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Student Name: Tejinder Ghuman
Traffic School: Sacramento County California
CTSI - Part 6: Signs and Signals, Licensing, Road Rage
Part 6: Signs and Signals, Licensing, Road Rage
XV. Traffic Signs, Signals, and Controls
In order to accurately follow the laws, you need to be able to understand which laws apply
in certain situations and it is for this reason that we have signs and traffic signals. If there
are signs out there that make you feel like you're in a foreign country, we hope to shed
some light on them. Most of this section will seem like a review, however; pay attention
because this section is crucial to becoming a better driver. Here's a review.
Traffic Signs
The best way to know what signs means is by looking at its shape. Just like the colors of
traffic lights, these shapes have been impressed into most drivers' unconscious memories:
STOP: Eight-sided red sign. (Figure 10.1). Let's get super clear on what
stopping is: (we're not joking, here). Stopping means none of your tires are
moving. As we will reiterate a few times throughout the course: you should
always stop behind the white limit line before entering into the crosswalk. If
there's no limit line, stop at the corner or where you are not obstructing
oncoming traffic. The Vehicle Code says that a proper stop is always performed
Figure at the entrance of the intersecting roadway (rather than already in the roadway).
10.1 On a divided highway, stop signs are for vehicles that are crossing or turning
onto the highway.
HEY...WRONG WAY!: Red and white sign. This sign tells you where you can't go.
Since they're kind of important, they have reflectors for nighttime. You can see many
examples of this on the freeway; if you get on the wrong on-ramp, you'll see a Do Not
Enter sign (Figure 10.2) or a Wrong Way sign(Figure 10.3). If you happen to be cruising
where these signs are, get over to the side of the road immediately. When safe, back out,
and go back to the road you were on. Safety is always the issue when you are going the
wrong way.
Figure 10.2
Figure 10.1
YIELD: Upside down triangle. This means be prepared to slow down and stop
so other traffic can go. When you see this sign (Figure 10.4), you can expect
traffic, including other vehicles, bikes, or pedestrians. Yield means the other
traffic has the right of way.
DO NOT...A red circle with a red line through it. In these signs, the forbidden behavior
is crossed out within the circle. Typical signs you will see show No U-Turn, No Left Turn
and No Right Turn (Figure 10.5). You may also see No Pedestrian Crossing signs at
sections of certain streets.
No U-turn
No Left Turn
No Right Turn
Figure 10.5

OBEY THIS...White, rectangular signs. These signs give the rules for a particular
intersection, stretch of street or parking area (Figure 10.6). Without these signs,
driving down the road would be a free-for all! They tell us things like Speed Limits,
One Way streets, Do Not Pass zones, and when Left Turners must Yield on Green
(see below for more on this particular sign).
Regulatory signs
Figure 10.6

DID YOU KNOW...? Brown, green or blue signs. These signs are nice guys.
They are guide signs, not rule signs. (Figure 10.7). They help travelers get to the
right destination. In general, brown signs label recreational or historical sites; green
signs show locations of landmarks, such as airports or other important facilities such
as streets, and blue signs indicate motorist services, such as rest areas, gas, food,
and lodging.
Figure 10.7

YOU'VE GOT COMPANY: Orange square or diamond-shaped signs. These
signs tell you there is highway construction and maintenance going on in your area.
(Figure 10.8). Treat these as you would warning signs: slow down, look for the
upcoming conditions and be prepared to adjust your driving accordingly.
Figure 10.8

