This chapter covers traffic signals, signs, and road markings — the visual language that keeps roadways safe. Vertically mounted signals always show red on top, yellow in the middle, and green (or a green arrow) on the bottom; horizontally mounted signals show red on the left. An intersection with an unlit or malfunctioning signal must be treated as a four-way stop.
The most heavily tested material is sign categories and colors: warning signs are yellow diamonds, regulatory signs (like STOP and YIELD) are typically red or have red borders, and guidance signs use blue or green backgrounds. Road markings carry the same legal force as signs — a solid yellow line on a driver's side means no passing, while a dashed line means passing is permitted when safe. Work zones double all traffic fines.
A common mistake is treating flashing signals casually — a flashing red light means a full stop (like a stop sign), while a flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed with care; these are not the same instruction. The chapter also explains rumble strips (they alert, not damage, a vehicle) and roundabouts, which reduce crashes by eliminating left-turn conflicts.
What does a flashing red light mean at an intersection?⌄
The driver must come to a complete stop, yield to traffic and pedestrians, and go only when it is safe — the same as a stop sign.
What color and shape are warning signs?⌄
Warning signs are yellow and diamond-shaped, alerting drivers to hazards ahead that are difficult to see.
What happens to traffic fines in a highway work zone?⌄
Speeding and other moving-violation fines are doubled in New Jersey work zones.