Traffic Control Notes

Traffic Control

• Traffic signs provide information about:
  • Traffic rules
  • Special hazards
  • Location, directions, and available services
• Sign shapes and colors indicate the type of information provided.

Sign Types and Meanings

• Regulation Signs
  • Appearance: White rectangles with black letters or symbols; some have different shapes or use red.
  • Function: Indicate traffic rules.
• Warning Signs
  • Appearance: Yellow and diamond-shaped with black letters or symbols.
  • Function: Warn of hazardous locations or special rules.
• Destination Signs
  • Appearance: Green with white letters and symbols.
  • Function: Show direction and distance to locations.
• Service Signs
  • Appearance: Blue with white letters or symbols.
  • Function: Indicate the location of services (e.g., rest areas, gas stations).

Specific Regulation Signs

• Stop Sign
  • Color: Red with white letters.
  • Meaning: Requires a full stop before the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection.
  • Action: Yield right-of-way to vehicles and pedestrians; proceed when safe.
• Yield Sign
  • Color: Red and white with red letters.
  • Meaning: Decrease speed and prepare to stop.
  • Action: Yield right-of-way; stop if necessary due to traffic conditions.
• Other Regulation Signs
  • Color: White with black and/or red letters or symbols.
  • Meaning: Provide rules about traffic direction, lane use, turns, speed, and parking.
  • Red circle with a slash indicates a prohibited action.
  • Rectangular white signs indicate special rules.

Work Area Signs

• Color: Orange with black letters or symbols.
  • Meaning: Indicate people working on or near the roadway.
  • Traffic may be controlled by a flag person.
  • Speed limits can be as low as 25 MPH (40 km/h).
  • Action: Reduce speed and obey flag persons.
  • These Illustrations show some signals a flag person will use. Know and obey them.

Destination Signs

• Color: Green with white letters
• Meaning: Show the direction and distance to locations.

Route Signs

• Color: Varied, indicate interstate, U.S., state, or county routes.
  • Shape indicates the type of route.
  • Action: Use highway maps to plan trips and watch for destination signs.

Service Signs

• Color: Blue with white letters or symbols.
  • Meaning: Show the location of services like rest areas, gas stations, camping, and medical facilities.

Traffic Signals

• Traffic lights are normally red, yellow, and green (top to bottom or left to right).
• Some intersections have lone red, yellow, or green lights.
• Lights can be steady or flashing; round or arrows.
• Out-of-Service Signals: If traffic lights are out of service, treat the intersection as a stop sign.
  • Continue according to right-of-way rules unless directed by a traffic officer.

Traffic Light Meanings

• Steady Red: Stop, do not proceed until the light turns green.
  • Exception: Right turn or left turn from a one-way onto another one-way is permitted after a full stop and yielding, unless prohibited by a sign.
  • Turning on red is not allowed in New York City unless a sign permits it.
  • School buses with pupils cannot turn right on red.
• Flashing Red: Same as a stop sign; stop, yield, and proceed when safe.
• Red Arrow: Do not proceed in the direction of the arrow until it turns off and a green light or arrow appears; no turns on red are permitted.
• Steady Yellow: The light will change from green to red; prepare to stop.
• Flashing Yellow: Proceed with caution.
• Yellow Arrow: The protection of a green arrow will end; prepare to stop if turning.
• Steady Green: Proceed, but yield the right-of-way as required by law.
• Green Arrow: Proceed in the direction of the arrow, yielding the right-of-way as required.

Lane Use Control Lights

• Special lights above pavement indicate lane usage:
  • Steady Red "X": Do not drive in this lane.
  • Steady Yellow "X": Move from this lane.
  • Flashing Yellow "X": This lane is only for left turns.
  • Green Arrow: You can use this lane.

Pavement Markings

• Lines and symbols divide lanes and indicate passing rules, lane usage, and stopping points.
• Arrows indicate required lane usage.

Edge and Lane Lines

• Solid lines on the side of the road indicate the edge; crossing is illegal unless directed by an official or sign.
• Angled edge lines indicate a narrower road ahead.
• White lines separate lanes moving in the same direction.
• Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions.

