How To Understand Traffic Signs?

Because they are designed to offer crucial information and warn of potential dangers, traffic signs are an important aspect of keeping vehicles and pedestrians safe on the road. Maple Driving School’s expert team can assist you if you are wondering why traffic signs are vital.

1. School, Crosswalk, and Playground Signs

These signs indicate the rules to follow in situations where extra caution is required.

1. If the light is flashing, prepare to stop at a pedestrian actuated crossing.
2. Yield to pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk.
3. If there is a crossing guard, yield to pedestrians and obey their directions.
4. When passing through a school zone, slow down.

1. Prepare to slow down if you go to the neighboring playground.
2. Every day from dawn to sunset, a 30 km/h speed limit applies in the playground zone.
3. On school days, when children are on the roadway or shoulder, a 50 km/h limit is in force from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4. If the tab beneath just shows a speed limit, that speed limit is in force from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days.
5. The speed limit and the hours it is in force (in this case, the 30 km/h limit is in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days) are displayed beneath the school zone tab.

2. Signs For Lane Use

Before the intersection, signs indicating which lanes may be utilized to turn or proceed straight are hung above or to the side of the lane. If you’re in a designated lane, you must follow the arrows in the direction indicated. While in a junction, you may not move into or out of a specified lane.

1. Only take a left.
2. Only keep going straight.
3. Continue straight or turn left.
4. Continue straight or turn right.
5. No through traffic is allowed, and vehicles from both directions must turn left.
6. In both of these lanes, vehicles must turn left.

3. Signs For Parking

Parking signs indicate where and when it is permissible to park. If you park illegally, you may face fines or have your vehicle towed (or both).

1. During posted hours, parking is time-limited.
2. Please do not park here.
3. During posted hours, parking is not permitted.
4. Parking is restricted to vehicles that display a disability parking notice and are transporting a disabled person.

4. Signs Designating a Reserved Lane

Reserved lanes are identified by a white diamond painted on the road surface. Over or beside lanes that are allocated for certain vehicles, such as buses or high-occupancy vehicles, reserved lane signs are also posted (HOVs). Other HOV signs may provide more information about who is permitted to use the HOV lane.

1. This lane is only for buses.
2. Only buses and HOVs are permitted in this lane, which may indicate the number of persons who must be in the HOV.
3. The cross street’s curb lane ahead is a reserved lane.

5. Signals For Lane Control

Lane control signals are used to indicate which lanes are available for driving.

1. This lane should not be driven in.
2. Leave this lane and enter a lane marked with a green arrow. Slow down and proceed with caution if all of the lane control signals are flashing yellow.
3. Stay in this lane.

5. Traffic Lights

The usage of traffic lights aids in the organization of traffic flow. A red light indicates “stop,” a yellow light indicates “caution,” and a green light indicates “go.” When these signs flash or are fashioned like arrows rather than circles, they can have slightly different meanings. Green arrows may flash in some spots but not in others.

1. You may turn right or left onto a one-way street after coming to a complete stop unless a sign prohibits so.
2. Continue on a steady green if the intersection is clear.
3. Slow down and come to a complete stop before the intersection, unless you can safely stop in time.
4. Stop when the red light flashes, then resume only when it is safe.

1. If the junction is clear, flashing green — pedestrian-controlled light — go.
2. Slow down and proceed with caution if the light turns yellow.
3. Turn in the direction of the green arrow.
4. Green arrow – no turning allowed; just go straight through.

1. Green arrow flashing with a continuous green light – turn in the arrow’s direction or advance.
2. Left turn permitted with a flashing green arrow and a steady red light; passing traffic must stop fors the red light.
3. Slow down and stop before the junction if you can’t safely stop in time. Yellow arrow — advance left turn signal is going to change, slow down and stop before the intersection unless you can’t safely stop in time.
4. Only buses may travel on this signal, which is marked by a steady white rectangular light.