Traffic Signals, Markings and Signs
Signal questions look like pure recognition, but they are really about priority: when a police officer, a light, a sign and a line say different things, you must know which one you obey. Expect at least one item that stacks two of these against each other.
Priority order
交通警察手势 > 交通信号灯 > 交通标志 > 交通标线.
Light signals
- Green: proceed, but a turning vehicle still yields to straight-through traffic and to pedestrians.
- Yellow: a vehicle that has already crossed the stop line may continue; one that has not must stop.
- Red: stop. A right turn is permitted at a circular red light when there is no right-turn arrow and no no-right-turn sign, provided you yield to released traffic and pedestrians.
- Flashing yellow: caution - slow down and pass only when it is safe.
- Lane signals: green arrow means the lane is open, red cross means it is closed.
- Pedestrian light: a flashing green means do not start crossing.
Signs by shape and colour
- Warning: yellow ground, black border, black symbol, upward triangle.
- Prohibitory: white ground, red ring and slash, circle - except the octagon for 停车让行 and the inverted triangle for 减速让行.
- Mandatory: blue ground, white symbol, circle or rectangle.
- Guide: blue ground, white text, green on expressways; tourist signs are brown.
Markings
- White dashed lines separate lanes in the same direction and may be crossed; white solid lines may not.
- Yellow dashed lines separate opposing traffic and may be crossed temporarily to overtake or turn; yellow solid and double yellow lines may never be crossed.
- A yellow grid means no stopping; hatched 导流线 areas may not be driven over or parked on.
Worked example
You reach an intersection on a circular red light and want to turn right, with no right-turn arrow and no no-right-turn sign. The turn is legal, but a pedestrian is crossing on a green walking light - you must stop and wait. The turn is permitted; it does not confer a right of way. Had the light been a red right arrow, the turn would be illegal.
Traps
- Treating green as absolute priority.
- Confusing the inverted-triangle 减速让行 sign with the octagonal 停车让行 sign.
- Reading a yellow dashed centre line as a barrier - it is the one centre line you may cross.