Signs

The Hierarchy of Traffic Signals

Understanding the order of priority among different types of traffic signals is fundamental for road safety. When signals conflict, you must obey the one with the highest priority. The hierarchy is as follows:

1. Signals and orders from Traffic Officers.
2. Circumstantial signs and temporary markings (e.g., cones, roadworks signs).
3. Traffic lights (luminous signals).
4. Vertical traffic signs.
5. Road markings (horizontal signals).

In the absence of any specific signs at an intersection, the default rule is to give way to vehicles approaching from your right.

1. Traffic Officer Signals

An officer's instructions are the highest authority on the road and must be obeyed immediately, even if they contradict other signs, lights, or rules. Officers must be visible from at least 150 metres away.

• Arm raised vertically: All road users approaching the officer must stop safely. This signal remains in effect until the officer changes position or makes another signal.
• Arms extended horizontally: Requires users approaching from the front or rear (whose path would cross the line of the arms) to stop.
• Arm extended downward at an angle: Orders you to stop on the right-hand side of the road in a safe location.
• Swinging a red or yellow light: Orders the road users towards whom the light is directed to stop.
• Flags: A red flag means the road is closed to all traffic. A green flag means the road is reopened. A yellow flag warns of imminent danger and requires extreme caution.
• Whistle blasts: One long whistle blast orders traffic to resume movement.

2. Circumstantial and Temporary Signs

These signs are used for temporary situations like roadworks, accidents, or special events. They take precedence over all other signals except for traffic officers.

• Roadworks Signs: These signs have a yellow background but retain the shape and meaning of their permanent counterparts. They indicate hazards like bends, narrowing lanes, or loose chippings within the work zone.
• Roadworks Markings: Yellow road markings are used in work zones and override any existing white markings.
• Cones, Flags, and Panels: Devices like cones, small flags, or red-striped temporary panels form a line that is prohibited to cross. Directional panels prohibit passage and indicate the mandatory direction of traffic.
• Variable Message Panels: These electronic signs can provide warnings, information, and mandatory instructions that adapt to changing traffic conditions.

3. Traffic Lights (Luminous Signals)

Traffic lights regulate traffic flow at intersections and take precedence over vertical signs and road markings.

• Red Light: A steady red light prohibits entry. You must stop before the transverse stop line. A red light at a tunnel entrance also prohibits entry. A red 'X' over a lane means you must leave that lane as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Steady Amber (Yellow) Light: This light means you must stop, just like a red light, unless you are so close to the intersection that stopping safely is impossible.
• Flashing Amber Light: Proceed with extreme caution and yield to other road users as required by other signs or general priority rules. A flashing amber light does not override a STOP sign.
• Green Light: A green light grants priority passage. However, you must not enter an intersection (including a yellow grid) if you risk getting stuck and blocking cross-traffic.
• Green Arrow Light: Allows you to proceed in the direction of the arrow, regardless of other lights. However, you must proceed with caution and yield to any traffic already in the lane you are joining. A green arrow does not override a STOP or Yield sign.
• Specialised Lights:
  • Lights with a bicycle silhouette apply exclusively to cycles.
  • Lights with a white stripe on a black background (bar-shaped) apply exclusively to trams and scheduled buses.
  • If traffic lights are positioned only on the left, they apply to vehicles going straight or turning left. Those turning right must obey signals on the right.

4. Vertical Signs

Vertical signs are the most common form of traffic regulation. They are categorised by their shape and colour.

Warning Signs (Triangular with Red Border)

These signs alert you to a potential hazard ahead.

• General Danger (Exclamation Mark): Warns of a hazard not covered by a specific sign.
• Intersections: A sign showing a cross warns of an upcoming intersection where the priority-to-the-right rule applies. Other signs indicate priority roads, showing the main road with a thick line.
• Physical Road Conditions: Signs warn of dangerous bends, a succession of curves, steep downhill gradients (shown as a percentage), road narrowing, bumps or uneven surfaces, and slippery roads (due to rain, ice, or snow).
• External Hazards: Signs can warn of pedestrian crossings, cyclist crossings, free-roaming animals (domestic or wild), loose gravel projections, strong crosswinds, and reduced visibility (fog, rain).
• Level Crossings: Signs warn of upcoming railway crossings, indicating whether they have barriers or are unguarded, and if there are single or multiple tracks (double-X sign).

Regulatory Signs (Circular)

These signs impose a rule or obligation.

