Traffic Signs, Signals and Road Markings
Reading the road's language
Every regulatory device on a Saudi road belongs to a family, and the family tells you what kind of message to expect. Warning signs are triangles with red borders and black pictograms; they tell you to adjust speed or position, not to stop. Prohibition signs are red circles (no entry, no overtaking, speed limit, no parking). Mandatory signs are blue circles and tell you what you must do - turn left, keep right, minimum speed. Information and direction signs are rectangles, usually green or blue on highways and white in towns. Temporary works signs and markings are yellow.
Traffic lights run red → red and amber → green → amber → red. A steady amber means stop unless stopping would be unsafe; a flashing amber means proceed only if the way is clear.
Markings repeat and reinforce the message. A solid white line must not be crossed; a broken white line may be crossed to change lanes when safe. Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions and mark no-overtaking stretches. Lane arrows commit you to that direction.
Traps and a rule of thumb
Questions love near-misses: "no entry" (red circle, white bar) versus "no vehicles"; "stop" (octagon, must halt) versus "give way" (triangle, halt only if needed). Watch the priority chain - police officer, then traffic light, then sign, then road marking. If a sign and a marking conflict, the sign wins.
Rule of thumb: triangle = think, circle = obey, rectangle = read, octagon = stop.