Chapter 3: Rules of the Road

Traffic Control Devices

  • Traffic control devices include traffic signals, signs, pavement markings, and roundabouts. Traffic control can also be provided by law enforcement, highway construction or maintenance personnel, or school crossing guards. You must obey directions from these persons. If a traffic signal is not working, come to a complete stop, then yield to traffic as if it were a four-way stop. Proceed only when you see it is safe or when directed by a police officer, firefighter, or traffic control person.

Traffic Signals

  • Traffic signals are lights that tell you when or where to stop and go. A green light means you can go if it is safe. A yellow light means caution. A red light means stop. Traffic lights are usually at intersections and are red, yellow, and green from top to bottom or left to right. Some intersections in other locations have single green, yellow, or red lights.
  • A green traffic light means you can go through the intersection if it is safe. You must yield to emergency vehicles and others as required by law. If you are stopped and the light turns green, you must allow crossing traffic to clear the intersection before you go ahead. If you are turning left, you may turn but only when safe to do so.
  • Oncoming traffic has the right of way. Be alert for signs that prohibit left turns. A green arrow means you can safely turn in the direction of the arrow. There should be no oncoming or crossing traffic while the arrow is green. When turning right or left, watch for pedestrians or bicyclists crossing in front of your vehicle.
  • You must stop for pedestrians and bicyclists if they are in or within one lane of your half of the roadway. Drivers must take all necessary precautions to avoid injury when approaching users of wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, white canes, and guide dogs or service animals. Drivers who fail to take such precautions may be liable in damages for any injury caused to users of these devices.
  • A steady yellow traffic light means the traffic light is about to change to red. You must stop if it is safe to do so. If you are in the intersection when the yellow light comes on, do not stop but continue through the intersection. A flashing yellow traffic light means slow down and proceed with caution. A yellow arrow means that the protection of a green arrow is ending. If you are turning in the direction of the arrow, you should prepare to stop and give the right of way to oncoming traffic before turning. A flashing yellow arrow means left turns are allowed, but you must yield to oncoming traffic, including bicyclists and pedestrians.
  • A steady red traffic light means stop. You must wait until the traffic light turns green and there is no crossing traffic before you may move ahead. If you are turning right, you may turn after coming to a full stop if it is safe and if there is no sign prohibiting the turn on a red light. You may also turn left onto a one-way street with traffic moving left after coming to a full stop if there is no sign prohibiting turns on a red light. Be careful of pedestrians and bicyclists crossing in front of your vehicle.
  • A flashing red traffic light means the same as a stop sign. You must come to a full stop and then may proceed when it is safe to do so. A red arrow means you must stop and you cannot go in the direction of the arrow. You may proceed when the red arrow goes out and a green arrow or light goes on. If you are turning right, you may turn after coming to a full stop if it is safe and if there is no sign prohibiting the turn on a red arrow. You may also turn left onto a one-way street with traffic moving left after coming to a full stop if there is no sign prohibiting turns on a red arrow when it is safe to do so. Drivers will yield to crossing bicyclists and pedestrians.
  • Traffic signs. Traffic signs tell you about traffic rules, hazards, where you are, how to get where you are going, and where services are located. The shape and color of these signs show the type of information they provide. The inside cover of this guide shows the shape and color of common signs.

Warning Signs

  • Warning signs are usually yellow with black lettering or symbols, and most are diamond-shaped. They warn you to slow down and be prepared to stop if necessary. They warn you of sharp curves, special situations, speed zones, or hazards ahead.
  • Railroad crossing warning signs: Many railroad crossings have signs or signals to warn drivers to slow down and yield to trains. Never try to beat a train across the tracks. Never start to cross until the traffic clears ahead. Wait until there is room on the far side so you will not have to stop on the tracks. It is wise not to shift gears when crossing railroad tracks just in case you stall. Trains are large and may be moving faster than they look. It can take up to a mile for a train to come to a full stop with 100 cars. Trains cannot yield to cars. Be aware that trains can come from opposite directions at the same time.
  • At railroad crossings, common signs include a round yellow warning sign with an X symbol and black RR letters placed along the road before you get to a crossing, and a white X-shaped sign or crossbuck with "railroad crossing" on it located at the crossing. This sign has the same meaning as a yield sign. Side-by-side red lights may flash at crossings to indicate an approaching train. Bells or horns may sound. Do not cross until the bell or horn has stopped. Some crossings have signs indicating the number of tracks; these warn you that there is more than one track.
  • If you approach a railroad crossing and your vehicle becomes disabled on the crossing or you observe an obstruction on the railroad tracks or at the crossing but no train is approaching, call the emergency notification system (ENS). The phone number is on the blue sign attached to the crossing gate. After notifying ENS, call 911 and report the issue to local law enforcement.
  • A reflective orange triangle on the rear of a vehicle means it is traveling less than 25 ext{ mph} and may appear on construction equipment, rural farm vehicles, horse-drawn wagons, or carriages.

