Signs, Signals, and Markings

Session Goals
1. Understand what traffic control devices are and why they are
important.
2. Understand the many factors that influence their ability to observe,
recognize, understand and react to traffic control devices.
3. Understand why correct application of right of way rules is important.
4. Demonstrate the ability to observe, recognize, understand and react to
the three types of traffic control devices: signs, signals, and markings
behind the wheel.
5. Demonstrate the ability to implement proper right of way in different
situations behind the wheel.
Key Vocabulary and Topics
Colors for Traffic Signs: Shapes for Traffic Signs:
• Red • Octagon
• Yellow
• Triangle
• White
• Black • Diamond
• Green • Circular
• Brown • Pentagon
• Blue
• Rectangle
• Orange
• Fluorescent Yellow
• Fluorescent Pink
Key Vocabulary and Topics
Types Traffic Signs: Traffic Signals:
• Regulatory • Steady red/ yellow/green
• Flashing red /yellow
• Warning
• Flashing yellow arrow
• Construction
• Red “X” and arrow
• Guide • Yellow “X” and arrow
• Incident • Green arrow
• Chevron • Pedestrian signals, countdown
timers
• Multiple left turn lanes
• Multiple right turn lanes
Key Vocabulary and Topics
Pavement Markings: Special Vehicle Lights:
• White lines (solid or broken • Side markers
• Yellow lines
• Vehicle back- up lights
• Double solid yellow lines
• License plate light
• Solid yellow line with a broken
yellow line (on your side of center • Vehicle turn signals
line)
• High mounted brake lights
• Solid yellow line with a broken
yellow line (on far side of center) • Parking lights
• Blue curb or red curb
• Lane marker arrows
• Bicycle paths
Traffic Control Device
Traffic control devices provide information about the condition and shape
of the road ahead, laws that govern the roads, and hazards ahead.

They include:
• Pavement markings
• Signal lights
• Traffic lights

They help to improve safety on the road by allowing for the organized and
foreseeable movement of traffic.
Recognizing Traffic Control Devices
Why are the below characteristics of traffic control devices important….

• Color?
• Shape?
• Words?
• Placement?
Traffic Signs
The shape and color of traffic signs give indications of the information they
can provide including traffic rules, special hazards, your location, how to
get where you are going, and where services are available.
Common Traffic Signs and Meanings
Stop Sign (Regulation)

Color: Red with white letters

Meaning:
• Come to a full stop. Yield the right-of-way to vehicles and pedestrians in or
heading towards the intersection. Go when it is safe.
• You must come to a full stop before the stop line if there is one. If not, you
must stop before the crosswalk.
• If there isn’t a stop line or crosswalk, you must stop before you enter the
intersection, at the point nearest the intersection that gives you a view of
traffic on the intersecting roadway.
Common Traffic Signs and Meanings
Yield Sign (Regulation)

Color: Red and white with red letters

Meaning:
• Decrease speed as you reach the intersection. Prepare to stop and yield
the right-of-way to vehicles and pedestrians in or heading toward the
intersection
• You must come to a full stop at YIELD sign IF traffic conditions require it.
When you approach a YIELD sign, check carefully for traffic and be
prepared to stop.
Common Traffic Signs and Meanings
Other Regulation Signs

Color: White, with black and/or red letters or symbols

Meaning:
• These signs give information about rules for traffic direction, lane use,
turns, speed, parking, and other special requirements
• Some regulation signs have a red circle with a slash over a symbol. This
indicates that an action, like a right turn, is not allowed or that some
vehicles are restricted from the road. Rectangular white signs with black
or red letters or symbols are indications to be alert for special rules.
Common Traffic Signs and Meanings
Warning Signs

Color: Yellow, with black letters or symbols

Meaning:
• You are approaching a hazardous location or a location where there is a
special rule
• A warning sign can be accompanied by a yellow and black
“recommended speed” sign, indicating reduced speed is advise.
Common Traffic Signs and Meanings
Work Area Signs

Color: Orange, with black letters or symbols

Meaning:
• People are at work on or near the roadway; traffic can be controlled by a
flag person
• A work area speed limit as low as 25 can be posted. Even if no speed
limit is provided, you must drive at a reduced speed through the work
zone and you must always obey the flag persons.
Common Traffic Signs and Meanings
Service Signs

Color: Blue, with white letters or symbols

Meaning:
• Show the location of services like rest areas, gas stations, camping and
medical facilities.
Common Traffic Signs and Meanings
Destination Signs

Color: Green, with white letters

Meaning:
• Show the direction and distance to locations
Traffic Lights
• Usually red, yellow, green from top to bottom or left to right

• Traffic signals indicate who has the right of way at an intersection

• If traffic lights are out of service or not operating correctly when you
approach an intersection, you must come to a stop as you would for a
stop sign. You must then continue according to the rules of right-of-way,
unless you are told to continue by a traffic officer.
Traffic Lights and What They Indicate
Pedestrian Signals
• Designed to allow pedestrians to cross streets safely

• Some signals are automatic, some must be activated by pushing a button

• Many have audible indications that corresponds with the countdown.

