Traffic Signs, Signals, and Road Markings
Core concepts
Learn signs by shape and color, because test questions often describe only the shape. Octagons are stop signs; inverted triangles are yield; diamonds warn of hazards; pennants mark no-passing zones; round signs mark railroad crossings; and pentagons mark school zones. Red means stop or prohibition, yellow warns, orange marks construction, green gives direction, blue indicates services, and brown marks recreation areas.
Signals: a steady red means stop and remain stopped until green, with a permitted right turn after a full stop unless a sign forbids it. A flashing red is treated as a stop sign; a flashing yellow means slow and proceed with caution. A green arrow gives a protected turn, but you still yield to pedestrians and to vehicles already in the intersection.
Markings carry law. A solid yellow line on your side means no passing; a broken yellow line means passing is allowed when safe. White lines separate lanes going the same direction, and a solid white line marks the edge of the roadway. Double solid yellow means neither direction may pass.
Traps to watch
Questions mix up flashing yellow and flashing red, and they test whether a right on red is automatic. It is not: you must stop, yield, and check for a sign. Don't confuse a warning diamond with a regulatory sign; warnings advise, they don't command.
Worked example
You approach a flashing yellow light at an intersection. Do you stop? No, but you slow down and proceed only when it is safe. Rule of thumb: flashing red equals stop sign; flashing yellow equals caution.