SCARY TRUCK CARGO: Diamond-shaped white signs on trucks. These signs
warn that the load on the truck is dangerous (Figure 10.9).
These signs can be seen on the rear of trucks. These signs represent the load content as
dangerous.
Figure 10.9
Warning Signs (Yellow and Black)
RAILROAD CROSSING: Yellow and black, circular sign. You guessed
it: this sign lets you know you're approaching a railroad crossing. Keep the
rules which we have considered in the previous sections in mind when you
approach these signs. Many of these rules also apply to other rail systems
such as rapid transit. For now, know that when you see this sign (Figure
10.10), you should slow down and be prepared to stop if a train is coming.
Figure
10.10
SCHOOL..WATCH OUT! A five-sided sign in the shape of a house. This
sign indicates a nearby school. (Figure 10.11). In our section on speed laws,
we covered how to drive around schools. HINT: drive SLOWLY.
Figure
10.11
BE CAREFUL DRIVER...Four-sided signs, usually diamond-shaped. These signs tell
you to watch out for unusual road conditions or hazards. (Figure 10.12) Examples of
frequent warning signs are: Slippery When Wet, Merging Traffic, Crosswalk Ahead and
Traffic Signal Ahead. Obey all warning signs by slowing down or preparing for changing
conditions.
Crosswalk
ahead
Merging
traffic
Traffic signal
ahead
Slippery when
wet
Figure 10.12
Traffic Signals
Okay, so almost everyone learned that red lights mean stop and green lights mean go when
they were very young. The problem is that, as with signs, we sometimes drive as if we have
forgotten that lesson - especially if we're in a hurry. So, since this is traffic school, let's
review the rules associated with each color.
The most important thing to remember about traffic lights is this: while you can do your
part to obey them, other people often do not. This means that you need to be aware of
your surroundings, as well as what the light says. If the light is green, and you are
cruising through the intersection without stopping; you must scan left to right, and then
right to left as you approach, to make sure some other driver hasn't just decided to disobey
the rules and is headed your way. Also, as you will read below, you must often wait for
pedestrians, bikes or cars to get out of your path. This is irritating, but it's a fact of driving.
Remember that even when you have the right of way, exercising patience can save your
life.
Red: A red light means stop. And just as with a stop sign, this means no wheels moving!
You are allowed to make a right turn at a red light, unless a sign says you cannot; however,
you must come to a full stop at the marked limit line, before entering the crosswalk or
intersection if there is no marked limit line just as you would for a stop sign. Also, you
must yield to bikes, pedestrians, and vehicles that have the green light.
Red arrow: A red arrow means STOP until the green signal or green arrow
appears (Figure 10.13). You are never allowed to make a turn against a red
arrow. If you are in a turning lane, you may not go if there is a red arrow for
your lane but a green light for the center lanes.
Figure
10.13
Flashing red: This is the same as a stop sign (Figure 10.14). After stopping,
proceed when safe and observe right of way rules
Figure
10.14
Yellow: This means CAUTION (Figure 10.15). It does not mean, as it is so
often interpreted, "hurry, the light's changing, so go faster!" The correct way to
react to a yellow light is to stop, if you can do so safely. Obviously, if you're in
the middle of an intersection, you shouldn't stop. You made it and you get to go
through. Still, you should be watching for vehicles that now have the right of
way.
Flashing yellow: This means CAUTION as well, but is generally not followed
by a red light (Figure 10.16). At the yellow light, you should slow down and be
especially alert, but you don't have to come to a full stop.
Green arrow: A green arrow also means go in the direction the arrow is
pointing (Figure 10.17). The nice thing about green arrows is that you can
make a "protected" turn: meaning other vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians are
stopped by a red light (as always, you should still yield to pedestrians and
bikers whenever they cross your path). At protected lights, you don't need to
worry about yielding on a left turn; but, even so, be aware and don't just go
without looking.
Yellow arrow: (Figure 10.18) This means use caution turning the direction
the arrow points, because the protected time for that turn is about to end. Be
prepared to obey the next signal, either a red or green signal.
Green light: (Figure 10.19) Go, BUT: as we've said already, first let any
vehicles, bikes or pedestrians still in the intersection get out of the way
(preserving human life is an enduring theme throughout our traffic school). If
you're turning left, do so only if you have the space to complete the turn before
an oncoming vehicle approaches, or a pedestrian or bike becomes a hazard. In
some intersections, signs say Left Turn Yield on Green. However, with or
without the sign present, California law requires that you always yield to
vehicles whose paths you would cross to turn left.
Figure
10.15
Figure
10.16
Figure
10.17
Figure
10.18
Figure
10.19
Important: In high traffic conditions, make sure you can clear completely through the
intersection before the light turns red. You may be caught at a light too long and the
signal could turn red before you are completely through. You can see people getting away
with this every day - especially on left arrow turns. Sometimes, this even results in a person
being unable to move through the entire intersection, due to traffic on the other side. But be
warned: IT'S ILLEGAL to block an intersection. If a police officer is watching and feels
like it, you will receive a ticket and you won't be able to argue your way out of this one. If
you have any questions about this, look up the Anti-Gridlock Act of 1987 or read the
paragraph below:
The "Anti-Gridlock Act of 1987," states that regardless of whether a light is green or not, a
vehicle must not proceed through the intersection if there is not enough space for that
vehicle to make it through the intersection. So be careful not to put yourself in the position
of not making it through the intersection, by paying attention to the yellow light. The length
of yellow lights varies between intersections and cities. But generally, you won't make it
through the intersection if the light is already yellow when you start. Use that as your
rule for whether to go or wait until the next green.
*Anytime the lights are malfunctioning, use the same rules as for intersections with a stop
sign but no traffic light.
Pedestrian Signals
The following are signals you will see in crosswalks. They can help you to anticipate the
flow of pedestrian traffic: (Figures 10.20)



