1. Signs, Signals, Pavement Markings & Speed Limits
Driver Education
Unit 1

2. Three Types of Road Signs
Regulatory Signs
REGULATE the speed and movement of traffic
Warning Signs
WARN drivers of potential roadway hazards
Guide Signs
GUIDE drivers to their destination or inform them of motorist services or recreation in the area

3. Sign Colors Have Meaning
RED
stop, or something is prohibited
BLUE
motorist services
GREEN
guide information (such as direction or guidance signs
YELLOW
general warning
ORANGE
construction or road maintenance
WHITE
regulatory signs (state traffic law)
BROWN
recreational or cultural interest
FLUORESCENT OPTIC YELLOW
school zone, school crossing, or pedestrian crossing
BLACK

4. Guide Signs
Green
GUIDE drivers to their destination by identifying routes well in advance

5. Information signs
INFORM drivers of motorist services and recreational facilities
Services - Blue
Recreation/Historical Landmarks- Brown

6. Sign Type & Color Most Regulatory Signs Most Warning Signs
RED, BLACK, WHITE
Most Warning Signs
YELLOW, ORANGE, FLUORESCENT OPTIC YELLOW
Most Guide Signs
GREEN, BLUE, BROWN

7. Sign Shapes Have Meaning
Crossbuck = railroad crossing
Vertical Rectangle = traffic law
Square = traffic law
Horizontal Rectangle = directions or
information
Octagon = stop
Upside-Down Triangle = yield
Diamond = warning
Pentagon = school
Pennant = no passing
Circle = advance notice of railroad crossing

8. Note The Difference …. Winding road
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 raining

9. Divided highway begins SHARP right and left curves
Traffic Signs
What does the sign mean?
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

10. Traffic Signs What does the sign mean? No passing zone ahead
Slow moving vehicle travels 25 mph or less
Lane reserved for high occupancy vehicles
Crossbuck/gate down - Stop and remain stopped until the gate goes up
Construction work zone ahead

11. The Circle Slash
Means whatever is inside the circle slash is not allowed.

12. ** Traffic signals are also known as traffic lights.
Meaning
STEADY RED
Stop. Remain stopped until the signal is no longer red.
STEADY YELLOW
A change is about to occur in the direction of moving traffic.
STEADY GREEN
Go if it is safe to do so.
FLASHING RED
Stop completely before entering the intersection
(Treat it the same as you would a stop sign.)
FLASHING YELLOW
Slow down! Proceed with caution.
STEADY GREEN ARROW
Go in the direction of the arrow if it is safe to do so, but only after yielding to other vehicles and pedestrians.

13. 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 this sign is present

14. 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
You may NOT turn left on red if there is a sign prohibiting it to

15. Traffic Signals - Arrows
You may not proceed in the direction of the red arrow
You may proceed in the direction of the green arrow

16. Traffic Signal vs. Police Officer
If a signal is telling you to do one thing and a police officer directing traffic is telling you another thing…
ALWAYS obey the officer.

17. Railroad Crossing Signs and Signals
LOOK FOR and OBEY all railroad crossing signs and signals
Advance warning signs – a round, yellow sign with a black “ RR” tells you that a highway-rail crossing is ahead--be prepared to stop.
Pavement markings – when you see the “RR” painted on the pavement, be prepared to stop.
STOP signs at railroad crossings – the same laws apply here as for any other intersection regulated by a STOP sign. You must come to a complete stop. If no trains are coming, you may proceed.
Crossbuck signs are like yield signs – You 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. 2 2

18. Railroad Crossing Warnings
LOOK FOR and OBEY all railroad crossing signs and signals
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 he or she gives you the “all clear”
signal.
Train whistle
STOP if you hear a train whistle, or see a train.
Flashing red lights
Bells
Gates
Go only when the gates are up, the lights and bells stop, and all tracks are clear in both directions!

