Road Signs, Signals and Road Markings
Road signs, signals and road markings
This domain tests whether you can read the road ahead without being told. Questions cover sign shapes and colours, traffic light phases, police signals, and the meaning of lines and crossings. Sri Lanka uses international-style signs, so the shape and colour often tell you the answer before you read the symbol.
Sign families
- Warning signs: triangles with a red border and black symbol; they warn of a hazard ahead.
- Prohibitory signs: circles with a red border; they forbid an action (no entry, no overtaking, speed limit).
- Mandatory signs: blue circles; they tell you what you must do (turn left, keep left).
- Information signs: rectangles; they give directions, services or place names.
- Stop sign: red octagon; give way sign: inverted triangle with red border.
Traffic lights
Steady red means stop behind the stop line. Steady amber means stop unless you are so close that stopping would be unsafe. Green means proceed only if the way is clear. A flashing amber means proceed with caution. A green arrow permits movement only in the arrow's direction.
Police signals and markings
Obey a police officer's signals even if they contradict a light or sign. A continuous white centre line means do not cross or straddle it; a broken line may be crossed if safe. Double continuous lines may not be crossed from either side. Stop lines, zebra crossings and box junctions must be kept clear.
Worked example
You are behind a slow lorry on a road with a continuous white centre line. The road ahead is clear. You still may not overtake. The continuous line prohibits crossing, regardless of visibility; wait for a broken line or a sign permitting overtaking.
Traps
- Confusing a red-bordered circle (prohibition) with a red-bordered triangle (warning).
- Treating amber as permission to accelerate.
- Crossing a continuous line because "no traffic is coming".
- Ignoring a police officer because the light is green.