"Walk," or a lighted picture of a walking person, appears when it is legal
for pedestrians to cross. At many intersections, the pedestrian must push
the button at the side of the road to activate the WALK signal.
"Don't walk," or a lighted picture of a raised hand in red, appears when it is
illegal to cross the street.
Flashing "don't walk" means do not start across the street, but you may
proceed if you have already started.
Figure 10.20
If there are no pedestrian signals, those on foot must obey the red, yellow or green signal
lights.
Arm Signals
Signaling must always be done with a signal lamp. In the event of signal light or brake
failure, however, arm signals can come in handy. You will need to be able to use "Driver
Sign Language," which is another way to let other drivers know what direction a vehicle
will travel. The DMV licensing exam also requires you to know these signals. The
following are the arm positions for left turn, right turn, slow down and stop (Figure 10.21).



Left turn - arm should be raised at the shoulder and straight out.
Right turn - arm should be raised at the shoulder, bent at the elbow and pointed up
at a 90˚ angle.
Slow down & stop - arm should be raised at the shoulder, bent at the elbow and
pointed down.
Left Hand Signal
Right Hand
Signal
Stop/Slow Hand Signal
Figure 10.21
NOTE: Remember to have your window rolled down and arm extended out of the driver's
side window to make the arm signals visible to other drivers on the road i.e. the DRIVER
must perform these signals, not the passenger. (DUH, you're saying. Except for the one
person going, "Oh, yeah..." that one was for you).
Pavement Markings
Those painted lines on the road are there for a reason. It is essential to be aware of what
street lines mean and what they allow or prohibit a driver to do.
One of the most important markings is the white limit line at intersections. You can
usually tell if you've stopped too late at an intersection with a light if: pedestrians have to
walk around your front bumper, you can't see the faces of the drivers in the cars next to you
without looking back and you feel a little...exposed. To avoid this feeling, always stop
behind the white line at a signals or stop signs. If there is no limit line, then stop before
entering the crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk, the driver should stop at the entrance to the
intersecting roadway. A good rule to remember is to stop at a place where you aren't
obstructing oncoming traffic or pedestrians.
In addition to the ever-important white line, you also need to know the following current
pavement markings:


Yellow lines mark the center of a road used for two-way traffic.
A broken yellow line means a driver may pass when it is safe to do so. If there is a
solid and a broken yellow line, a driver is allowed to pass on the same side as the
broken line when it is safe to do so (Figures 10.22a and 10.22b)
May Pass (Figure 10.22a)

Two solid yellow lines mean no passing in
either direction. NEVER cross these lines
unless you are turning left into somewhere
like an alley, in and out of a private roadway
or driveway, when making a U-Turn under
the rules governing that turn or when the
right half of the road is closed or blocked
(figure 10.23).
May Not Pass (Figure 10.22b)
Do Not Pass
Figure 10.23

Two way left turn lanes (also known as center turn lanes) are indicated by two sets
of solid and broken lines with the inner line broken and outer line solid. If you
missed it, these lanes were covered in-depth in our section on proper lane use.