Regulatory Signs

  • Regulatory signs are square, rectangular, or have a special shape and are usually white, red, or black with black, red, white, or green letters or symbols. They give information about rules for traffic direction, lane use, turning, speed, parking, and other special situations. Some regulatory signs have a red circle with a red slash over a symbol, prohibiting actions such as no left turn, no right turn, no U-turn, etc.
  • Common types include speed limit signs, which indicate the maximum safe speed allowed or the minimum safe speed required. The maximum limit should be driven only in ideal conditions and you must reduce speed when conditions require it. Some high-speed roads have minimum speed limits; if the minimum posted speed is too fast for you, use another road.
  • Variable speed limit signs are digital signs that post variable speed limits to even out traffic flow and reduce backups. They can close entire lanes and provide warning information before slower traffic, helping reduce collisions. These signs help distribute the flow of traffic more evenly.
  • Lane use control signs tell you where you can go or turn and often use an arrow symbol. They can be located on the side of the road or hanging over the lane of travel. Arrows may be painted on the road as a supplement.
  • No passing signs indicate where passing is not permitted. The beginning and ending of a passing zone are indicated, or you may pass only where signs permit. A triangular no-passing sign may be used on the left side of the road to warn of unseen hazards such as hills and curves. Stop signs (eight-sided, red with white letters) require you to come to a full stop at a marked stop line, or before entering a crosswalk, or at the point closest to the intersecting roadway where you can view approaching traffic. Yield signs (downward-pointing triangles, red and white with red letters) require you to slow down and yield the right of way.
  • A square sign with a white horizontal line inside a red circle means you cannot enter. This appears at openings you should not enter, such as wrong-way exits or crossovers on divided roadways. Disabled parking signs indicate special parking stalls and require a placard or license plate; fines can be 250 for parking without the placard or for blocking access aisles.
  • Traction advisory signs are rectangular with a white background and black letters; they tell you when chains are required, with a 500 penalty for failing to use chains when required.
  • Destination signs are common guide signs, square or rectangular, green or brown with white lettering, showing directions and distances to locations such as cities or state lines, or to special areas such as national parks, historical areas, or museums. Service signs are blue or brown with white letters or symbols showing services like rest areas, gas stations, campgrounds, or hospitals. Route number signs indicate the type of roadway (interstate, US, state, city, or county).

Pavement Markings

  • Lines and symbols on the roadway divide lanes, tell you when you may pass other vehicles or change lanes, which lanes to use for turns, where you must stop for signs or signals, and define pedestrian walkways and bicycle lanes. Edge and lane lines: solid lines along the roadside show the edge of the road or lane.
  • White lane markings:
    • Solid white lines mark edges of two-way roads, the right edge of one-way roads, and separate bicycle lanes from traffic. Do not drive to the right of the edge line or in the bicycle lane.
    • Dashed white lines between lanes allow crossing to change lanes if safe.
    • Solid white lines between lanes mean you should stay in your lane unless a special situation requires you to change.
  • Yellow lane markings:
    • Solid yellow lines mark the left edge of one-way roads and separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
    • A dashed yellow line between opposing lanes means you may cross to pass if safe. Dashed yellow lines indicate passing is permitted when safe; solid lines indicate no passing.
    • When there is both a solid and a dashed yellow line between opposing lanes, you may not pass if the solid line is on your side; if the dashed line is on your side, you are in the passing zone and may pass if safe, returning to your side before the zone ends. Two solid yellow lines mean neither side can pass. You may cross yellow lane markings except medians to turn left if it is safe.
  • Medians: When a highway is divided into two or more roadways, it is illegal to drive within, over, or across the space. This separation can be an open space, a highway divider, or a median island, formed by solid yellow pavement markings or yellow cross hatchings between two solid yellow lines.
  • Crosswalks and stop lines: When required to stop due to a sign or signal, stop before the stop line or crosswalk. Crosswalks define the area where pedestrians and bicyclists may cross; you must yield to pedestrians and bicyclists in or entering a crosswalk. Some crosswalks have in-pavement lights activated by crossing pedestrians; yield when flashing. Every intersection is legally a crosswalk even if not marked.
  • Bicycle lanes: Marked with solid white lines and bike symbols. Some are separated from traffic; protected bike lanes use physical protection (bollards, posts, planters). Bicycle lanes may be filled with green paint. Bicycle boxes provide a safe way for bicyclists to turn when approaching a red light; they are green and show a bicycle image. At intersections, bicyclists stop behind the bicycle box, then may move to the left side of the box to turn left or stay to the right for straight or right turns; a two-stage left turn allows cyclists to cross multiple lanes in two steps: step 1 cross straight on green and stop in the box; step 2 wait for green to proceed.

Roundabouts and Other Traffic Control Devices

  • Roundabouts are intersections where traffic circulates around an island. Approaching vehicles must yield to traffic in the circle; always yield to pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the road. Inside the circle, drive to the right and continue around the circle.
  • How to drive in a roundabout:
    1) Slow down as you approach; roundabouts are designed for speeds 15 ext{ to } 20 ext{ mph}, i.e., 15 ext{ mph} ext{ to } 20 ext{ mph}.
    2) Enter when there is a gap in traffic; once inside, do not stop; follow signs/pavement markings about lane use.
    3) Exit at any street or continue around if you miss your exit.
  • Reversible lanes: Some lanes operate in one direction at certain times and the opposite direction at other times. These lanes are marked with a double-dashed yellow line. Check lane usage signs or overhead signals; green arrow means you can use the lane; red