New York State Driver’s Manual – Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing important signs, signals, driving rules, maneuvers, and safety concepts from the New York State Driver’s Manual sections on traffic control, safe driving, alcohol laws, and sharing the road.

Regulation Sign

White rectangle (sometimes other shapes) that lists traffic laws such as speed, turns, lane use, parking, or other requirements.

Warning Sign

Yellow diamond-shaped sign that alerts drivers to hazards or special rules ahead.

Destination Sign

Green sign with white letters that shows direction and distance to locations.

Service Sign

Blue sign with white letters or symbols that identifies nearby services such as gas, food, rest areas, or medical help.

Stop Sign

Red octagon requiring drivers to come to a full stop and yield right-of-way before entering an intersection.

Yield Sign

Red-and-white inverted triangle directing drivers to slow, prepare to stop, and yield right-of-way if necessary.

Work-Area Sign

Orange sign warning that people and equipment are on or near the roadway; reduced speed and flag-person instructions apply.

Route Sign

Sign (different shapes/colors) that designates interstate, U.S., state, or county highways.

Traffic Signal

Any red, yellow, or green light that controls vehicle and pedestrian movement at intersections or lanes.

Steady Red

Traffic light meaning STOP; turns are allowed only where permitted after full stop and yielding.

Flashing Red

Light that means the same as a stop sign—stop, yield, proceed when safe.

Red Arrow

Arrow light prohibiting movement in the arrow’s direction until it turns green.

Steady Yellow

Light warning that the signal is about to turn red; prepare to stop.

Flashing Yellow

Light instructing drivers to proceed with caution; no complete stop required.

Yellow Arrow

Indicates the protected green-arrow phase is ending; prepare to stop if turning in that direction.

Steady Green

Signal allowing drivers to go after yielding any required right-of-way.

Green Arrow

Permits movement only in the arrow’s direction; still must yield to traffic and pedestrians.

Lane-Use Control Light

Overhead signal (red X, yellow X, flashing yellow X, green arrow) showing which highway lanes may be used.

Edge Line

Solid line along road edge separating travel lane from shoulder; illegal to cross except when directed.

One Broken Line

Center/ lane line indicating passing or lane change is allowed when safe.

Solid Line with Broken Line

Passing allowed only from the side with the broken line; prohibited from the solid-line side except for left turns.

Double Solid Lines

Marking that prohibits lane changes or passing from either direction except left turns into/out of driveways.

One Solid Line

Discourages lane changes; they are allowed only when necessary due to obstruction or traffic conditions.

Stop Line

Wide white line across a lane showing where a vehicle must stop at a sign or signal.

Crosswalk

Pair of parallel lines (marked or unmarked) indicating pedestrian crossing area; vehicles must yield.

Diamond Symbol

Pavement marking designating lanes reserved for buses, HOVs, bicycles, or other special vehicles.

Right-of-Way

Rules that determine which driver, pedestrian, or cyclist must yield so others may proceed first.

Move Over Law

Requires drivers to slow and, on multi-lane roads, change lanes away from stopped emergency or hazard vehicles with lights on.

HOV Lane

High-Occupancy Vehicle lane reserved for cars with multiple occupants, buses, or other designated vehicles during posted hours.

U-Turn

Turn made to proceed in the opposite direction; prohibited where signs ban it, on limited-access roads, hills, curves, NYC business districts, and school zones.

Three-Point Turn

Maneuver used on narrow two-way streets to reverse direction by moving forward, backing, then moving forward again.

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)

Percentage of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream; .08% is legal intoxication, .18% is Aggravated DWI in NY.

Implied Consent Law

NY law stating that licensed drivers agree to chemical testing for alcohol/drugs if arrested for impaired driving; refusal leads to license revocation and civil penalties.

Zero Tolerance Law

Makes it illegal for drivers under 21 to operate with a BAC of .02–.07%; results in license suspension and fines.

Agg-DWI

Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated—offense for operating with BAC .18% or higher; carries higher fines and revocation.

DWI

Driving While Intoxicated—operating with BAC .08% or higher or while intoxicated by alcohol.

DWAI

Driving While Ability Impaired; by alcohol (BAC .05–.07) or by drugs; lower threshold than DWI but still illegal.

Blind Spot

Area around a vehicle that cannot be seen in mirrors; requires turning the head before changing lanes.

Hydroplaning

Loss of traction caused when tires ride on a film of water, leading to loss of steering/stopping control.

No-Zone

Large blind-spot areas around trucks and buses where cars disappear from the driver’s view; avoid lingering there.

Slow-Moving Vehicle Symbol

Fluorescent orange triangle displayed on the rear of vehicles that move at 25 mph or less, such as farm machinery.