Broken white lines indicate one-way traffic, or cars going in the same direction.

Two sets of solid double yellow lines spaced two or more feet apart, indicate what
should be thought of as a wall. You should treat these lines as if there is a wall
there, so you don't even think about crossing them.

Carpool lanes are marked with a white diamond and words to that effect. These
rules were also covered in the section on Freeway Driving, as these lanes generally
appear on the freeway.

End of lane markings, generally seen on freeway lanes and some city street lanes,
are thicker, white broken lines painted on the pavement. If you're driving in a
lane marked by these lines, be prepared to merge into another lane or to exit the
freeway. On freeways where there is a lot of traffic and close exits, these lines can
help you to get into the right lane or lanes for your exit, so you won't have to merge
right too suddenly. Often, these end of lane markings correspond with arrows on the
green freeway signs above that tell you which exit is coming up.
XVI. Licensing Control measures
Here's something else important: You need to follow through if you get cited for a traffic
ticket or other violation. We see you already did, because you're taking this course. Keep
up the good work! A lot of people seem to think it's optional to appear in traffic court to
take care of their ticket, but whenever you get a ticket, you sign a promise to appear after
the officer gives it to you.
Failure to pay tickets or appear in court goes on your driving record. Even one FTP or FTA
can result in suspension, and you'll have court determined fees to pay and any DMV
licensing or replacement fee to get your license reissued. Ouch!
This isn't a very comforting thought, but here it is: The DMV is watching you. Well, not all
the time. But they do have a record of your traffic convictions. Remember: All collisions
appear on your driving record, regardless of fault. Furthermore, this information is
available to the public, although only law enforcement officers can see your address.
Each occurrence stays on your record for 36 months or longer, depending on the type of
conviction. This is known as "points on your driving record." DMV will remove your
driving privileges if you are a negligent operator.
You are a negligent operator if your record shows:



4 points in 12 months or...
6 points in 24 months or...
8 points in 36 months.
Examples of one point violations:

A traffic conviction

An at-fault accident
Examples of two point violations:




