Every Highway User's Guide to Driving Safely
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
READ THE ROAD
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Signs, signals, and markings are the way every road communicates with highway users. Even the earliest explorers, and the Native Americans.
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Every Highway User's Guide to Driving Safely
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
READ THE ROAD
TRIVIA EN ROUTE
Who owns, operates, and maintains
the Interstate highway system?
Answer at the bottom of the page
The Language of the Road
Signs, signals, and markings are the way every road communicates with highway users. Even the earliest explorers, and the Native Americans before them, had signs and markings to help them follow trails. Being skilled at reading trail markings was essential then. It still is now!
When you learn to read the subtle messages of the road, you will be more skilled - and safer - while exploring the great American highway system. Understanding the language of the road will serve you far from home on trips and on the streets of your own home town.
Signs, signals, and pavement markings are the language of the road. They communicate with color, shape, and placement. You may already know the basic language, but there is more to learn.
Safety Is Up to You
Good highway design can only do so much to ensure safety. Signs, signals, and markings are a constantly unfolding guide book for drivers, day and night and in all kinds of weather. But in the end, safety is the responsibility of every driver.
TRIVIA EN ROUTE
Yellow lines on the road separate
traffic traveling in the same direction
or in opposite directions?
Answer at the bottom of the page
Colored markings on the pavement give drivers
important safety cues. What pavement markings
have to tell you can even save your life. You
probably know about most pavement markings, but
here are a few tips and reminders every motorist
can use.
White on Your Right, Yellow on
Your Left
The two colors used for most pavement markings are yellow and white. Almost every kind of paved roadway, from two-lane roads to freeways, communicates with yellow lines and white lines.
The color carries the marking's message. Remember:
l White lines separate traffic traveling in the same direction and mark the right edge of freeways and ramps.
l Yellow lines generally separate traffic traveling in opposite directions - and they mark the left edge of divided highways and ramps.
TIP: If you ever see a yellow line on the right edge of a divided highway or a ramp, you're are going the wrong way!!!
Because solid white lines are used to mark the right edge, check
for "white on your right" on any divided highway or ramp you enter to make sure you're traveling in the correct direction.
Solid white lines are also used as visual barriers to discourage lane changing in certain critical situations - such as where turn lanes are added to the roadway at intersections, and where vehicles are entering or leaving a freeway.
Dashed white lines separate traffic going in the same direction on roads with multiple lanes.
Yellow Lines and the ABCs of
Passing on a Two-Lane Road
A. Double solid yellow center lines mean no passing is allowed in
either direction.
B. A single dashed yellow center line tells you that you are
allowed to pass other vehicles if the road ahead is clear; but vehicles coming the opposite direction are allowed to pass, too.
C. A combination of solid and dashed yellow center lines
communicates two messages:
TRIVIA EN ROUTE
What does a diamond- shaped sign
mean?
Answer at the bottom of the page
While traveling on freeways, you see a lot of signs.
You may think you know most of them, but some
might cause confusion. And, given the high speeds
and rapid decisions required on freeways,
understanding and knowing how to read all the
signs will help you travel more safely; since you'll
know in advance what to expect.
Common Traffic and Pedestrian
Signals
Regulatory Signs
Warning Signs
Motorist Information Signs
Guide Signs
Signs used at pedestrian, bicycle, and school crossings have a new color. Look for it. It's called fluorescent strong yellow- green and it's easier to see than the yellow signs you are familiar with, especially in twilight or overcast conditions. That's why this special color of paint has been chosen for signs in areas where pedestrians and bicyclists are most at risk.
When you are driving and you see this unique strong yellow- green color on any crossing sign, be especially cautious. Watch carefully for pedestrians, school children, bicyclists, and others who may be trying to cross the road.
Less Well-Known Freeway Signs
LEFT EXIT
Most freeway exits are on the right, but occasionally there will be a left exit. Exiting from the left calls for extra caution; because the left lane is the lane where vehicles travel at higher speeds. That's why it helps to have plenty of advance warning of the occasional left exit.
Most of the time a special yellow EXIT ONLY panel will be added to the bottom of the freeway guide sign. But there's also another clue that's often used. It's in the way the exit number panel is positioned above the freeway guide sign. Look up to see where the small green exit number panel is positioned. Most are on the right side. But if the exit number panel is on the left, then the exit will also be on the left.
Knowing how to read the position of the panel gives you extra time to move safely into the left lane to exit; or, if you are not exiting, to be alert for vehicles that are and to make way for them so they can change lanes safely.
EXIT ONLY A yellow exit only panel below a green freeway guide sign means that the
l If you are on the entrance ramp, accelerate in the added lane to safe freeway driving speed. You do not have to merge with freeway traffic.
l If you are on the freeway, be aware that traffic may still try to merge because some drivers are not familiar with the lane added situation.
CHEVRON SIGNSÐCURVE AHEAD Chevron signs warn of a sharp curve in the road. Because these chevron signs are a fairly new addition to the American road, some drivers may not know exactly what message they're communicating.
Chevrons mean that you should adopt a safe speed to take a sharp curve in the direction in which they are pointing. Watch for advisory signs with suggested safe speed limits.
TRIVIA EN ROUTE ANSWER
A diamond-shaped sign always means
warning!
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
TRIVIA EN ROUTE
What color is a standard DONT WALK
signal?
Answer at the bottom of the page
While traveling on freeways, you see a lot of signs.
You may think you know most of them, but some
might cause confusion. And, given the high speeds
and rapid decisions required on freeways,
understanding and knowing how to read all the
signs will help you travel more safely - since you'll
know in advance what to expect.