19. Pavement Markings: Center Lines
The color of center lines indicates the direction in which lanes of traffic are moving.
Center lines may be either WHITE OR YELLOW.
WHITE center lines separate lanes of traffic moving in the SAME direction
YELLOW center lines separate lanes of traffic moving in OPPOSITE directions.

20. Pavement Markings: Center Lines
The pattern of center lines indicates whether or not passing is permitted on that roadway.
Center lines may be either SOLID or BROKEN.
A SOLID center line ( ) indicates that passing is NOT permitted.
A BROKEN center line ( ) indicates that passing is permitted, but only if it is safe to do so.

21. Two way traffic pass with caution Two way traffic no passing
Pavement Markings
Yellow Line
Traffic Flow
Two way traffic pass with caution
Two way traffic no passing

22. Broken = pass with caution
Pavement Markings
White Lines
One-way traffic
Traffic Flow
Broken = pass with caution
Stop line
Left turn only - arrow
No passing - solid line

23. Pavement Markings: Center Lines
Center Line Color
Pattern
Meaning
YELLOW
SOLID
Opposite direction traffic; no passing allowed
WHITE
Same direction traffic; no passing allowed
BROKEN
Opposite direction traffic; passing permitted if safe
Same direction traffic; passing permitted if safe
ONE BROKEN, ONE SOLID
Opposite direction traffic; passing permitted only on side with broken line if safe
YELLOW or WHITE
DOUBLE BROKEN
Reversible lanes; switch according to the time of day.

24. Other Pavement Markings
Shared Left Turn Lane
*Used for left turns ONLY
* May only travel 150 feet
crosswalk
stop line
HOV Lane
**Must have a certain number of passengers to use

25. HOV Lanes High Occupancy Vehicle Found around cities
Restricts travel in these lanes to people with a certain number of passengers or more
These lanes have less traffic, move quicker
Encourages carpooling

26. HOV Lanes
If HOV lane is separated by a barrier, it is reversible and can either go into or out of the city, depending on the time of day
Think: I-95
If HOV lane is NOT separated by a barrier, it will not be reversible
Think: I-66

27. Other Pavement Marking: Reversible Lanes
Traffic in these lanes moves in one direction during certain periods of the day and in the opposite direction during other times of the day.
Often found in areas with a large volume of traffic coming in a city during the morning hours and going out during the afternoon hours.

28. Other Pavement Markings
Triangles painted on the pavement show that you must yield
Arrows painted on the pavement indicate the flow of traffic.
This lane may continue straight or turn left
This lane must turn left

29. Otherwise, maintain the posted speed.
Speed Limits
Urban Areas
Rural Interstate
Urban Interstate
School Zones
Maximum speed limit for passenger vehicles and motorcycles
(unless otherwise posted)
Type of Highway or zone
Limit
Interstate highways in designated rural areas
65 MPH
Interstate highways in areas not designated as rural
55 MPH
Limited access and non-limited access highways
Secondary routes which include all public roads and streets not designated as part of the interstate or primary system
School, business and residential zones
25 MPH
You are required to travel 25 MPH in a school zone only when indicated by a sign or signal.
Otherwise, maintain the posted speed.

30. Fixed Speed Limits
Minimum and maximum speeds a car may be driven on a particular road
Drivers may never travel faster than the posted speed
Can be ticketed for driving slower than the posted speed

31. Advisory Speed Limits Provide guidelines based on conditions
Drivers should adjust speed for changes in road or weather conditions
Sign underneath warns of advised max speed

32. Day and Night Speeds Some states have lower speed limits at night
Night driving is more dangerous
Slower speed gives more time

33. Basic Speed Laws
Always drive at a speed that is reasonable and proper for existing conditions
Safe speed is determined by:
Type and condition of road
Traffic, weather, and light
By law, drivers must go slower than minimum posted speed if poor road conditions make that speed unsafe

34. Facts About Speed The Higher the Speed…
Less time to spot dangerous situations
Greater the time and distance needed to stop
Greater the change the car will skid or roll on a turn
Greater the force of impact in a collision
Greater the personal injuries and property damage in a collision.