Roadsafty Unit 4
Roadsafty Unit 4
Traffic signs are means for exercising control on or passing information to the road
users. They may be regulatory, warning, or informative.
Regulatory signs: These signs require the driver to obey the signs for the
safety of other road users.
Warning signs:These signs are for the safety of oneself who is driving and
advice the drivers to obey these signs.
Informative signs: These signs provide information to the driver about the facilities available
ahead, and the route and distance to reach the specific destinations
Special types of traffic signs namely work zone signs are used to give warning to
the road users when some construction work is going on the road. They are placed
only for short duration and are removed soon after the work is over and when the
road is brought back to its normal condition.
Regulatory signs
These signs are also called mandatory signs because it is mandatory that the drivers
must obey these signs. If the driver fails to obey them, the control agency has the
right to take legal action against the driver. These signs are primarily meant for the
safety of other road users. These signs have generally black legend on a white
background. They are circular in shape with red borders. The regulatory signs can
be further classified into :
1. Right of way series: These include two unique signs that assign the right of
way to the selected approaches of an intersection. They are the STOP sign and
GIVE WAY sign For example, when one minor road and major road meets at an
intersection, preference should be given to the vehicles passing through the major
road. Hence the give way sign board will be placed on the minor road to inform the
driver on the minor road that he should give way for the vehicles on the major road.
In case two major roads are meeting, then the traffic engineer decides based on the
traffic on which approach the sign board has to be placed. Stop sign is another
example of regulatory signs that comes in right of way series which requires the
driver to stop the vehicle at the stop line.
2. Speed series: Number of speed signs may be used to limit the speed of the
vehicle on the road. They include typical speed limit signs, truck speed, minimum
speed signs etc. Speed limit signs are placed to limit the speed of the vehicle to a
particular speed for many reasons. Separate truck speed limits are applied on high
speed roadways where heavy commercial vehicles must be limited to slower speeds
than passenger cars for safety reasons. Minimum speed limits are applied on high
speed roads like expressways, freeways etc. where safety is again a predominant
reason. Very slow vehicles may present hazard to themselves and other vehicles
also.
3. Movement series: They contain a number of signs that affect specific vehicle
maneuvers. These include turn signs, alignment signs, exclusion signs, one way
signs etc. Turn signs include turn prohibitions and lane use control signs. Lane use
signs make use of arrows to specify the movements which all vehicles in the lane
must take. Turn signs are used to safely accommodate turns in unsignalized
intersections.
4. Parking series: They include parking signs which indicate not only parking
prohibitions or restrictions, but also indicate places where parking is permitted, the
type of vehicle to be parked, duration for parking etc.
5. Pedestrian series: They include both legend and symbol signs. These signs
are meant for the safety of pedestrians and include signs indicating pedestrian only
roads, pedestrian crossing sites etc.
6. Miscellaneous: Wide variety of signs that are included in this category are:
a "KEEP OF MEDIAN" sign, signs indicating road closures, signs restricting vehicles
carrying hazardous cargo or substances, signs indicating vehicle weight limitations
etc.
Warning signs
Warning signs or cautionary signs give information to the driver about the impending
road condition. They advice the driver to obey the rules. These signs are meant for
the own safety of drivers. They call for extra vigilance from the part of drivers. The
color convention used for this type of signs is that the legend will be black in color
with a white background. The shape used is upward triangular or diamond shape
with red borders. Some of the examples for this type of signs are shown below
Informative signs
Informative signs also called guide signs, are provided to assist the drivers to reach
their desired destinations. These are predominantly meant for the drivers who are
unfamiliar to the place. The guide signs are redundant for the users who are
accustomed to the location.
Some of the examples for these type of signs are route markers, destination
signs, mile posts, service information, recreational and cultural interest
area signing etc. Route markers are used to identify numbered highways. They have
designs that are distinctive and unique. They are written black letters on yellow
background. Destination signs are used to indicate the direction to the critical
destination points, and to mark important intersections. Distance in kilometers are
sometimes marked to the right side of the destination. They are, in general,
rectangular with the long dimension in the horizontal direction. They are color coded
as white letters with green background.
Mile posts are provided to inform the driver about the progress along a route to reach
his destination. Service guide signs give information to the driver regarding various
services such as food, fuel, medical assistance etc. They are written with white
letters on blue background. Information on historic, recreational and other cultural
area is given on white letters with brown background.