Reckless driving or hit-and-run driving
Driving under the influence or alcohol/drugs
Hit-and-run driving
Driving while suspended or revoked
If you receive too many points in a specified period, you will lose your driver license. A
violation received in a commercial vehicle carries one and one-half (1 1/2) times the point
count normally assessed.
It is your responsibility to keep these points on the low end. If you don't, you can be
classified as a "negligent operator of a motor vehicle." This, too, doesn't look too good on
job applications.
XVII. Road Rage
Attitude
When preparing to drive somewhere, don't just check the directions. Check your attitude. Is
something ticking you off so much that you're swearing to yourself, your heart is racing or
you're shaking? If so, you need to take a few deep breaths before starting the engine. Now
for the even tougher part: if something happens later while you're driving on the road to
give you the above physical symptoms, you mustn't let it affect your driving. If it does,
your ability to drive safely has been impaired and you may give in to road rage.
Road rage the common cause of many driving fatalities in the United States. Why?
Because it's easy to get angry while driving and let that emotion get the better of you.
Simply defined, road rage is when one driver reacts in anger to another. In order to
overcome road rage and protect others, drivers must control their anger.
As you may know from personal experience, driving while under the influence of anger is
dangerous for you and other drivers on the road. Hitting a person at just five miles an hour
could fatally cripple that person for life. We often take for granted the power of a motor
vehicle and the injury it can cause.
Every driver on the road has a different personality, which can be reflected by the way they
drive and act in their cars. Aggressive driving is something we've all done occasionally,
but some do it more than others. Aggressive drivers weave in and out of traffic, frequently
cut people off and frequently exceed the speed limit. If you are a habitually aggressive
driver, you've probably gotten at least one ticket. To kick the ticket-attracting behavior,
start driving defensively instead.
Right of way laws can sometimes inadvertently cause problems for drivers used to reckless
driving behavior. It is true that others often violate our right of way when we drive. It could
happen several times a week, or even several times a day in areas with "bad" drivers. But as
tough as it might be on your pride, you must never insist on taking the right-of-way. By
letting the other driver go first, you are actively preventing a collision. Our main
responsibility as drivers is to make sure we are the best drivers we can be. After that, we
must drive defensively, rather than with an aim to improve other peoples' driving. We'll let
you know more on how to do this.
As drivers, we need to make sure our attitude on the road is respectful to those around us.
Aggressive drivers seem to forget that people are driving alongside them, viewing the
vehicles instead as mere obstacles in their path.
We all know that anger while driving can impair our judgment. The following are some
scenarios to watch out for, which commonly cause road rage. When they happen to you, try
to stay aware of your emotional reactions and keep them from becoming physical reactions.
We add our own little psychological tricks to avoid getting sucked into the emotional pit
that is bad driving attitude. If none of these work for you, then come up with some of your
own. Just come up with something.
Example 1: You're driving down the road, when someone cuts you off. Instantly, the
majority of us become angry, and methods of revenge enter our minds. The only way
around this is to practice forgiveness. We know, easier said than done. A practical way of
dealing with being cut off is, simply, to take your foot off the accelerator. Usually, this is
all you need to adjust for the rude move. The normal reaction is to slam on the brakes and
swerve out of the way. But this often results in cutting someone else off or driving off the
road.
Example 2: You are driving down the road when you see the person in front of you
tailgating the car in front of them. In order to teach the person in front of you "a lesson,"
you tailgate them. Now, let's think about this logically, from the safety of our computer
chair. Can you say you've ever tailgated? Most people, if honest, will answer yes. Did the
car behind you tailgate? Oh, you can't remember? Surprise! You didn't even notice that car.
Your attention was on how slow the car was ahead of you, and the poor sucker trying to
teach you a lesson didn't succeed.
On the off chance that you were taught a lesson by a tailgater behind you and it changed
your life, then we don't have to worry about you anymore, do we? Still, consider yourself
the exception, not the rule.
Actually, the DMV gives some practical advice on how to deal with tailgaters: Brake
slowly before stopping. Tap your brake lightly as a signal you are slowing down. Change
lanes as soon as you can to get the tailgater off your back. If all else fails, pull over and let
the tailgater pass.
Example 3: You get in an argument with your spouse and drive off in the car mad. Oh, this
one's a bummer. But remember, you're free! (At least until you come back home). Just take
this opportunity to savor the time alone. Instead of thinking about the fight, concentrate on
the road. (I know this is easier said than done). Just be thankful that you have fresh water to
drink, because it's a fact that 450 million people worldwide are experiencing a chronic
water shortage. If your spouse had to come along, well, try to impress him/her with your
calm driving while s/he knows you are obviously enraged. You can think to yourself: "Ha,
I'll bet if s/he was driving right now, we'd get in a collision. It's a good thing one of us isn't
crazy."
These examples of road rage scenarios happen everyday on highways across the country.
Just check out the facial expressions of many drivers you see; if it wasn't so dangerous, it
would actually be kind of funny, but in addition to dealing with yourself, you also need to
know how to deal with other drivers in the throes of road rage. Some tips:

Drive, as you would have others drive. Don't cut them off! When you merge, signal.

Don't drive slowly in the fast lane. We all know how frustrating it is to be a car
behind this driver.

Don't make obscene gestures. Do you feel fulfilled after you do this? Or kind of
stupid? Pay attention to the part that feels kind of stupid.

Don't use your horn except for emergencies, such as another driver doesn't see you.
It's not a good correctional tool for bad drivers so it should be used sparingly.

It's kind of scary how much people can be like animals at times. You know how
you're not supposed to look in dogs' eyes because they take it as a threat? Well,
humans too (some more than others) take this as a challenge. Beware. Even a smile
or purposeful eye contact can send the wrong message, like you're laughing at the
person.