Lane Line Meanings

• One Broken Line: Passing or lane changes are permitted if safe.
• Solid Line with Broken Line: Passing is not allowed from the solid line side, but permitted from the broken line side if safe.
• Double Solid Lines: Passing or lane changes are prohibited, except to turn left to enter or leave the highway.
• One Solid Line: Passing or lane changes are allowed only when necessary due to obstructions or traffic conditions.

Stop and Crosswalk Lines

• White stop lines or parallel lines (crosswalk) indicate where to stop for signs or signals.
• Action: Stop before the stop line or crosswalk when required by a sign or light.
• Stopping is required at these lines only when indicated by a sign, light, officer, or to yield to pedestrians.
  • Stop before you reach this stop line to provide room for larger vehicles to turn without blocking traffic.

Arrows on Pavement

• Arrows show which lane you must use.
• You must be in the correct lane before you reach the solid line that separates the lanes.

Diamond Symbol

• Indicates reserved lanes for buses, HOV (High Occupancy Vehicles), bicycles, or special vehicles.
• Usage: Only allowed if the vehicle meets occupancy or other requirements indicated by signs.
• On city streets, broken white lines may replace solid lines, allowing non-HOV vehicles to enter to make a right turn at the next intersection.

Traffic Officers

• Directions from traffic officers supersede signs, signals, and pavement markings.
• Examples of authorized personnel: police officers, fire police, highway work area flag persons, school crossing persons, and school bus drivers.

Intersections and Turns

• Most traffic crashes occur at intersections when a driver makes a turn.

Right-of-Way Rules

• Right-of-way rules determine who goes first when traffic conflicts occur.
• A driver approaching an intersection must yield to traffic already in the intersection.
  • Example: A vehicle already making a left turn has the right-of-way over an approaching vehicle going straight.
• At an intersection without signs or signals, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
• A vehicle entering a roadway from a driveway or private road must yield to traffic on the roadway and to pedestrians.
• Drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks.
• Do not enter an intersection if traffic is backed up and you cannot clear the intersection.
• A driver approaching a traffic circle must yield to drivers already in the circle.

Emergency Vehicles

• Yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles (fire, ambulance, police) using flashing lights and sirens.
• Safely pull over to the right edge of the road and stop.
• Move Over Law: Requires drivers to exercise due care and reduce speed to avoid colliding with parked, stopped, or standing vehicles on the shoulder, especially emergency vehicles.

Blue, Green, and Amber Lights

• Blue lights: volunteer fire fighters responding to alarms
• Green lights: volunteer ambulance or rescue squad members
• Amber lights: Hazard vehicles such as snow plows and tow trucks
• Not authorized emergency vehicles but courtesy yielding is suggested if possible.

Turns

• Always signal before turning or changing lanes at least 100 feet (30 m) ahead.
• Signal before braking or making the turn.
• Right Turn: Get as far to the right as possible and turn into the right lane of the new road.
• Left Turn (One-Way to One-Way): Move into the left lane and turn into the left lane of the new road.
• Left Turn (One-Way to Two-Way): Approach in the left lane and enter the two-way road to the right of its center line.
• Left Turn (Two-Way to Two-Way): Approach from the right half of the roadway closest to the center and keep to the right of the center line of the road being entered.
• Left Turn (Two-Way to One-Way): Approach from the right half of the roadway closest to the center and turn into the left lane of the new road.
• Left Turn (Two-Way to Four-Lane Highway): Approach from the right half of the roadway closest to the center and enter the left lane to the right of the center line.

U-Turns

• U-turn definition: Any turn you make so you can proceed in the opposite direction.
• Avoid U-turns on highways unless necessary; use a parking lot or driveway instead.
• U-turns can be made only from the left portion of the lane nearest the centerline.
• U-turns are prohibited near the top of a hill or curve where visibility is less than 500 feet (150 m).
• U-turns are also illegal in business districts of New York City and where NO U-TURN signs are provided.
• Never make a U-turn on a limited access expressway or in a school zone.

Passing

• Drive on the right side of the road; pass on the left when permitted.
• Passing on the right is allowed only in certain circumstances when necessary and safe.

