Lesson 3: Signage/Signals and Law

Standard Traffic Lights

🔴 RED – Stop. No negotiations. No “just one more car.” Just stop.
🟠 AMBER (Yellow) – Stop unless slamming your brakes would make things worse. If you're too close to the stop line, keep going safely.
🟢 GREEN – Go ahead, but don't treat it like a race. Move forward or turn with caution.
👉 Order of the lights: GREEN → AMBER → RED (and repeat). No surprises!

Arrow Signals

🔺 When you see an arrow, it’s giving specific directions for that lane. Follow the arrow like it's your GPS—except this one won’t reroute you if you go the wrong way.

Pedestrian Signals

🟠 AMBER (Yellow) – Pedestrians, this is not your time to shine. Do not cross.
🟢 Steady GREEN – Go ahead and cross, but stay alert. Cars should stop, but you never know.
🟢 Flashing GREEN – If you're already walking, finish up. If you're about to start, stay put—AMBER is about to take over.

Hand Signals for Driving: Because Blinkers Aren’t Always an Option 🚗✋

Sometimes, your turn signals betray you (or you're driving a classic car with no indicators). That’s when knowing hand signals comes in clutch. Here’s how to properly communicate your intentions on the road—without causing mass confusion.

🚗 With a Left-Hand Drive (Driver on the Left Side of the Car)

• Turning Right? → Bend your left arm at a 90-degree angle out of the window. (Like you’re flexing, but politely.)
• Turning Left? → Stick your left arm straight out at 180 degrees. (Classic "pointing that way" move.)
• Slowing Down or Stopping? → Extend your arm straight out and move it up and down. (Think of it as "waving" at the car behind you to slow their roll.)

🚗 With a Right-Hand Drive (Driver on the Right Side of the Car)

• Turning Right? → Stick your right arm straight out at 180 degrees. (Point like you mean it.)
• Turning Left? → Bend your right arm at a 90-degree angle out of the window. (Yes, it’s the opposite of a left-hand drive.)
• Slowing Down or Stopping? → Extend your right arm straight out and move it up and down. (Same "slow your roll" wave as before.)

Bonus Tip:
🚦 Always use the stop signal when slowing or stopping near a pedestrian crossing—because no one enjoys a game of guess-when-the-car-will-stop.

Police Hand Signals: Because Sometimes Traffic Lights Take a Break 🚦👮

When a police officer steps into the street and starts waving their arms around, it’s not interpretive dance—it’s traffic control. If you don’t want to be that confused driver holding up the line, here’s how to understand their signals.

🚫 STOP! (Halt, Freeze, Hit the Brakes!)

The officer is telling you to stop. No, not "slow down a little"—STOP.

• If you're approaching from the front → The officer's back of the hand is facing you. This means "do not pass GO, do not collect $200—just stop."
• If you're approaching from behind → The officer has their back turned to you, left arm stretched out to the side (180 degrees), and right arm resting at their side. In other words, they’re ignoring you—because you shouldn’t be moving!
• If you're approaching from BOTH directions → The officer’s right palm is open towards you, while their left arm is stretched out (180 degrees), palm open. It’s a universal "nobody move" signal.

🚗 COME ON THROUGH! (Move It, But Safely!)

The officer is giving you the go-ahead—but only when signaled.

• If you're coming from the front → The officer’s right hand (back of the hand) is facing you, while their left arm is stretched out (180 degrees), palm open towards their right side. This means “Come on, let’s go.”
• If you're coming from behind → The officer has their back turned to you, left arm still stretched (180 degrees), but their right arm is bent at 90 degrees, back of the hand facing you. This is your cue to move forward.
• If you're coming from the side → The officer’s back of the right hand is towards you, while their left arm is stretched out (180 degrees), palm open towards the side. Translation? "You! Yes, you—time to go!"

🚦Pro Tips for Not Annoying the Officer

✔ Pay attention – Don’t be the driver who misses the signal because you were busy adjusting the AC.
✔ Make eye contact – If you're unsure, look at the officer for confirmation (but don’t stare awkwardly).
✔ Move when told – No hesitation, no racing through. Just smooth, responsible driving.

Believe it or not, road sign colors aren’t just random—they all have a specific meaning. So next time you’re driving, you’ll know what they’re trying to tell you (without needing Google Maps to translate).

🔴 RED: "STOP. SERIOUSLY, STOP."

• Used for STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, and WRONG WAY signs.

• Also appears on interstate and state route markers for some extra authority.

• If you see red and don’t stop, expect honking, flashing lights, or a very awkward conversation with law enforcement.

⚫ BLACK: "Strictly Business"

• Background for ONE WAY, night speed limits, and inspection station signs.

• Also used as message text on white, yellow, or orange signs.

• Basically, black signs are here to keep things official and direct—no frills, just facts.

