Session 9 – Rules of the Road Part 2

RULES OF THE ROAD cont.

TRAFFIC SIGNS

Traffic signs tell you about traffic rules, hazards, where you are, how to get to where you want to go and where services are located. Each type of sign is identified by its shape and color.

Warning Signs: These signs are yellow with black lettering or symbols and most are diamond shaped. They warn you about a special situation or that a hazard is ahead. Some common warning signs are:

Regulatory Signs: These signs are square, rectangular, or have a special shape and are usually white or red with black, red, white or green letters or symbols. They tell you the requirements for stopping, yielding, traffic direction, lane use, turning, speed limits, parking and other special situations.

Some regulatory signs have a red circle with a red slash over a symbol. These signs prohibit certain actions, i.e., no left turn, no right turn, no U-turn, etc.

Do Not Enter. A square sign with a white horizontal line inside a red ball means you cannot enter. You will see this sign
at openings to roadways that you should not enter such as exit ramps where you would be going in the wrong direction, in crossovers
on divided roadways and on one-way streets.

Common types of other regulatory signs are:

Speed Limit Signs. These signs tell you the maximum speed allowed, the minimum speed required, or of a change in speed limit. The maximum limit should be driven only in ideal driving conditions. You must reduce your speed when conditions require it. For example, you should reduce your speed for curves and when the roadway is slippery (during rain, snow, icy conditions), or when it is foggy and difficult to see clearly down the road. Some high-speed roads have minimum speed limits and you are required to travel at least this fast so you are not a hazard to other drivers. If the minimum posted speed limit is too fast for you, you should use another road.

Lane Use Control Signs. These signs tell you where you can turn or what direction you can turn from a certain lane. They often use an arrow symbol. These signs may be located on the side of the road or hanging over the lane of travel.

The ‘dot’ to the left of the arrow represents the island in the center of a roundabout. It shows that the driver is required to drive counter-clockwise around the island in the center to make a left turn.

Sometimes arrows are also painted on the road.

No Passing. Pavement markings, along with these optional signs, show where you cannot pass. A yellow pennant NO PASSING ZONE sign facing you on the left side of the road indicates the beginning of a no passing zone. Passing areas are based on how far ahead you can see. Where it is permitted to pass, you may do so only if it is safe.

Stop. A stop sign has eight sides and is red with white letters.
You must come to a full stop. You must wait until crossing vehicles and pedestrians have cleared your path. You can go only when it is safe to do so. If you cannot see traffic from your first stop, slowly move ahead and stop again before entering the intersection. Check for cross traffic and pedestrians before you go.

Yield. A yield sign is a downward pointing triangle.
It is red and white with red letters. It means you must slow down and yield the right-of-way to traffic in the intersection you are crossing or the roadway you are entering.

Slow Moving Vehicle. A reflective orange triangle on the rear of a vehicle means it may be traveling less than 25 mph. You may see this sign on construction equipment and, in rural areas, on farm vehicles or horse drawn wagons or carriages.

Note: The Amish are not required to use this symbol (for religious reasons) nor are bicyclists. However, both should still have reflective material on the rear of the vehicle.

Railroad Crossing Warning Signs. Many railroad crossings have signs or signals to warn you that a train is near. Never try to beat a train across the tracks. Never start to cross railroad tracks if you will have to stop on the tracks because there isn’t room for your vehicle on the far side. It is wise not to shift gears when crossing railroad tracks, just in case your vehicle might stall. Remember… trains are large and may be moving faster than they seem.

A round yellow warning sign with an “X” symbol and black “RR” letters is placed along the road before you get to a railroad crossing.

A white, X-shaped sign or “crossbuck” with “Railroad Crossing” on it is located at the railroad crossing. This sign has the same meaning as a “ Yield” sign. You must yield to crossing trains.

Crossings may have an “exempt” or “tracks out-of service” sign. “tracks out-of-service” means the crossing is no longer used by trains. “Exempt” means certain vehicles are not required to stop before crossing tracks marked “exempt” or “tracks out-of service.” However, be cautious and look both ways before crossing these tracks.

At some crossings, along with the crossbuck sign, you will see side-by-side lights that will flash alternately when a train is approaching. When the lights are flashing, you must stop and wait until the train has passed and the track is clear. At some crossings there is also a crossing gate that will lower when a train is coming. Do not drive around the gate or under a raising or lowering gate. Some crossings also have a bell or a horn that will sound. Do not cross until the bell or horn has stopped.

Crossings with more than one train track will often post a sign showing the number of tracks. These signs warn you there is more than one track and there may be more than one train crossing. Not all crossings with more than one train track will have these signs, so it is important to check for more than one track before crossing.

Construction Signs: These construction, maintenance or emergency operations signs are generally diamond or rectangular shaped, orange with black letters or symbols and warn you about people working on or near the roadway. These warnings include reduced speed, detours, slow moving construction equipment and lane closures. In work areas, traffic may be controlled by a person with a sign or flag. You must obey these persons.

NOTE: Traffic fines double in work areas.

Guide Signs: Help you navigate and inform you of services available.

Some common types of Guide Signs are:

Destination Signs. These signs are square or rectangular and are green or brown with white lettering. They show directions and distance to various places such as cities, airports, and state lines, or to special areas such as parks, historical areas or museums.

Service Signs. These signs are square or rectangular and are blue with white letters or symbols. They show the location of various services like rest areas, gas stations, campgrounds or hospitals. Some disabled signs are white with green letters and the backgrounds on symbols are blue.

Route Signs. The shape and color of route number signs indicate the type of roadway: interstate, U.S., state, city or county road. When planning a trip, use a road map to determine your route. During the trip, follow the route signs to help you get to your destination.

Reference Markers. Blue reference markers (sometimes called Enhancement Reference Signs) are signs designed to improve emergency responses to highway incidents. They help with faster emergency response, faster traffic incident clearance, fewer crash related delays and fewer secondary crashes.

Reference markers are installed on the right side or in the median. They may be placed every one to two-tenths of a mile.

Each reference marker includes the direction of travel, route number, and mile number.

The sign in the example means:

W You are westbound         12 on Highway 12 at mile marker 254.2