Illegal Passing on the Left

• Solid yellow center line in your lane. Cannot Pass
• Cannot safely return to your lane before a solid yellow center line begins for your lane.
• Cannot safely return to your lane before any oncoming vehicle comes within 200 feet (60 m) of you.
• Within 100 feet (30 m) of a railroad crossing or intersection where your view is obstructed.
• If you try to pass, you will interfere with oncoming traffic.

How To Pass Safely on The Left

• Check mirrors and signal the lane change
• Check look over your left shoulder, through the back side window, to make sure there is no vehicle close behind you in the left lane.
• Move completely into the left lane.
• Signal and look in the rear-view mirror to see the front bumper of the passed vehicle before returning to the right lane passing the vehicle.
• Check see at least several feet of pavement between your vehicle and the one you passed before returning to the right lane.

Passing on the Right

• Allowed only under specific conditions if it is safe:
  • When the vehicle ahead makes a left turn.
  • On a two-way road marked for two or more lanes in each direction.
  • On a one-way road marked for two or more lanes.
• Always check traffic and watch for pedestrians/bicyclists before passing on the right

Being Passed

• Decrease speed slightly and stay centered in your lane.
• If passed frequently on the right, move into the right lane.

School Buses

• Stop when a stopped school bus flashes its red lights.
• Stop at least 20 feet (6 m) away from the bus.
• Wait until the bus moves again or until signaled to proceed.
• This law applies on all roadways in New York State; even on the opposite side of the highway.
• After you stop for a school bus, look for children along the side of the road. Drive slowly until you have passed them.
• Fines for passing a stopped school bus range from a minimum of $250 for a first violation to a maximum of $1,000 for three violations in three years. Three violations in three years will result in license revocation for a minimum of six months.

Stop-Arm Camera Penalties

• First violation - penalty of $250
• Second violation within 18 months - penalty of $275
• Third violation (or more) within 18 months - penalty of $300

Parallel Parking

How To Parallel Park

1. Select a large enough parking space and signal to warn other drivers.
2. Stop next to the vehicle in front of the space, leaving about two feet between vehicles.
3. Look behind you and back slowly. Turn the steering wheel completely toward the near curb.
4. When the front wheels are opposite the back bumper of the vehicle ahead, turn the steering wheel the other way while continuing to back up.
5. Bring your wheels straight and pull forward. Allow room for the vehicles ahead and behind.
6. In your final parking position, your wheels must be no more than one foot (30 cm) from the curb.

Parking Regulations

• Parking: A vehicle is stopped and can be occupied or not other than a temporary stop.
• Standing: Only relates to receiving or discharging passengers.
• Stopping: Bringing the vehicle to a stop even temporarily.

Signage Indications

• NO PARKING sign: You can make a temporary stop to load or discharge merchandise or passengers.
• NO STANDING sign: You can make a temporary stop to load or discharge passengers. The driver cannot exit the vehicle.
• NO STOPPING sign: You can stop only to obey a traffic sign, signal or officer or to prevent conflicts with other vehicles.

Illegal Parking, Stopping, or Standing

• Within 15 feet (5 m) of a fire hydrant, unless a licensed driver remains in the vehicle.
• On the roadside of a parked vehicle ("double parking").
• On a sidewalk or in a crosswalk.
• In an intersection.
• On railroad tracks.
• Within 30 feet (10 m) of a pedestrian safety area, unless another distance is marked.
• On a bridge or in a tunnel.
• In front of a driveway.
• Within 20 feet (6 m) of a crosswalk at an intersection or a fire station driveway, or within 75 feet (23 m) on the opposite side of the road.
• Within 30 feet (10 m) of a traffic light, STOP sign or YIELD sign.
• Along a curb cut for sidewalk access.
• Within 50 feet (15 m) of a railroad crossing.