Pavement Markings
What colors are used in pavement markings?

What do pavements markings do?

• Indicate when passing or lane changing is allowed
• Designate turn lanes
• Where to stop for traffic signs and signals
• Direction of traffic
Edge and Lane Lines
Solid lines along the - Tells you where the edge is, where the travel lane
edge ends and the shoulder begins
- Illegal to drive across
- Angled edge lines that move towards the center
indicate the road is narrower ahead
White lines - Driver will always drive on the left side of white
lines
- Multiple white lines indicate multiple lanes of
traffic going in same direction
Yellow lines - Driver will always drive on the right side
- Oncoming traffic should be expected left of line
Solid White Lines that - Pedestrian crosswalks
Run Across Lanes of - Stopping line
Traffic
White Pavement Markings
Solid White Line • Tells you where the edge is, where the travel lane
ends and the shoulder begins (also called the fog line)

Dashed White • You can pass

Line • Usually indicates multiple lanes of traffic

White Arrows • Indicates the direction drivers should move

Double White • Separate travel lanes

Line • Can not change lanes for any reason

White Words • Provides information for the driver

Yellow Pavement Markings
Solid Single Yellow Line • If located on left edge, you are traveling on a divided highway or
one-way street
• Marks the edge of a median or divider

Double Solid Yellow Line • Traffic is traveling in both directions

• You cannot pass on either side

Single Dashed Yellow Line • Traffic is traveling in both directions

• Both drivers can pass

Double line where one line is • Traffic is traveling in both directions

solid and the other is dashed • Vehicles directly to the right of dashed line can pass
• Vehicles directly to the right of the solid line cannot pass

Double Dashed Yellow Lanes • Reversible traffic lanes

Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pavement Markings

Western Oregon University. Oregon Driver Risk Prevention

Curriculum Playbook. Oregon Department of Transportation.
Right-of-Way
• Traffic signs, signals, and markings don’t always resolve traffic conflicts
• Right-of-way rules help to address these conflicts. They tell you how
traffic should proceed in different conditions.
General Right-of-Way Rules
• A driver who approaches an intersection must yield the right-of-way to
traffic that is in the intersection.

• If drivers approaching from opposite directions reach an intersection at

about the same time, a driver that turns left must yield to traffic that
moves straight or turns right.

• At intersections not controlled by signs or signals, or where two or more

drivers stop at STOP signs at the same time and they are at right angles,
the driver on the left must yield the right-of-way to the driver on the
right.
General Right-of-Way Rules
• A vehicle that enters a roadway from a driveway, alley, private road, or
another place that is not a roadway, must stop and yield the right-of-way
to traffic on the roadway and to pedestrians.

• Drivers must yield to pedestrians who legally use marked or unmarked

crosswalks. This means you must slow down or stop if necessary.

• You cannot enter an intersection if traffic is backed up on the other side

and you cannot get completely through the intersection. Wait until
traffic ahead clears, so you do not block the intersection.
General Right-of-Way Rules
• Be alert to cross-streets or offset intersections so that you don’t cause
gridlock by blocking another street.

• A driver who enters a traffic circle or rotary must yield the right-of-way to
drivers already in the circle.
Intersections

Watch the video “Intersections: Rules of the Road” by the

California DMV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHFpGAmgct4
Review
• What shape does a regulation sign typically have?
Rectangular

• What type of pavement marking shows you which lane you must use for
a turn?
Arrow

• Which of the following must you obey over the other three: Red light,
flashing red light, stop sign, or police officer.
Police Officer
Review
What do these lines indicate?

One broken: You can pass other vehicles or change lanes if you can do so safely without interfering
with traffic.

One solid: You can pass other vehicles or change lanes, but you can only do so when obstructions in
the road or traffic conditions make it necessary.

Double solid: You cannot pass or change lanes. You cannot go across the lines except to turn left to
enter or leave the highway (e.g., to or from a driveway or to do a U-turn).

Solid and broken together: If you are on the side with the solid line, you cannot pass other vehicles
or go across the line except to make a left turn into a driveway. If you are on the side with the
broken line, you can pass if it is safe to and you will not interfere with traffic.
Review
• You are at a green light, but traffic on the other side of the intersection
does not allow you to pass all the way through the intersection. Can you
enter the intersection?
No

• Does a vehicle prepared to enter a traffic circle have right-of-way over

vehicles in the circle?
No
References
• New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. New York State Driver’s
Manual.