Route Markers

The illustrations below depict signs which you will see often. They are used to indicate the route on which you are traveling and routes that connect with the highway on which you are driving.

$Click to embed {{ display_name }}$

NOTE: Vandalism and destruction of road signs cost taxpayers thousands of dollars each year and cause confusion and unsafe conditions for you and other travelers.

By FHWA, NCDOT, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

TRAFFIC SIGNALS

Traffic signals are placed at intersections where the volume of intersecting traffic is high. Their purpose is to promote the orderly flow of traffic by assigning right-of-way and to reduce crashes. Remember, traffic signals are effective only when drivers are alert and attentive to their driving.

A traffic signal preemption device is an instrument or mechanism designed to interfere with the operation or cycle of a traffic signal. You may not use or possess a preemption device. You may not alter, deface, damage, knock down, or remove any official traffic-control device, official traffic-monitoring device, or official railroad traffic-control device.

PROTECTED/PERMITTED SIGNALS

A driver turning left may see either the green arrow (protected), or the solid green light (permitted) signal.

Solid Green - Treat the same as any other intersection. Turn left if there are no oncoming cars. The left arrow will not always come on.
Solid Yellow - If you are in the intersection making a left turn when the yellow light appears, proceed as soon as traffic allows and it is safe.
Yellow Arrow - Vehicles making left turns should clear the intersection. The protected phase is about to end.
Green Arrow & Solid Red - Vehicles turning left have the right-of-way and may make a 'protected' turn. Do not go straight.
Green Arrow & Solid Green - Left turn is 'protected.' Vehicles moving straight and turning right may proceed.
RED - You must bring your vehicle to a stop at a clearly marked stop line at the nearest crosswalk or before entering the intersection. Remain stopped until the light turns green. You may make a right turn on a red light after coming to a FULL AND COMPLETE STOP, unless posted otherwise.
YELLOW - Clear the intersection. It is an indication that the light is about to turn red.
GREEN - Proceed if the intersection is clear. Yield to pedestrians and vehicles that are still in the intersection at the time of the light change.
GREEN ARROW LIGHT - Vehicles may proceed only in the direction of the arrow after yielding to vehicles and pedestrians still in the intersection at the time of the light change.
FLASHING RED - COME TO A COMPLETE STOP! Look both ways, yield to traffic and pedestrians and proceed when it is safe to do so.
FLASHING YELLOW - Reduce your speed, exercise caution at the intersection and proceed through the intersection at a reduced speed.
RED ARROW LIGHT - Right turns are prohibited. You must stop and remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown.

SPECIAL SITUATIONS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS

Regardless of what the traffic lights may indicate, you must always obey the instructions of a police or other peace officer at an intersection. For example, if the light is green and an officer tells you to stop, YOU MUST STOP. Also, even if you want to go straight and an officer indicates that you must turn, you are required to turn.

If you approach an intersection at which the traffic lights are not working, you must first COME TO A COMPLETE STOP before entering the intersection and yield the right-of-way to any vehicle on the right unless otherwise directed by a peace officer.

NOTE: “Not working,” means that the traffic lights do not light up.

Traffic collision involving two cars and a bus at an intersection: By Pargon on flickr, CC-BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

PAVEMENT MARKINGS

Pavement markings are useful aids to the driver. They must be understood if you are to drive legally and safely.

STOP LINES AND CROSS WALKS

Stop lines and crosswalks are shown with white lines. The illustration below shows these markings and where you must stop in various situations.

After stopping at the stop line, you may need to slowly move your vehicle forward to a position which provides clear vision in both directions before entering the intersection.

COLOR OF PAVEMENT MARKINGS

The color of lane markings will give you an indication of what type of traffic you can expect to have on the roadway on which you are traveling.

Lanes of traffic going in the same direction are divided
with WHITE lane dividers. Examples would be multi-lane and one-way streets.

Lanes of traffic going in opposite directions are divided with YELLOW lane dividers

PAVEMENT MARKINGS TO REGULATE PASSING

Remember, in both of the below illustrated situations, you may NEVER CROSS A SOLID YELLOW LINE to pass.

In the illustration below, vehicles in the bottom lane may pass because there is a broken line in their lane. However, vehicles traveling in the top lane may not pass because the solid yellow line is in that lane.

NOTE: In the above three illustrations, there is a white line painted on each side of the road. The area to the right of these lines is not meant for normal traffic use.

The single broken line, as shown below, means that traffic going in both directions may pass, but only if it is safe to do so.

PAINTED ISLANDS

The solid double yellow median is a pavement marking that does not designate a lane. These markings show a painted island. DO NOT DRIVE OR STOP IN THIS AREA FOR ANY REASON.

PAVEMENTS MARKINGS INDICATE TURN LANES

The two illustrations to the left are examples of how pavement markings are used to indicate turn lanes. The picture on the left shows typical left and right-turn lanes. Notice the use of painted arrows to show which way traffic may travel. The picture on the right shows a special-purpose left-turn lane. It is reserved for vehicles turning left off of or onto the roadway. You may not use this lane for passing or extended travel. When making a left turn from the two way left turn lane, you may not enter the lane more than 500 ft. prior to making the turn unless the last car is more than 500 feet from the intersection.

This work is licensed under a

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.