If you see an angry driver, give him or her room. If you messed up and you think
the other driver might want to take revenge, get out of her way or hang back until
she passes.

In general, drivers must learn good driving habits and risk management skills. We
can't control fellow drivers, but we can control what we do as individuals.
New Legislation
Over 100 amendments or additions to the California vehicle code were made for 2007. Of
course one of the most publicized new laws was the cell phone usage law that went into
effect July of 2008. The following is a summary of other new laws that have been already
mentioned throughout the text.








CVC 12814.6 Health and Safety Code Amendment - Amends vehicle code and
makes it an infraction for a person to smoke a cigarette, pipe, or cigar in a motor
vehicle when a minor is present in the vehicle. The law applies whether the vehicle
is at rest or in motion, is secondary enforcement and punishable by a fine not
exceeding $100. (Reference Health and Safety Code 118947, also known as the
Marco Firebaugh Memorial Children's Health and Safety Act of 2007.)
CVC 1280.3 Cell phones - prohibits a person from driving a vehicle while using a
wireless telephone unless the person uses a system that allows hands-free listening
and speaking.
CVC 1280.3, 23123, and 23124 Cell phone use for person's under age of 18
years - Prohibits a person who is under the age of 18 years from operating a motor
vehicle while using a wireless telephone, even when equipped with a hands-free
device, or while using a mobile service device. The law provides an exemption for
the use of wireless telephones or mobile service devices for emergency purposes
including but not limited to: an emergency call to a law enforcement agency, health
care provider, fire department, or other emergency services agency or entity.
CVC 21712 Trunking - states it is a misdemeanor violation for any driver to
knowingly permit a person to ride in the trunk of a vehicle. Additionally, any
passenger found riding in the trunk is guilty of an infraction.
CVC 23536 Penalty: First Conviction - The mandatory drivers license suspension
period is now ten months for persons convicted of a first offense for DUI if the
individuals blood alcohol concentration level was 0.20% or greater.
CVC 21706.5 Emergency/Tow trucks - requires drivers to take specific
precautionary actions on a highway when passing a stopped emergency vehicle or
tow truck when the emergency lights are activated. Drivers are directed to proceed
with caution and to make a lane change into an available lane not immediately
adjacent to the emergency vehicle if practical and not prohibited by law. If the
driver cannot make a safe lane change, they are to slow to a reasonable and prudent
speed that is safe for existing conditions.
CVC 15300 Commercial driver - states that a driver of a commercial vehicle may
not operate a commercial motor vehicle for one year for the first conviction of
specified offences, including DUI, hit and run or vehicular manslaughter, while
driving any vehicle, not just a commercial vehicle. CVC 15302 further provides for
permanent disqualification of a commercial driver for two or more convictions of
specified offenses, while driving any vehicle.
CVC 152715 Commercial drivers conviction reporting - requires the DMV to
report each conviction occurring within California of a person holding a commercial
driver's license from another state to the licensing authority of the home state of
licensee.
As you can see not only are the roadways dynamic and changing but the rules governing
their use must also change as we progress toward more efficient and safer transportation
systems. One significant consumer safety law from 2007, requires new cars to have posted
crash safety information next to the sticker. For more information on automobile safety go
to www.safercar.gov . This site sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration provides a wealth of information not only on crash ratings but other topics
such as:
1. A parent's guide to buying booster seats
2. Recalls
3. Tire wear ratings (You can access nearly every brand of tire)
4. Vehicle related theft (Dodge Intrepid and Toyota Tundra topped the list)
5. Complete information on child passenger safety
This is a good place to end. Thanks for taking our course. Really, the foundation of our
course has been defensive driving. Knowing how to handle bad or potentially dangerous
situations when they come up can ease your stress on the road. We honestly believe the
main cause of collisions is attitude. If you are always in a rush, you will speed and violate
laws to cut down on time. So remember, when you get behind the wheel, slow down and
relax! Happy driving!
Fgreen