Reserved Parking for People with Disabilities

• You can park in reserved spaces only if you have a permit or vehicle plates for persons with disabilities and only when the person who received the permit or vehicle plates is in the vehicle.
• Ensure equal access to goods and services for people who have disabilities.
• Illegal to park in spaces without the proper permit.
• Fines: First offense: 50 to 75, second offense within two years: 75 to 150, plus a mandatory surcharge of 30.
• False statement results in license revocation and potential fines or incarceration.
• Penalties of $250 to 1,000 may be issued to the doctor who provides certification of disability.

Defensive Driving

General Points

• Be prepared and look ahead to anticipate other actions which may affect driving.
• Signal your intention with turn signals before taking action.
• Maintain correct speed and a safe distance.
• Wear a seatbelt for crash protection

Distractions

• A distraction is anything that takes your attention away from driving.
• Avoid handheld devices eating, stress emotional passengers while driving.

Aggressive Drivers

• Includes Speeding, quick lane changes without a signal, passing on the shoulder or parts of the roadway that are not paved or being a nuisance to motorists, bicyclists or pedestrians, who don't get out of the way.
• To avoid and prevent road rage, it is sometimes better not to make eye contact with another driver.

When Aggressive Driver Confronts You

• Do not make eye contact.
• Remain calm and relaxed.
• Try to move away safely.
• Do not challenge an aggressive driver with increased speed.
• Wear a seat belt and encourage your passengers to do the same.
• Ignore gestures and shouts and do not return them.
• Report aggressive drivers to law enforcement authority

Road Rage

• Road rage is an angry, hostile state which can increase into violent criminal actions, or attempts of violent actions, that result from the operation of a motor vehicle.
  May result from a stressful situation on the road.

Speed

• Obey the maximum posted speed limit, if no limit is posted, drive no more than 55 mph (88 km/h).
• Watch out for common speed traps.

Space

• Four out of every 10 crashes involve rear-end collisions, normally because a person is following too closely (tailgating).
• Leave a safe distance and give yourself time to react safely.
• Use the two-second rule. Select an object near or above the road ahead like a sign, tree or overpass. As the vehicle ahead passes it, count slowly, "one thousand one, one thousand two."
• If a driver follows you too closely (tailgates) move to another lane if possible, or reduce speed and pull off the road to let the driver go by.

Seatbelts and Airbags

• Seatbelts save lives and prevent serious injuries in traffic crashes.
• The driver must make sure that each passenger under the age of sixteen (16) is properly restrained by a seat belt or appropriate child restraint system. The driver can face a fine of 25 to 100 and receive three points on their driver license for each violation.
• New York is a "primary enforcement" state. A law enforcement officer can issue a traffic ticket for failure to wear a seat belt.
• Air bags are meant to work WITH seat belts, not to replace them.
• NEVER PUT AN INFANT IN A REAR-FACING CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A VEHICLE THAT HAS A PASSENGER AIR BAG.
• You should sit with at least 10 inches between the center of your chest and the cover of the air bag.

Work Zones

• Areas where road work takes place are dangerous to drive in and to work in. That is why when you speed in work zones, ticket fines double.
• Obey signs. Expect to find a work zone wherever you drive. Lanes can shift or be completely closed.

Work Zone Tips

• Some signs indicate a detour to avoid work zones.
• Merge into correct lanes, decrease speed, and keep a safe breaking distance behind traffic.
• Obey the signs until you pass the one that states the work zone has ended.

Roundabouts

• A roundabout is a round intersection with a small diameter that makes drivers decrease speed, normally to 30 mph or less.
• Yield the right-of-way to any pedestrians and bicyclists. You must also yield to any drivers who were in the roundabout before you.
• Use your right turn signal to let the other users know your intention to move from the "inside path" to the "outside path'; or if you are in position to exit now.

Fatigued Driving

• Driving and sleep do not mix. When you are behind the wheel of a car or truck, fatigue is dangerous.

Prevention

• Get sufficient sleep, and plan long trips with a companion and regular stops every 100 miles, or 2 hours.
• Not depend on the radio, open window or other "tricks" to keep you awake.
• Find a safe place to stop for a break in response to symptoms of fatigue.

