Illinois · Handbook chapter 9 · 4 min read

Chapter 9: Traffic signals and pavement markings

Illinois traffic lights, flashing signals, red, yellow and green arrows, signals that are out, pedestrian and lane-control signals, white and yellow lines, two-way left turn lanes, stop lines, crosswalks and railroad crossing devices.

Why this chapter matters

The written exam asks you to identify signals and pavement markings. Signals and markings must be obeyed unless a police officer or traffic control officer directs otherwise, and you may never leave the road to get around a signal.

Steady lights

• Red: stop at the stop line, or before the crosswalk, or before the intersection. You may turn right on red after a full stop unless a sign forbids it, and left on red from a one-way street onto a one-way street going left. Yield to traffic and pedestrians first.
• Yellow: the light is about to turn red. Do not enter once it is red.
• Green: go, after yielding to pedestrians and vehicles still in the intersection.

Flashing lights and dead signals

• Flashing red: stop, yield, then go when safe, just like a STOP sign. Also used at railroad crossings.
• Flashing yellow: go ahead with caution.
• Signal not working: treat the intersection as an all-way stop unless police direct you.

Arrows

• Steady red arrow: you may not make that move until a green arrow shows, except a right turn, or a left from one-way onto one-way, after a full stop and yielding.
• Steady yellow arrow: the green arrow is ending.
• Flashing yellow arrow: you may turn after yielding to pedestrians and oncoming vehicles.
• Green arrow: you may go in the arrow's direction; pointing up means straight ahead only.

Pedestrian and lane signals

• Walking person: pedestrians may cross. Flashing upraised hand: do not start; anyone already crossing may finish. Steady upraised hand: do not enter.
• Over-lane signals: a red X means never drive in that lane; a yellow X means leave the lane safely; a flashing yellow arrow means the lane is for left turns; a green arrow means the lane is open.

Pavement markings

• A solid yellow no-passing line on your side may be crossed only to finish a pass you began before the zone, or to turn left into or out of a driveway or alley.
• Two-way left turn lanes have yellow lines and white arrows. Use them only to prepare for or make a left turn (or a legal U-turn), and when one exists you may not turn left from another lane.
• A white stop line is usually 4 feet before the crosswalk in towns. No part of your car may cross it when you must stop.
• Crosswalks are white lines across the road, sometimes mid-block. Pedestrians in them have the right of way.
• Yellow or white diagonal stripes mark fixed obstructions.

Railroad crossing devices

• Round yellow advance sign, up to 750 feet before the crossing.
• Pavement markings: an X with RR, a solid yellow no-passing line, and white stop lines.
• Crossbuck: treat it as a YIELD sign; a plaque below shows the number of tracks.
• Flashing lights and gates: stop until the train has passed, the lights stop and the gates are fully up. Never drive around a gate. Cameras may record violators.
• Blue ENS sign: the phone number and crossing ID to report a problem or emergency.