LOCATION OF SIGNS
Paveme
nt Marking
Whenever you see white and yellow color lines divide travel
lanes or mark the center of the road, they indicated if the traffic
is traveling in one or two directions. The yellow line separates
traffic in opposite directions and the white line separates traffic
lanes moving in the same direction.
1. Longitudinal Markings.
2. Yellow Center Line Pavement Markings & Warrants.
3. White Lane Line Pavement Markings.
4. Edge Line Pavement Markings.
5. Raised Pavement Markers (Rpm).
6. Roundabout pavement markings
Let discuss in details sign signals and pavement markings on
the road.
3. No-Passing Zones
One Direction
No-Passing Zone Pavement Markings
Double yellow line: one normal broken line and one
normal solid line passing is acceptable for traffic adjacent to the
broken line and prohibited for traffic adjacent to the solid line.
White
Lane marking for Same Direction of Travel
White pavement markings define traffic lanes with the same
direction of travel. These markings should be placed on
the pavement with two or more adjoining traffic lanes in
the same direction of travel (unless required
for reversible lanes).
Broken White Line – Vehicles May Change Lane
Solid White Line: it requires drivers to settle within
the lane and marks the shoulder of the roadway.
Broken White Line: In the broken white line motorists may
change lanes if it is safe to do so.
Normal solid white lines can be used for defining the right-
hand edge of the roadway.
Yield lines are also called Give Way Line instruct drivers where
a yield is intended or obligated at an intersection
or roundabout restrained by a yield sign.
Pe
destrian Crosswalk Pavement Markings
Depending on the detection, multiple traffic laws state that
a crosswalk exists at an intersection even if or not it is
marked. Crosswalk markings describe and outline routes
for signalized intersections and on approaches to where traffic
stops. These crosswalks alert road users
to nominate pedestrian crossings across roadways that are
not restrained by signals or signs.
Colours employed
White: Generally to all markings
Yellow: No overtaking zones
Obstructions to Approaches
Parking restrictions
Black : Alternate with white for kerb
markings
v Materials
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LONGITUDINAL MARKINGS
INTERSECTIONAL MARKINGS
§ Stop Lines
§ Give way Lines
§ Pedestrian Crossings
§ Cyclist Crossings
§ Marking on approach to
Intersection
§ Marking on Speed
Change Lane
§ Directional arrows
§ Protected Right Turn
lanes
§ Marking on Rotaries
§ Box Markings SINGLE SOLID LINE
§ Continuity Lines
W = 100 FOR RURAL AREAS; W=150 FOR
URBAN AREAS
HAZARDOUS LOCATION MARKINGS
OBJECT MARKINGS
LONGITUDINAL MARKINGS
CENTRE BARRIER LINE MARKING FOR A SIX CENTRE BARRIER LINE MARKING FOR A
LANE ROAD Four LANE ROAD
NOTE: FIGURES IN BRACKETS TO BE USED NOTE: FIGURES IN BRACKETS TO BE
ON CURVES AND APPROACHES TO USED ON CURVES AND APPROACHES
INTERSECTIONS TO INTERSECTIONS
WARNING LINE MARKINGS MARKINGS AT A SHARP CURVE
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OUTER SEPARATOR UPTO 10m WIDTH OUTER SEPARATOR WIDER THAN 10m
WIDTH
GIVE WAY AND STOP MARKINGS
Traffic lanes are normally single broken On undivided highways with more
lines of 100 mm width than 3 lanes, there is hardly any
need for a vehicle to cross the centre
In urban areas the length of line segment line for overtaking. A double solid
is 1.5 m with a gap of 3 m in between centre line is prescribed for such
segments. On curves gap can be locations
reduced to 1.5 m. In rural areas the gaps
and segments shall be 3 m and 6 m A solid centre line intended for
establishing no overtaking shall be in
Solid lane lines shall be used in yellow colour
approaches to intersections and in other
areas where lane changes are to be On sharp curves, where no
restricted overtaking zone markings are
required, they can be splayed to form
a shape of central island with an
internal width of 600 mm provided
there is ample space on either side
to enable vehicles to negotiate the
bend with reasonable comfort
without crossing the lanes. The area
within the splay and parallel must be
hatched with inclined 150 mm thick
lines at 2 m spacing.
BOX MARKINGS