Cellular & Mobile Telephone Use

• In New York State, it is a traffic infraction to speak into or listen to a hand-held mobile telephone while driving. For a first offense you could pay a fine up to 200 and receive five license points.
• In New York State, a hands-free mobile telephone allows the user to communicate without the use of either hand. A driver can use a hands-free telephone at any time.
• In New York State, it is illegal to use portable electronic devices, such as cell phones and smart phones, to send or receive text messages or e-mails while driving. The penalty for a first offense is a fine of up to 200.

Vehicle Condition

Have inspection/maintenance done a minimum of once a year. Problems needing corrected promptly include:

• BRAKES
• STEERING
• LIGHTS
• TIRES
• GLASS
• HORN

Alcohol and Other Drugs

• When you drink alcohol or take other drugs, safe driving becomes limited.

What Alcohol Can Affect

• Alcohol delays your reaction time, reduces your ability to see clearly, changes your judgment of speed and distances, makes you more confident when you should not be driving at all,
• You do not have to look or feel intoxicated for these things to occur. The symptoms of alcohol consumption can begin long before you become intoxicated.

Other Drugs

• Drugs, which include many prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as illegal substances, can affect your ability to drive. They can have effects similar to alcohol or even worse.
• It is a criminal offense to drive while impaired by the effect of drugs, alcohol, or the combination of alcohol and drugs.
• Drugs can detrimentally affect your reflexes, judgment, vision and alertness and they may have other dangerous effects as well.

Alcohol, Other Drugs and the Law

In New York State, you can be arrested for any of these offenses:

• Aggravated driving while intoxicated (Agg-DWI)
• Driving while intoxicated (DWI)
• Driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more (.08 BAC)
• Driving while ability impaired by a drug (DWAI-drug)
• Driving while ability impaired by alcohol (DWAI)
• Driving under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs.

BAC and How it Affects You

• Your BAC depends on How much alcohol you drink, How much time passes between drinks, Your weight.
• For a 150-pound male, each one of these drinks contains enough alcohol to increase his BAC by about .02 percent. On average, it takes the body approximately one hour to remove that much alcohol.
• The only method to effectively reduce your BAC is to not drink over a period of time.

Chemical Tests

• Chemical tests use blood, breath, urine or saliva to measure the BAC of a person.
• If you are arrested for an alcohol or drug-related violation, the police officer will likely request that you submit to a chemical test. Under New York's "Implied Consent" law, when you drive a car in this state you are considered to have already given your consent to take this type of test.

Repeat Offenders

• Drivers with repeat dangerous driving convictions in New York State face one of the toughest licensing policies in the nation.

• Lifetime Record Review by DMV: DMV will review the lifetime record of all drivers who apply to have a license reinstated after a revocation.

• Permanent License Denial for Persistently Drunk & Dangerous Drivers: After conducting a lifetime record review, DMV will deny any application for reinstatement of a license after revocation if the applicant has:

• Four alcohol or drug-related driving convictions or incidents in their lifetime

Zero Tolerance for Driver's under Age 21

• Under the state's "zero tolerance" law, it is a violation for a person under 21 to drive with any BAC that can be measured (.02 to .07).

The Ignition Interlock Program and Leandra's Law

• Courts must order all persons convicted of driving while intoxicated or aggravated driving while intoxicated, or of a penal law offense for which an alcohol related violation of any provision of section 1192 of the Vehicle & Traffic Law is an essential element to install and maintain an ignition interlock on any vehicle owned or operated by such driver for at least 12 months.

A Few Important Reminders

• If you kill or cause an injury to another person because of an alcohol or other drug-related violation, you can be convicted of criminally negligent homicide, aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter or vehicular assault.
• Call a cab, contact a Ride Share operator, or use public transportation.

Special Driving Conditions

Railroad Crossings

• A grade crossing is the point at which train tracks intersect with a roadway and is considered an intersection.
• Always expect a train. Trains can run on any track, at any time, from either direction.
• When crossing tracks, always stay in your lane and in the same gear.

Emergency Situation

• What should you do if you stall on the tracks, for any reason?
• 1. GET OUT! (That includes EVERYONE in the car, children, babies, an elderly passenger, etc.)
• 2. Get away from the tracks, even if you do not see a train.
• 3. Locate the Emergency Notification System sign and call the number provided, telling them about the stalled vehicle.

