North Dakota · Handbook chapter 3 · 4 min read
Chapter 3: Signals, markings and railroad crossings
North Dakota traffic lights, flashing signals and left-turn signals, turning on red, dark signals, center lines, two-way left turn lanes, stop lines and crosswalks, and railroad crossing rules, including what to do if you are stuck on the tracks.
Why this chapter matters
Signals and markings control almost every intersection you drive through. Railroad crossings in a rural state like North Dakota need special care: a train can never stop in time.
Traffic signals
- Red: stop at the stop line or before the crosswalk, and stay stopped until the light changes and the intersection is clear.
- Yellow: warning; the light is changing from green to red.
- Green: go, but only if the intersection is clear.
- Green arrow: you may make the movement shown, even if it appears with a red light, yielding to pedestrians and vehicles already in the intersection.
- Flashing red: the same as a STOP sign.
- Flashing yellow: go with caution.
Right on red: allowed after stopping, when the intersection is clear, unless a sign forbids it. Left on red: allowed from a one-way street onto a one-way street, unless a sign forbids it.
Dark signals (for example in a power outage): stop and yield to any vehicle in the intersection.
Left-turn signals
| Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Steady red arrow | Stop and wait |
| Steady yellow arrow | The left-turn signal is changing to red |
| Flashing yellow arrow | Turn with caution after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians; oncoming traffic usually has a green light |
| Steady green arrow | Go; left-turning drivers have the right-of-way |
Pavement markings
- Broken yellow center line on a two-lane road: you may cross it to pass or to turn left.
- Solid and broken yellow: no passing from the lane next to the solid line; it may be crossed only to turn left.
- Two solid yellow lines: no passing in either direction; cross only to turn left.
- On a multi-lane undivided road, cross the center line only to turn left.
- Two-way left turn lane: the center lane is only for left turns in either direction, never for passing.
- At busy intersections, use the marked left-turn or right-turn lane for your turn.
Stopping at intersections
- Stop lines are wide white lines; stop before them.
- With stop lines and crosswalk lines together, stop before the stop line.
- With no lines, stop before the crosswalk (sidewalk area) or, with no crosswalk, before entering the intersection.
- Never block a crosswalk.
Railroad crossings
Crossings may be marked with advance warning signs, pavement markings, crossbucks and signal lights. When you see them, look, listen and slow down.
- Passive crossings have only signs and markings: the decision to stop is yours. Active crossings have flashing red lights, bells or gates.
- When a train is crossing, stop at least 15 feet from the crossing. Never cross while red lights flash, and never drive around lowered gates.
- With more than one track, a sign under the crossbuck shows the number. Make sure all tracks are clear; a second train may come from the other direction.
- Never stop or park on the tracks.
- School buses, buses carrying passengers and vehicles carrying explosives or flammable liquids must stop between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks. Do not pass them there.
- Report problems at a crossing to the Emergency Notification System (ENS) number posted there.
Stuck on the tracks
Get everyone out. Move off at a 45-degree angle, away from the tracks and toward the direction the train is coming from, because debris is thrown forward the way the train is traveling. Then call the ENS number and 911.
Frequently asked questions
May I turn left on red in North Dakota?
Only from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping, unless a sign forbids it.
What does a flashing yellow left-turn arrow mean?
You may turn left with caution after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
What if the traffic lights are dark?
Stop and yield to any vehicle in the intersection, then go when it is safe.
Which way should I walk if my car is stuck on the tracks and a train is coming?
Toward the train and away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle.
Based on the North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual (2025-2027), Signs, Signals, and Road Markings: Signals, Pavement Markings, Stop Intersections and Railroad Crossings.