State of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission - Driver Manual

Unit Signal

Stop if a signal does not have any of its bulbs working and no one is directing traffic. Look left and right. Yield to traffic coming from the right or left. Be careful and go only when safe.

Orange, Steady Raised-Palm Symbol

Pedestrians must not leave the sidewalk or enter the roadway when facing the light. Those already in the roadway should quickly go to a safe spot. Pedestrians already within the crosswalk will have time to cross the intersection before the signal changes. Those who have not yet left the sidewalk or curb should not enter the roadway.

White, Steady Pedestrian Silhouette/Countdown Pedestrian Sign With Steady Pedestrian Silhouette

Pedestrians facing the signal may cross the roadway in the direction of the signal. New Jersey law requires turning motorists to yield to pedestrians crossing on this signal and to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Pedestrian push-buttons are located at certain traffic signals. A short time after the button is pushed, the flow of traffic at the intersection changes to a longer green for the side street.

Traffic engineers use color, such as an optional yellow-green or a standard yellow, for the pedestrian crossing and bicycle warning signs which are of utmost importance. These signs alert New Jersey motorists that they must share the road with pedestrians and bicyclists and yield to them.

Signs are divided into three basic categories:

* Warning: Warn motorists of hazards ahead that are difficult to see.

* Guidance: Guide motorists to a destination by clearly identifying the route.

* Regulatory: Regulate traffic speed and movement.

The signs are manufactured in different shapes and colors to convey a particular message. Examples of the various sign types, shapes and colors are found in the diagram below.

Sharp turn ahead/Divided highway/Cattle crossing

Winding road/Merge/Hill/Lane Reduction ahead

Cross road/Railroad/School/Slipper when wet

Hospital/Handicapped/Yield ahead/Signal ahead

Workers/Flagman ahead/Detour/Road closed

Stop/Left turn only/No trucks/Turning lanes

Do not enter/No U-turns/No parking any time/Do not pass

Advisory ramp speed/Side road/No passing zone/Stop sign ahead

Traffic/Road narrows/Road closed/Reserved parking

U.S. Route marker/State Route marker/Rest area/Stop here on red

Route marker/Exit marker/Mile marker/No Standing any time

No pedestrian/No turns/Left turn only/Interstate

Left or straight only/Bus or car pool lane/one way/keep right

Wrong way/Yield/No Right urn

Color/Shape/# of Sides/Message

White/Vertical rectangle/4/Regulation (such as speed signs)1

Blue/Rectangle, square/4/Motorists services and information

Brown/Rectangle/4/Public recreation and scenic guidance

Green/Rectangle/4/Direction guidance

Orange/Diamond/4/Construction and maintenance warning

Red/Octagon/8/STOP signs only

Red/Triangle/3/YIELD signs

Yellow/Pennant/3/No-passing warning signs

Yellow/Pentagon/5/School signs

Yellow/Round//Railroad warning signs

Yellow/Diamond/4/Roadway hazard signs

1 When the maximum safe speed around a curve or turn is lower than the posted speed limit, an advisory speed sign is used with the proper warning sign.

Warning signs are for road conditions that need caution and for specific hazards that may be encountered during certain road operations. Some of the warning signs alert motorists to road conditions, school crossings or curved roadways. The signs are yellow and diamond-shaped with a black symbol or word message.

Sharp turn ahead/Divided highway/Cattle crossing

Winding road/Merge/Hill/Lane reduction ahead

Cross road/Railroad/School/Slipper when wet

Yield ahead/Signal ahead/Advisory ramp speed/Side road

No passing zone/Stop sign ahead/Traffic/Road narrows

Road Work Signs

Workers/Flagman ahead/Detour/Road closed

Road work signs alert motorists to a variety of temporary roadway conditions.

It is important to look for:

* Orange, diamond-shaped signs that warn the motorist of lane closings, lane shifts, flaggers, uneven pavement and detours. Road work may temporarily close lanes or divert them, changing traffic patterns

* Reduced speed limit signs that are posted alongside orange work zone signs. In New Jersey, all traffic fines are doubled in work zones.

A Motorist should react to road work signs by:

* Controlling the distance between his/her vehicle and the one in front, as well as his/her reaction time. Always read the signs, follow directions and prepare to slow down or stop.

* Staying alert to the moving construction machinery in the work zone. With patience, a motorist will contribute to the overall safety of motorists and workers in the work zone.

* Watching for workers on the road, who risk injury, possibly death. Flaggers may stop and release traffic through the work zone. Note that flaggers have the same authority as a regulatory sign, so a motorist may be cited if he/she disobeys their directions.

US Route marker/State route marker/Route marker/Interstate

Guidance signs identify destinations and routes for motorists. Here are some examples.

Motorist Service Signs

Motorist service signs have white letters or symbols on a blue background and provide information about motorist services. Some examples are shown on pages 174 and 175.

Hospital/Handicapped/Rest area

Regulatory signs are generally rectangular, with the longer vertical dimension, and have black wording and borders on a white background. Some important regulatory signs to know are:

* STOP: Octagonal sign with white wording and border on red background

* YIELD: White inverted triangle with red wording and border with a white border band

* DO NOT ENTER: White square with a red circle that has a white band horizontally across the center of the circle and the words “DO NOT ENTER” in white letters on the upper and lower parts of the circle. Some examples of Regulatory Signs are shown below.

Stop/Left turn only/No Trucks/Turning lanes

Do not enter/No U-turns/No parking any time/Do not pass

Road closed/Reserved parking/Stop here on red/No standing any time

Exit marker/Mile marker/No turns/Left turn only

Left or straight only/Bus/Car pool lane/One way/Keep right

Wrong way/Yield/No right turn/No pedestrian

Two national signs that indicate where certain interstate trucks can or cannot travel are now being used in New Jersey:

* Green: Marks the routes and ramps where trucks are permitted; also marks the travel route to services and terminals

* Red: Marks the routes and ramps where trucks are prohibited; also marks the end of designated routes

Road markings have the same force of law as signs or traffic signals.

Yellow center lines: Separate traffic flow going in opposite directions

White lines: Separate traffic going the same way when there is more than one lane; show edges of roads

Dashed lines: On a motorist’s side of the center line of the road mean that passing is permitted when safe

Solid line: On a motorist’s side of the center line means do not pass

Road arrows: When used with other signs, show the correct direction a motorist must make in that particular lane

White dashed lines: Separate traffic lanes on multi-lane highways

Yellow solid lines: Prohibit passing. Do not cross the solid yellow line to pass. Stay in the lane. Keep to the right when driving slowly