ORDER OF PRIORITY OF SIGNS

When several signs or rules contradict each other, the correct order is:

Traffic officers.
Circumstantial and roadworks signage.
Traffic lights.
Vertical signs.
Road markings.

💡 Very important for the exam:

Officers' orders prevail over any other sign.

TRAFFIC OFFICERS

Arm raised vertically

Requires all approaching road users to stop.

Except:

those who cannot stop safely.

Arm extended horizontally

Requires those approaching to stop:

from the front
from behind the arm.

Red or amber swinging light

Indicates:

stop.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS

Red light

No passing.

You must stop:

before the stop line
or before the traffic light.

Steady amber light

Requires you to stop if it can be done safely.

💡 Common mistake:

Steady amber does NOT mean accelerate.

Flashing amber light

Indicates:

caution.

Allows you to pass:

with extreme attention.

Green light

Allows you to pass.

However:

the intersection must not be blocked.

Traffic light arrows

The green arrow:

allows movement only in the indicated direction.

VERTICAL SIGNS

Warning signs

Characteristics:

triangular.
warn of a risk.

Examples:

dangerous curves
roadworks
animals
change of gradient.

💡 DGT tip:

Triangle = danger.

Prohibition signs

Characteristics:

circular with a red border.

They prohibit or limit actions.

Examples:

no overtaking
maximum speed
no entry.

💡 DGT tip:

Red circle = prohibition.

Mandatory signs

Characteristics:

blue and circular.

They require an action to be carried out.

Examples:

mandatory direction
mandatory chains.

💡 DGT tip:

Blue circle = obligation.

Information signs

Characteristics:

rectangular.

They inform or guide.

Examples:

hospital
motorway
petrol station.

💡 DGT tip:

Rectangle = information.

SUPPLEMENTARY PANEL

Adds additional information to a sign:

distance
length
exceptions.

💡 Frequently asked:

The supplementary panel modifies the meaning of the main sign.

MOST IMPORTANT SIGNS IN THE EXAM

STOP

Requires you to:

bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

Even if no one is coming.

GIVE WAY

Requires you to:

let others pass if necessary.

Does not always require stopping.

💡 Key difference:

STOP = always stop.
Give way = only if necessary.

NO ENTRY

Prohibits vehicle access.

WRONG WAY

Prohibits travelling in one direction.

NO OVERTAKING

Overtaking is not allowed.

MAXIMUM SPEED

Indicates the maximum permitted limit.

END OF PROHIBITIONS

Cancels previous restrictions.

ROAD MARKINGS

Solid line

Prohibited:

to cross it
to step on it.

Broken line

May be crossed:

if it is safe.

Double solid line

Strict separation of directions.

It cannot be crossed.

Pedestrian crossing

Area reserved for pedestrians.

You must:

moderate your speed.
give way.

Stop line

The place where the vehicle must stop.

Arrows on the road

They indicate:

permitted direction
obligation to change lane.

Chevron marking

Non-drivable area.

SPECIAL LANES

BUS lane

Usually reserved for public transport.

HOV (VAO) lane

Reserved for high-occupancy vehicles.

Reversible lane

Variable direction regulated by traffic lights.

💡 Frequently asked:

On reversible lanes, dipped headlights must be used.

TEMPORARY AND ROADWORKS SIGNAGE

Temporary yellow signage:

prevails over normal signage.

RIGHT OF WAY

General rule

At unsignalised intersections:

priority is given to the vehicle on the right.

Priority vehicles

They have priority:

ambulances
police
fire brigade.

When operating on an urgent call.

MOST COMMON MISTAKES IN THE EXAM

confusing STOP and Give way
confusing steady and flashing amber
forgetting right-of-way to the right
forgetting that the officer has the highest priority
confusing no entry and wrong way.

ULTRA-QUICK SUMMARY