Road signs, signals and road markings
Road signs, signals and road markings carry more marks on the LTA knowledge test than any other topic. Questions usually ask you to identify a sign from its shape or colour, obey a marking, or decide what a signal requires at a particular moment.
The three sign families
- Regulatory signs give orders: speed limits, no entry, stop, give way, no overtaking. Disobeying one is an offence.
- Warning signs flag hazards ahead (bends, junctions, crossings, livestock) and tell you to adjust speed and position.
- Information signs give directions, distances and services.
Shape and colour
- Red circle: prohibition or restriction. A number inside is a maximum speed, never a minimum.
- Blue circle: a mandatory instruction, such as keep left.
- Octagon: STOP only. Inverted triangle: GIVE WAY only. The shape should trigger the action before you read the words.
- Yellow background with a black symbol: hazard warning.
Signals
- Red: stop behind the stop line, or before the crossing if there is no line.
- Amber: stop, unless you are so close that stopping would be more dangerous.
- Green: proceed only if the road beyond is clear. Green is not an absolute right of way over pedestrians, and it does not let you block a junction.
- Green arrow: proceed in that direction, giving way to anyone already lawfully there.
- Signals off or flashing amber: treat the intersection as uncontrolled and apply give-way rules.
Markings
- Solid white centre line: do not cross or straddle it to overtake.
- Broken white centre line: you may cross to overtake when it is safe.
- Stop line is solid; give-way line is dashed. Stopping at the wrong one costs marks.
- Double yellow lines at the kerb: no parking. Zebra crossing: no stopping on it, and give way to pedestrians on it.
Worked example
You approach an intersection on green, but traffic beyond the junction is queued and your exit is blocked. Do you go? No. Entering would strand you across the junction, blocking cross traffic and the crossing when the lights change. Wait behind the stop line until there is room to clear the intersection completely, even if the light turns amber while you wait.
Traps
- Reading a speed sign as a minimum.
- Treating green as a guarantee of right of way.
- Confusing stop lines with give-way lines, or crossing a solid line only 'a little'.