Pennsylvania · Handbook chapter 2 · 10 min read

Chapter 2: Signals, signs and pavement markings

Pennsylvania traffic lights, arrows and flashing signals, ramp meters and lane-use signals, sign shapes and colors, regulatory, warning, work zone and guide signs, interstate numbers, mile markers and pavement lines.

Why this chapter matters

Many permit questions show a sign or describe a signal. The shape and color of a sign tell you its type before you can read it, so learn the shapes first, then the meanings.

Traffic lights

When signals are stacked vertically, red is on top and green at the bottom. When they are side by side, red is on the left and green on the right.

If a green arrow changes to a plain green light, you may still turn, but now you must yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.

Turning on red

• Right on red is allowed after a full stop, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted. Yield to pedestrians and traffic first.
• Left on red is allowed only from the left lane of a one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping, unless a sign forbids it.

Signals that are out

Treat a traffic signal that is not working as a four-way stop.

Ramp meters

Some entrance ramps have signals that alternate red and green during rush hours. Wait for green. On a single-lane ramp, only one car goes on each green. Green does not protect you: you still need a safe gap.

Lane-use control signals

Found over lanes at toll plazas, bridges, tunnels and reversible city lanes:

• Green downward arrow: you may use the lane.
• Steady yellow X: the lane is about to reverse direction. Move out of it safely.
• Steady red X: do not use the lane.
• White one-way left-turn arrow: the lane is for left turns only.
• White two-way left-turn arrow: left turns only, and drivers from the opposite direction share the lane.

Pedestrian, school and railroad signals

• A steady WALK (walking person) means pedestrians may start, watching for turning vehicles. A flashing DON'T WALK (flashing hand) means finish crossing if already in the street, but do not start. A steady DON'T WALK means do not cross.
• Always yield to pedestrians, and slow down and yield to a blind pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog.
• School zone signals are flashing yellow lights on the school speed limit sign. The limit is 15 mph while they flash or during the posted times. Speeding in a school zone brings 3 points and a fine.
• At a railroad crossing you must stop for flashing red lights, a lowered gate, a flagger or a train's horn. Never go around a gate, and never stop on the tracks.

Sign shapes and colors

Pennsylvania signs fall into three groups: regulatory, warning and guide.

Regulatory signs

Regulatory signs state the law. Ignoring them can bring fines and points.

• STOP: stop completely before the stop line or crosswalk, check for pedestrians and cross traffic, then go when clear. Rolling through is illegal. If you cannot see, edge forward carefully after stopping.
• Four-way stop: everyone stops. The first to arrive goes first. If two arrive together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Drivers facing each other may both go, watching for turns.
• YIELD: slow down, give the right-of-way to pedestrians and cross traffic, and stop only if needed.
• Railroad crossbuck: treat it as a YIELD sign.
• DO NOT ENTER marks the start of a one-way street or ramp you must not enter; WRONG WAY signs farther along catch drivers who turned in by mistake.
• ONE WAY: travel only in the direction of the arrow.
• DIVIDED HIGHWAY crossing: at the first roadway you may only turn right; at the second you may only turn left.
• NO TRUCKS, NO BICYCLES, NO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING: those users may not use the road.
• NO U-TURN, NO RIGHT TURN, NO LEFT TURN, NO PARKING, DO NOT PASS: the action is banned there.
• Lane-use signs with the word ONLY: you must make the turn shown, even if you entered the lane by mistake.
• SPEED LIMIT: the maximum legal speed under ideal conditions.
• NO TURN ON RED: wait for green before turning.
• LEFT TURN YIELD ON GREEN and LEFT TURN YIELD ON FLASHING YELLOW ARROW: you may turn left, but the turn is not protected, so yield to oncoming traffic.
• OPPOSING TRAFFIC HAS EXTENDED GREEN: oncoming traffic may keep moving after your light turns red.
• RESERVED PARKING (accessible parking) is regulatory even though it is not black and white.

Warning signs

Warning signs come before the hazard so you have time to react. Most are yellow diamonds.

• Curves: on a left curve, keep to the middle of your lane; on a right curve, keep slightly right of center. Sharp turn signs mean slow down a lot.
• Winding road: three or more curves in a row.
• One-direction large arrow: a very sharp change of direction; slow as much as you would to turn at an intersection.
• Two-direction large arrow: on the far side of a T-intersection; you must go left or right.
• Chevrons: placed through a sharp curve to show which way it bends.
• Advisory speed plaque: the highest safe speed for the hazard.
• Merging traffic: entering traffic must yield to traffic already on the main road. Added lane: no merge is needed because entering traffic gets its own lane. Lane ends: the lane on one side ends; merge.
• Divided highway begins / ends, two-way traffic ahead: keep right of the divider or centerline.
• Intersection signs: cross road, side road, T, Y and circular intersections.
• Narrow bridge, slippery when wet, deer crossing, low clearance (do not enter if your vehicle is taller than shown), hill (be ready to use a lower gear).
• Low shoulder marks a shoulder up to 3 inches below the road; shoulder drop off is worse. If a wheel drops off, do not slam the brakes or jerk the wheel.
• Signal ahead and stop ahead: the signal or STOP sign is hidden by a curve or hill.
• Railroad crossing ahead (round yellow sign): start looking and listening for a train.
• Bicycle, pedestrian and school signs may be yellow or fluorescent yellow-green. A SCHOOL sign with a downward arrow marks the school crosswalk itself.
• Horse-drawn vehicle: slow horse-drawn vehicles share the road.
• Object markers: the stripes slope down toward the side you should pass on.

Work zone signs

Work zone signs are orange diamonds. Turn on your headlights in every posted work zone, active or not. If police stop you for a violation in a work zone without headlights on, you pay an extra $25 fine. Signs mark the start and end of an active work zone, where workers are on the road or shoulder. Flaggers use STOP/SLOW paddles or a red flag. Flashing arrow panels tell you to merge early; a caution pattern means work beside the lane. Barrels, cones, tubes and panels guide you through.

Guide signs

• Highway guide signs are green with white letters, usually posted twice in advance and once at the exit.
• Exit numbers match mile markers, so Exit 95 is 75 miles from Exit 20.
• A yellow EXIT ONLY panel means the lane leaves the highway: change lanes or exit.
• The small exit number tab sits on the side of the sign where the exit is.
• Interstate shields are red, white and blue. Even numbers usually run east-west, odd numbers north-south. A three-digit route starting with an even digit usually connects at both ends (a loop or beltway); one starting with an odd digit is usually a spur.
• Mile markers start at zero at the western or southern end of the state and rise as you go east or north.
• A keystone marker shows a Pennsylvania route. JCT, direction plates and TO signs help you follow routes.

Pavement markings

• Yellow lines separate traffic going in opposite directions and mark the left edge of divided highways, one-way streets and ramps.
• White lines separate lanes going the same way and mark the right edge of the road.
• As a rule, broken lines may be crossed and solid lines may not, except to turn.
• A single broken yellow centerline: passing is allowed on either side when safe.
• A double solid yellow centerline: no passing in either direction, sign or no sign.
• A solid and a broken yellow line together: pass only if the broken line is on your side.
• A center lane edged by a solid outer line and a broken inner line on each side is a two-way left-turn lane, not a passing lane.
• Words and symbols on the road (STOP AHEAD, R X R, SCHOOL, BIKE LANE, ONLY with an arrow, yield triangles) back up the signs.