• Prohibition Signs (Red Border): These forbid certain actions or entry for certain vehicles.
  • Speed Limit: A number in a red circle indicates the maximum permitted speed in km/h. This limit must never be exceeded, even when overtaking. It ends at an 'end-of-limit' sign, an 'end-of-all-prohibitions' sign, or a new speed limit sign. If posted with a hazard sign, the limit applies only for the duration of that hazard.
  • No Overtaking: Forbids overtaking motor vehicles, often ending only at a specific 'end of no overtaking' sign. A sign showing a truck forbids vehicles over 3,500 kg MAM from overtaking.
  • No Stopping/Parking: A single diagonal bar prohibits parking but allows stopping. A cross prohibits both stopping and parking. These signs apply only to the side of the road where they are placed, until the next intersection.
  • Vehicle Restrictions: Signs can prohibit entry based on vehicle type (e.g., mopeds, goods vehicles, pedestrians), width, height, length, or laden mass.
  • No U-Turn / No Left Turn: A 'no U-turn' sign does not prohibit a left turn. However, a 'no left turn' sign also prohibits making a U-turn.
• Mandatory Signs (Blue Circle): These require a specific action.
  • Mandatory Direction: An arrow indicates the only direction(s) you are permitted to travel.
  • Minimum Speed: Requires you to travel at or above the indicated speed, conditions permitting. Even when meeting this speed, you should use the right-hand lane when possible.
  • Reserved Roads/Lanes: Signs with pictograms (e.g., bicycle, moped, motor vehicle) designate a road or lane for the exclusive use of that vehicle type.
  • Snow Chains: Requires the use of snow chains or other authorised anti-skid devices.

Priority Signs

• STOP Sign (Octagonal): You must come to a complete stop before the transverse stop line and yield to all traffic on the intersecting road before proceeding.
• Yield/Give Way Sign (Inverted Triangle): You must give way to traffic on the road you are joining or crossing. You only need to stop if necessary to yield safely.
• Priority Road Sign (Yellow Diamond): Grants you priority at all upcoming intersections on this road until an 'end of priority road' sign is shown.
• Priority over Oncoming Traffic (Blue Square): Gives you right of way through a narrow passage. The opposing sign is a red circle, requiring oncoming traffic to yield to you.

Indication Signs (Square or Rectangular)

These signs provide information, directions, or guidance.

• Road Type: Signs indicate the start and end of motorways, dual carriageways, tunnels, or residential zones.
• Lane Information: Signs can show the number of lanes, which lanes are ending or forking, and the permitted directions for each lane.
• Direction and Destination: Advance direction signs show upcoming exits and destinations. On motorways, these signs are blue. For conventional roads, they are white.
• Services: Signs indicate the location of rest areas, service stations, emergency lay-bys, and hospitals.

Supplementary Panels

Small panels placed below a main sign modify its meaning.

• Distance Panel (e.g., '150 m'): Indicates the distance to the start of the hazard or regulation. A yield sign with a distance panel often pre-signals an upcoming mandatory STOP.
• Length Panel (with two side arrows): Indicates the length of the road over which the hazard or regulation extends.
• Condition Panels (e.g., rain, fog symbol): The main sign applies only under those specific weather conditions.
• Vehicle Panels: A pictogram of a vehicle (e.g., a truck) means the sign applies only to that type of vehicle.

5. Road Markings (Horizontal Signals)

Markings painted on the road surface provide guidance and rules. When they conflict with vertical signs, the vertical signs take precedence.

• Longitudinal Lines:
  • Continuous Line: Must not be crossed or driven on. It prohibits overtaking or turning left across it.
  • Broken Line: May be crossed for overtaking or changing lanes when it is safe to do so.
  • Closely Spaced Dashes: A broken line with shorter gaps warns of an approaching continuous line or a section with special risk.
  • Combined Continuous and Broken Line: You must obey the line closest to your lane.
  • Wider Lines: A noticeably wider continuous or broken line marks a special lane (e.g., a bus lane).
• Transverse Lines:
  • Continuous Stop Line: Shows where you must stop for a STOP sign, traffic light, or officer. It must not be crossed while stopped.
  • Broken Yield Line: Shows where to yield, if necessary, for a Yield sign.
• Other Markings:
  • Lane Arrows: Indicate the mandatory direction(s) of travel from that lane.
  • Speed Limits: A speed limit painted within a lane applies only to that lane.
  • Yellow Grid Junction: Do not enter this area if you cannot clear it without stopping, as this would block the intersection.
  • Yellow Kerb Lines: A continuous yellow line prohibits stopping and parking. A broken yellow line prohibits parking but allows brief stops (under two minutes, driver present).
  • Blue Parking Bays: Indicate a limited-duration parking zone, often requiring payment.