Georgia · Handbook chapter 6 · 6 min read

Chapter 6: Signs, signals and pavement markings

The seven sign shapes Georgia uses, regulatory, warning, guide, construction and service signs, traffic and lane signals, pedestrian signals and hybrid beacons, pavement markings, turn lanes, bike lanes and roundabouts.

Why this chapter matters

This chapter is the whole of the Road Signs test: 20 questions on signs, signals and markers, with 15 needed to pass. Learning shapes and colors lets you read a sign before you can see its words.

The seven sign shapes

STOP

Stop at the stop line; if none, before the crosswalk; if no crosswalk, where you can best see traffic. Do not go until pedestrians on your side have finished crossing and you have yielded to close traffic.

Railroad advance warning (round)

Posted a few hundred feet before the tracks. Slow down, look and listen; roll down a window if needed. Never try to beat a train. Passing is not allowed at railroad crossings.

YIELD

Slow down and stop if necessary, at the stop line if there is one, then yield to traffic in or close to the intersection.

Regulatory signs

A red circle with a slash means NO; the picture shows what is banned (no U-turn, no right turn, no trucks, no bicycles).

• WRONG WAY: you are entering a one-way road or ramp against traffic.
• ONE WAY: travel only in the direction of the arrow.
• KEEP RIGHT: stay right of the median or obstruction.
• SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT: use the right lanes if you are slower.
• SPEED LIMIT 55: the maximum allowed.
• REDUCED SPEED AHEAD: a lower limit begins ahead.
• SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT: lower limit when the yellow lights flash.
• NO RIGHT TURN ON RED AFTER STOP: right on red is banned even after stopping.

Warning signs

Usually yellow with black markings (school, pedestrian and similar signs can be fluorescent yellow-green). Examples: sharp turn, curve, reverse turn, winding road, side road, crossroad, T-intersection (road ends; prepare to turn), narrow bridge, dip, bump, soft shoulder, divided highway begins or ends, two-way traffic, low clearance, steep hill, signal ahead, yield ahead, stop ahead, slippery when wet (the first half-hour of rain is most dangerous), merging traffic, and animal, pedestrian and vehicle crossings.

The pennant-shaped NO PASSING ZONE sign is on the left side of the road at the start of a no passing zone. Finish any pass before you reach it. Advisory speed plaques may give a safe speed.

Guide and service signs

• Route markers show interstate, US and state highway numbers.
• Milepost markers count each mile across the state. Zero is at the south or west border where a route begins.
• A bicycle route sign marks an official bike route.
• The orange triangle slow-moving vehicle emblem is required on vehicles going under 25 mph.
• Blue signs point to services such as gas, food, lodging and hospitals.
• The crossbuck is at every railroad crossing: yield to trains. A plaque below shows the number of tracks. Stop when red lights flash.

Construction signs

Orange with black markings warn of road work, such as ROAD CONSTRUCTION 5 MILES or ROAD CLOSED.

Traffic signals

A signal that is completely dark means treat the intersection as an all-way stop.

Lane control signals

On reversible lanes: a green arrow means you may use the lane; a steady yellow X means clear the lane; a flashing yellow X means the lane is for left turns only; a red X means you may not drive in that lane.

Pedestrian signals

WALK: start crossing. DON'T WALK steady: do not leave the curb. Flashing: do not start, but finish crossing if you have already begun.

Pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB)

Dark until a pedestrian pushes the button, then flashing yellow, then steady yellow (slow and prepare to stop), then double steady red (stop), then alternating flashing red (stop, then go once pedestrians have cleared).

Pavement markings

• Stop lines: stop here, not at the sign itself; usually about 4 feet before the crosswalk.
• Crosswalks: pedestrians in them have the right-of-way.
• Railroad: a large X with two R's, and a solid yellow no-passing line on the right of center.
• Broken yellow center line: passing allowed in either direction when safe.
• Solid yellow line on your side: no passing; two solid yellow lines: no passing either way.
• Double white lines: dashed means you may cross into the next lane; solid means no lane changes.
• Edge lines: solid white on the right; a yellow edge line may mark a narrow or raised median on the left.
• Lane lines: white dashes between lanes going the same way.
• Two solid yellow lines on a road with four or more lanes: cross only to turn left into or out of an alley, driveway or street.
• Traffic striping (diagonal yellow lines): the road narrows or there is an obstruction; keep right.

Center turn lanes

Use only to turn left, and enter no more than 300 feet before the turn. Watch for drivers from the other direction using the same lane.

Bicycle lanes

Solid white lines, usually between the right lane and the curb. Do not drive or park in them, except to cross when turning, and then yield to bicyclists.

Roundabouts

Yield to traffic already in the circle, enter to the right, travel counterclockwise, and signal and bear right to exit. In multilane roundabouts, choose your lane before entering and do not change lanes inside. Stop for pedestrians at entries and exits.