⚪ WHITE: "Rules, Rules, Rules"

• Background color for route markers, guide signs, and certain regulatory signs (like speed limits).

• Also used as message text on brown, green, blue, black, and red backgrounds.

• If a sign is white, it’s probably telling you what not to do. Listen to it.

🟠 ORANGE: "Something’s Under Construction… Probably Forever"

• Used for: Construction and Maintenance signs.

• If you see orange, expect lane closures, detours, and a test of your patience.

• There’s a 50% chance the roadwork will still be there next year.

🟡 YELLOW: "Heads Up!"

• Background color for general warning signs (except construction).

• Also used for school zones, so if you don’t slow down, expect flashing lights and angry parents.

• Yellow signs = "Pay attention or regret it later."

🤎 BROWN: "Nature & History Ahead"

• Used for: Recreational and cultural attraction signs (parks, museums, hiking trails).

• If you’re looking for a fun road trip stop, brown signs are your best friend.

• Bonus: Less traffic than the places with green signs.

💚 GREEN: "Go This Way (or Find Your Way)"

• Used for: Guide signs, mileposts, and some parking signs.

• If you’re lost, green signs will help—unless you ignore them and rely on your "sense of direction" (good luck with that).

🔵 BLUE: "Food, Gas, and Emergency Help This Way"

• Used for: Traveller services (gas stations, restaurants, hospitals) and Civil Defence Evacuation Route markers.

• Seeing a blue sign when your gas tank is running low is like spotting an oasis in the desert.

💛💚 FLUORESCENT YELLOW-GREEN: "People Are Here. Be Nice."

• Used for: Pedestrian, bicycle, and school crossing warnings.

• This is the newest sign color, making roads safer for walkers and bikers.

• If you see this, slow down—unless you want to be that driver who almost took out a crossing guard.

Getting Your License

✅ You must be at least 17 to apply for a Provisional Licence (Learner’s Permit) or a Driver’s License.

✅ You need a Provisional License before taking the Driver’s Test. No shortcuts!

✅ Your Driver’s License expires on the last day of your birth month every renewal period.

✅ A Provisional License expires six months from the issue date—so use it wisely.

Keeping Your License in Check

📄 Always have your license on you while driving. If an officer asks, you have 24 hours to show it if you don’t have it with you.

🚔 If you’re in an accident, you must report it to the police within 24 hours.

📑 If the police ask for your insurance, you have 48 hours to provide it.

Registering & Selling Vehicles

🚗 To register a new car, you need:

Customs Vehicle Information Sheet

Bill of Sale

Valid Insurance Certificate

Approved inspection slip

Registration fee (of course!)

📜 Selling your car? Hand over the Ownership Booklet, Bill of Sale, and endorse the license disk.

🔖 If you sell your car, remove the license plate! Not keeping it? Turn it in to the Road Traffic Controller.

Driving Etiquette & Safety

🌙 At night, dim your headlights at least 300 yards from oncoming traffic—no one likes to be blinded.

🚦 All vehicles must have a rear stop light and a brake light—because, you know, safety.

When Carrying a Long Load

🚩 If your load extends more than 4 feet beyond the back of your vehicle, you must attach a red flag at the end. No flag? You’re asking for trouble (and possibly an accident).

License Plate Rules

🔖 Your car must have a license plate on both the front and back—no excuses.

💡 The rear plate must have a white light so it’s visible at night. If your plate is invisible in the dark, you might just get pulled over.

The Legal Limits (a.k.a. How Much Before You’re in Trouble)

🚗 You’re over the limit if you have:

30 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath (translation: even a little could be too much).

80 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood (translation: if you’re questioning whether you’re okay to drive, you’re probably not).

Other limits for urine exist, but honestly, if we’re talking about urine tests, you’ve already gone too far.

Why Alcohol & Driving Don’t Mix

❌ Your reaction time slows down. What you think is a fast brake is actually 15% slower—just enough time to turn a near miss into a real hit.

❌ Your movements become shaky. Less smooth driving, more "Oops, didn’t mean to swerve like that."

❌ You think you’re driving great. The scariest part? Alcohol makes you feel like you’re a driving god while you’re actually making terrible decisions.

How Much Alcohol Is Too Much?

There’s no universal number. It depends on:

🍷 What you’re drinking (A light beer? A rum punch? A "secret recipe" cocktail?)

🕒 When you’re drinking (Night vs. day matters)

🍔 Food intake (Drinking on an empty stomach? Double trouble.)

🚗 Your driving skills and alcohol tolerance (Neither are as good as you think after a few drinks).

The Only Safe Amount? ZERO.

Forget trying to calculate limits—if you’ve been drinking, don’t drive. Call a cab, phone a friend, walk home, or just stay put. The road (and your life) will thank you. 🚦🚙💨