Common Traffic and Pedestrian
Signals
Regulatory Signs
Warning Signs
Motorist Information Signs
guide sign means that the lane under this panel becomes the exit ramp. If you remain in that lane, you can only exit the freeway. This forced exit situation becomes very dangerous if drivers make erratic moves to avoid it. Keep the following points in mind about exit only lanes. l Exiting may be permitted from more than one lane, but only the lane(s) under the sign will be exit only. l Exit only does not mean that there is no return entrance ramp at this interchange.
TIP: If you find yourself in an exit only lane when you don't want to exit, do so anyway! It's much safer to exit and return to the freeway than to stop or back up or swerve into oncoming traffic - all of which maneuvers are extremely dangerous!
MERGE AND LANE ADDED While exit only means that a lane is being "dropped" from the freeway, other signs tell you that traffic is entering the freeway and a lane is being added.
This MERGE warning sign tells you that traffic entering the freeway has to merge with freeway traffic. l If you are on the entrance ramp, be cautious and aware that you will have to merge safely with freeway traffic. l If you are on the freeway, be alert and prepare to allow vehicles to merge safely.
This LANE ADDED sign and situation may look like the merge warning at first glance, but there is a very important difference. Take a second look to catch the difference. The lane added sign tells you that traffic entering the freeway does NOT have to merge because the ramp becomes an
added freeway lane.
l If you are on the entrance ramp, accelerate in the added lane to safe freeway driving speed. You do not have to merge with freeway traffic. l If you are on the freeway, be aware that traffic may still try to merge because some drivers are not familiar with the lane added situation.
CHEVRON SIGNSÐCURVE AHEAD Chevron signs warn of a sharp curve in the road. Because these chevron signs are a fairly new addition to the American road, some drivers may not know exactly what message they're communicating.
Chevrons mean that you should adopt a safe speed to take a sharp curve in the direction in which they are pointing. Watch for advisory signs with suggested safe speed limits.
TRIVIA EN ROUTE ANSWER
The standard color of a DONT WALK
traffic signal is orange.
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
l Drivers on the freeway should cooperate by creating safe gaps that make it easier for entering vehicles to merge.
TIP: The only time you should ever stop on an entrance ramp is when there is no acceleration lane and a yield sign instructs you to wait for a safe gap in traffic. Never back up on a ramp!
Deceleration Lanes Help You Slow
Down
Deceleration lanes are designed to help motorists who are leaving a freeway reduce their speed to make a safe exit. Deceleration lanes, often set off by short dashed white lines, will always lead you to an exit ramp. Here are two things to remember:
l The length and type of deceleration lanes vary from road to road. l Look for advisory signs that tell you the safe speed for the exit ramp.
Changing Lanes and Sharing Lanes
Changing lanes on a multi-lane highway should never be done without thinking and looking. Absent-minded lane changing is extremely dangerous. White lane markings are there to help you, but common sense, alertness, and courtesy are all essential to safety. l Remember, every vehicle has blind spots. These are areas that are out of view of your mirrors. For safe lane changing, use your mirrors and glance over your shoulder to check your blind spots. l Try to stay out of the blind spots of other vehicles. l Never cut in where there isn't a safe gap in traffic. l Always use your turn signals before changing lanes.
Beware of the "No Zone"
Trucks, buses, and other large vehicles have larger blind spots than cars do. Remember this when you approach these large vehicles from behind or on either side. In these blind spots, the driver can't see your vehicle in any rearview mirror. Think of these areas as "no zones," and don't linger beside a truck or bus when you are passing.
One of the most hazardous lane management situations occurs when freeway traffic is both exiting and entering at the same area. This weaving of vehicles trying to get on or off the highway at the same time creates a kind of "mixing bowl."
A weaving section takes maximum cooperation. It can't work without sharing and sensible social interaction on the part of every driver. Signs and lane markings do their part. Safe drivers have to do the rest.
A Special
Place: The
Two-Way
Left Turn
Lane
There are special lane markings designed for busy sections of two-way roads where a lot of left turns are made. Such an area is usually a commercial or residential strip with a great many entrances and driveways on both sides of the road. l A center lane with these special pavement markings is designed to be shared by traffic going in both directions for making left turns.
l For vehicles turning left from the road, it is a place to wait safely for a gap in
TRIVIA EN ROUTE
What direction are you traveling if
you're on an Interstate highway
numbered I-494?
Answer at the bottom of the page
You probably know the roads pretty
well in the area where you live. You
may not even notice your local route
number signs anymore. But when any
motorist leaves familiar territory on a
trip for business or pleasure, highway route markers
become very important.
Here are a few tips you may not know that will help you become a better navigator. Signs are communicating with you to let you know where you are at all times. If you get better at reading these messages, you not only won't get lost, but you'll also make traveling safer for you and your family.
Decoding the Interstate Numbering
System
Knowing what the numbers on Interstate shields have to tell you can be a great aid to navigation. Many motorists think they know how to read the numbers, but they may understand only part of the story. Other motorists are confused by the numbers; still others have never really thought about it.
When you're traveling in unfamiliar territory, Interstate numbers give you valuable clues to your location and direction, if you know how to read them. Here's the key:
l One- or two-digit even- numbered Interstates are always east-west routes. The numbers increase from south (I-10) to north (I-94).
l One- or two-digit odd-numbered Interstates are always north-south routes. Numbers increase from the West Coast (I-5) to the East Coast (I-95).
TIP: Since not all Interstates run due east-west or north-south, the closest cardinal direction that applies to most of the road is used. So, even if a stretch of an east-west Interstate shifts to the south for a while, it is still considered an east-west highway.