numbers starting with an odd number.

Traffic Signals

• Control traffic by indicating who has the right-of-way.
• Drivers must understand and respond appropriately to signal colors and symbols.
• Red: Stop before the crosswalk, stop bar, or roadway edge.
• Yellow: Right-of-way is expiring, clear the intersection.
• Green: Proceed if traffic has cleared and it is safe.

Signal Sequence and Light Positions

• Standard sequence: green → yellow → red → green.
• Vertical signals: red on top, yellow in the middle, green at the bottom.
• Horizontal signals: red on the left, yellow in the center, green on the right.

Additional Signals

• Flashing Red: Stop and proceed only when it is safe to do so.
• Flashing Yellow: Slow and proceed with caution.
• Red Arrow: Indicates traffic direction; movement is not allowed in the direction of the arrow.
• Yellow Arrow: Indicates the light is about to change to red.
• Green Arrow: Traffic moving in the direction of the arrow may proceed if clear.

Pedestrian Signals

• "Walk" indicates pedestrians may proceed.
• Flashing "Don't Walk" indicates pedestrians already in the street may continue, but others should not start crossing.
• Steady "Don't Walk" indicates pedestrians should not enter the street.

Road Markings: Yellow Lines

• Separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
• A single broken yellow line or a broken yellow line to the right of a solid-yellow line means that a driver may pass another vehicle, if it is safe to do so.
• A solid yellow lane line to the right of a broken yellow lane line means that passing is prohibited.
• A double solid-yellow lane means passing is prohibited in both directions.

Reversible Lanes

• Marked with double, broken yellow lines to change traffic flow direction.
• Red X means the lane is closed.
• Green Arrow means it is permitted to drive in that lane.
• Steady Yellow X indicates lane closure is imminent.
• Flashing Yellow X means you may use the lane to turn left.

Shared Left-Turn Lanes

• Identified by solid and broken yellow lane markings and white left-turn arrows.
• Used where there is a high volume of traffic turning into and out of businesses.
• Use the shared left-turn lane only to turn left.
• Do not move into the lane too soon.
• Search for vehicles pulling out of driveways and crossing streets.
• Yield the right of way to any vehicle that is signaling to enter or that has already entered the lane.
• Stop with tires pointing straight ahead to reduce push into oncoming traffic from a rear end accident.

Road Markings: White Lines

• Dashed white lines separate lanes of traffic moving in the same direction.
• Solid white lines mark the right edge of highways and indicate areas where lane changes are discouraged.
• Solid white lines perpendicular to traffic lanes identify stopping points and crosswalks.

Communication

• Exchange of information that involves both sending and receiving information.
• Necessary to identify another road user has been seen and understood.

Common Messages

• Include categories of intention, warning, presence, and feedback.
• Examples of intentions: turning, slowing, passing, or backing up.
• Examples of warnings: stopping suddenly, hazards ahead, or blinding headlights.
• Examples of presence: "I am over here," "Do you see me?", or "I am parked."
• Examples of feedback: "I see you," "I get the message," "Go ahead," or "Thanks for helping me."

Methods of Communication

• Electrical signals, such as turn signals, brake lights, reverse lights, and hazard flashers, are used to indicate movement and problems.
• Horn, a quick tap gets a driver's attention, and a sharp blast issues a warning.
• Headlights, using low-beam lights, and flashing headlights can agreement.
• Body actions include hand signals, nodding, looking puzzled.
• Vehicle position includes lane choice and position within a lane.