Traffic Laws, Signs, Signals, and Pavement Markings
Louisiana’s traffic-law questions test whether you can read the road in real time: signs by shape and color, signals, pavement markings, right-of-way, and Louisiana-specific rules such as school buses and the Move Over law.
Signs and signals
- Red octagon = STOP; inverted triangle = YIELD; yellow diamond = warning; white rectangle = regulatory; orange = work zone; green = guide.
- A flashing red signal is a stop sign: stop, yield, then proceed. A flashing yellow means slow and proceed with caution. A steady yellow light warns that the signal is changing; do not speed up to beat it.
- Right turn on red is allowed after a full stop unless a sign prohibits it. A right on red is still a yield to pedestrians and cross traffic.
Pavement markings
A solid yellow center line separates opposite directions and means no passing. Broken yellow allows passing when safe. Double solid yellow means neither direction may pass. White dashed lines separate same-direction lanes; white edge lines mark the roadway edge.
Louisiana-specific rules
School buses with red lights flashing require traffic to stop. On an undivided two-lane road, traffic in both directions must stop and remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing. The Move Over law requires moving over one lane, or slowing to 20 mph below the posted limit if a lane change is unsafe, for stopped emergency, tow, or utility vehicles with flashing lights.
Worked example
You are behind a school bus on a two-lane undivided road. Its yellow lights flash, then red lights flash and the stop arm extends. You must stop at least 10 feet back and wait, even if no child is visible. Passing the bus while red lights are on is a serious violation.
Traps
Rolling through a right turn on red; treating a flashing yellow as a stop; passing on double yellow; failing to stop for an opposing school bus on an undivided road; forgetting the Move Over choice of lane change or 20-mph reduction.