Expressway Driving

• "Expressway" means any divided highway where traffic moves in one direction on two or more lanes.
• Before you travel on an expressway, identify your entrance and exit points on a road map. Know where to get on and off the expressway and be prepared to get into the correct lanes for your entrance and exit.

Night Driving

• About 90% of your decisions are based on what you see. At night, you must use extra caution to make up for reduced visibility.
• Your headlights cover about 350 feet ahead. It is important that you drive at a speed that allows you to stop safely within that distance. This is called "driving within the range" of your headlights.
• Dim the headlights for pedestrians who approach you.

Driving in Rain, Fog or Snow

A bit of rain, snow or ice makes roads slippery.

• Reduced speed and increased following distance improve your safety under these conditions.
• Take additional care on curves, turns and expressway ramps. In heavy rain, your tires can begin to ride on the water that is on top of the road pavement.
• New York State law requires you to turn on your headlights when the weather conditions require the use of windshield wipers to clear rain, snow, sleet or fog.

How to Drive in Winter

• Winter is the most difficult season in which to drive. This is due to few hours of daylight, and ice and snow on the roads.
• Make sure your vehicle has good snow tires. Put them on the vehicle before the first storm.
• If your front or real wheels skid, turn the steering wheel in the direction in which the vehicle is trying to go (called "steering into the skid").

Avoid a deer

Two-thirds of all deer-vehicle collisions occur during the months of October, November and December.

• Daily deer activity is highest at dawn and dusk, which often is the highest time of travel for motor-vehicle commuters. Deer travel in groups - if you see one, expect more.
  *Areas where there have been many deer-vehicle collisions often are marked with deer crossing signs.

Driving Emergencies

• The most important rule in any emergency is do not panic.

Type of Emergencies Listed in the Chapoter

• Tire Blow Out
• Loss of a Wheel
• Steering Failure
• Brake Failure
• Running off Pavement
• Stalling on Railroad Tracks
• Going into water
• Headlight failure
• Stuck Gas Pedal
• Vehicle Approaching Head On In Your Lane
• Fire
• Blocked Vision

Sharing the Road

Safety On the Road Summary

• As a driver, you must learn to safely share the road with a variety of other users. These include but are not limited to large vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, pedestrians, bicyclists, in-line skaters, roller skaters, skateboarders, slow-moving vehicles, non-motorized scooters, and horseback riders.

Pedestrians, Skateboarders, and Bicyclists

Look out for children near schools, bus stops, playgrounds, parks, and ice cream trucks. When you back up your car or truck look through your back window for pedestrians.

• The law requires you to be extra careful to avoid a collision with them.

• A special right-of-way law allows blind pedestrians to go across the road with a guide dog or a white or metal cane.

Motorcyclists

A motorcycle defined as "Every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor."

• Motorcycles are smaller than other highway users when compared to other highway users.
• Intersections can be especially dangerous for motorcycles.
• Like bicycles, the air pressure created by vehicles as they quickly pass by can affect motorcycles.

Moped Operators

• Limited use motorcycles, often called mopeds, are low speed, two or three-wheeled vehicles for limited use on public highways.

*Class B and C mopeds can be driven only in the right lane of traffic, as far to the right as possible. Class A mopeds are allowed to drive in any lane and any section of a lane.

Large Vehicles

In more than 60 percent of all fatal crashes involving cars and big trucks, the car driver, not the truck driver, contributes to the cause of the traffic crash.
Different from cars, large vehicles have deep blind spots directly behind them. They also have much larger blind spots on both sides than cars do.
You can reduce the chance of a collision with a large vehicle if you: Do not cut abruptly in front of the large vehicle, Pay close attention to the turn signals Do not delay near a large vehicle. You may not be visible to the driver

Slow Moving Vehicles

• The "slow-moving vehicle" symbol, a reflective orange triangle, must be displayed on the back of vehicles drawn by animals, most farm vehicles, and construction equipment.

Horseback Riders

• Horse riders are subject to, and protected by, the rules of the road. The law requires you to be careful when you approach a horse being ridden or walked along a road.