Signals and Pavement Markings
Reading the signals
- Solid red: stop at the stop line and stay stopped.
- Flashing red: come to a complete stop, then proceed when safe - it works like a stop sign.
- Solid amber: stop, unless stopping cannot be done safely.
- Flashing amber: proceed with caution.
- Solid green: proceed if the intersection is clear; you must still yield to pedestrians and to vehicles already in the intersection.
- Flashing green: in Nova Scotia this is an advanced green - left-turning traffic has priority and oncoming traffic is stopped.
- Green arrow: protected movement in the arrow's direction only.
Pavement markings
Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions; white lines separate traffic moving the same way. A broken yellow line means you may pass when it is safe. A solid yellow line on your side means no passing. Double solid yellow means neither direction may pass. White lines mark lane dividers, road edges, stop lines, crosswalks and turn arrows. Painted arrows commit you to a turn once you are in that lane.
Worked example
You are behind a slow camper on a two-lane highway. Ahead, the centre line changes from broken yellow to solid yellow on your side as the road climbs to a blind crest. The broken section behind you was legal passing space, but the solid line plus limited sight distance make passing over the crest both unlawful and dangerous. Wait for the broken line and a clear view.
Traps that cost marks
- Rolling through a flashing red as if it were a yield.
- Treating a flashing amber as permission to ignore the intersection.
- Crossing a solid yellow to overtake a cyclist or slow truck.
- Stopping past the stop line and blocking the crosswalk.