Signs and Signals
Domain 4 - Signs and signals. This domain tests rapid recognition: sign shape and colour, traffic light modes including the flashing ones, hand signals used when a motorcycle's signals fail, and pavement markings.
Shape and colour
- Red octagon means STOP; inverted red-and-white triangle means YIELD.
- Yellow diamond warns of a hazard ahead.
- Orange means construction or maintenance - obey the posted reduced speed.
- Fluorescent yellow-green pentagon marks a school zone or children at play.
- White rectangles with black text are regulatory: speed limits, turn prohibitions, parking rules.
- Green and blue signs give direction and services.
- A red circle with a slash means the action is prohibited.
- A railway crossbuck (X) means yield to trains; flashing red lights or a lowered gate mean stop.
Traffic lights
- Solid red: stop before the crosswalk or stop line.
- Flashing red: stop, then proceed when safe - it works like a stop sign.
- Solid amber: stop if you can do so safely.
- Flashing amber: proceed with caution and yield to pedestrians.
- Green arrow: protected movement in the direction of the arrow.
- A green light lets you proceed only if the intersection is clear; do not block it.
Hand signals
Left arm straight out means a left turn; left arm bent upward means a right turn; left arm bent downward means slowing or stopping. These are legally required when a signal light is not fitted or not working.
Pavement markings
- Solid yellow means no passing; broken yellow means passing is allowed when safe.
- White lines separate traffic moving the same direction; broken white permits a lane change.
- Stop lines and crosswalk lines mark where you must stop for signals and pedestrians.
Worked example
A rider approaches an intersection where the signal is flashing amber. This is neither a stop sign nor a green light: slow down, check for pedestrians and cross traffic, and continue only when it is clearly safe. If the signal were flashing red, a complete stop would come first.
Traps that cost marks
- Confusing flashing amber with flashing red.
- Reading a school zone pentagon as a general warning sign.
- Ignoring orange construction signs and the reduced limit that comes with them.
- Forgetting a hand signal, or leaving a turn signal flashing after the turn.
Sharing the Road Safely and Hazard Awareness
Domain 5 - Sharing the road safely and hazard awareness. This domain covers the crash patterns that injure riders most often: the oncoming car that turns left across your path, the driver who pulls out because a motorcycle looked far away and small, and the corner that hides gravel.
Being seen
- Ride with the headlight on, and wear bright, high-contrast gear with reflective material at night.
- Stay out of blind spots. If you cannot see the driver's face in their mirror, they cannot see you.
- Choose the lane position that keeps you most visible and gives the best view ahead - often the left third of the lane.
The left-turn trap
The most common motorcycle-versus-car collision is an oncoming vehicle turning left across the rider's path. Cover the brakes, watch the vehicle's front wheels rather than its signal light, and never assume eye contact means the driver has actually seen you.
Space and scanning
- Scan 12 to 20 seconds ahead and always keep an escape route in mind.
- Keep at least a two-second following gap; four or more in rain, at night, or behind a large vehicle.
- Leave room when stopped behind another vehicle, so you are not trapped if the car behind fails to stop.
Surface hazards
- Gravel, sand, wet leaves, tar snakes, painted lines, steel plates and manhole covers all reduce grip. Cross them upright and gently, without braking or leaning on them.
- Railway tracks and expansion joints should be crossed as close to 90 degrees as you can manage.
- Gusts when passing trucks or leaving a tree line can push you sideways; be ready to lean into the wind.
- Deer are most active at dawn and dusk - scan the roadsides.
Worked example
A rider follows a truck toward an intersection where an oncoming car waits to turn left. The car's driver may look past the truck and never register the motorcycle. The correct action is to drop back to widen the gap, shift to a position where the driver can see you, cover the brakes, and be ready to stop.
Traps that cost marks
- Trusting eye contact or a turn signal as proof the driver saw you.
- Riding in the oil-stained centre of the lane.
- Braking while leaned over on gravel or painted lines.
- Tailgating a large vehicle, which removes your view and adds turbulence.