Traffic Signs and Signals: Reading the Road Ahead
Core concepts
Sign questions reward pattern recognition. Regulatory signs are usually rectangular with red circles or red slashes and tell you what you must or must not do: stop, give way, speed limits, no entry, no U-turn. Warning signs are typically yellow diamonds in NSW and alert you to hazards such as curves, crests, pedestrian crossings, wildlife, or slippery surfaces. Guide and information signs are green, blue, or brown and give directions, distances, and facilities. Temporary signs for roadworks are usually orange. Traffic lights follow a fixed order: red, green, yellow, red. A flashing yellow circle means proceed with caution; a flashing red arrow or signal means stop and then proceed only when safe. Arrows on lights apply only to the direction shown.
Traps in questions
Many questions hinge on shape and colour rather than text, so learn the visual code. A red circle with a number is a speed limit, not a suggestion. A yellow diamond is a warning, not a command. Do not confuse a stop sign, where you must stop at the line every time, with a give-way sign, where you stop only if required. Watch for questions about turning on a yellow light: you may proceed only if it is unsafe to stop safely. Lane-use signs and overhead signals can override painted arrows, and a red cross above a lane means that lane is closed.
Worked example
You approach an intersection and the light turns yellow as you near the line. Ask two questions: can I stop safely, and am I already past the point of no return? If you can stop comfortably, stop. If stopping would cause a rear-end collision, proceed carefully. The same logic applies to a flashing yellow signal.