Traffic Control
Signs, traffic signals, pavement markings, and traffic officers — summarized from the official New York State Driver's Manual, with a free practice quiz.
Signs
- Regulation signs
- White rectangles with black letters or symbols (some use red)
- Warning signs
- Yellow and diamond-shaped, with black letters or symbols
- Work area signs
- Orange, with black letters or symbols
- Destination signs
- Green, with white letters and symbols
- Service signs
- Blue, with white letters or symbols
- Stop sign
- Red with white letters — full stop, yield, go when safe
- Yield sign
- Red and white triangle — slow down, prepare to stop if needed
Traffic signals
- Steady red
- Stop. A green arrow with a red light lets you go only toward the arrow
- Flashing red
- Same as a stop sign — stop, yield, go when safe
- Steady yellow
- Light is about to turn red — be prepared to stop
- Flashing yellow
- Drive with caution — no stop required
- Red arrow
- No turn in that direction until it changes, even on red
- Green / green arrow
- Go, but still yield the right-of-way as required
- Right turn on red
- Allowed after a full stop, unless a sign says otherwise (never in NYC unless posted)
Pavement markings
- One broken line
- Pass or change lanes if safe and traffic isn't interfered with
- Solid + broken line
- You may pass only from the broken-line side
- Double solid lines
- No passing or lane changes — cross only to turn left into a driveway
- One solid line
- Pass only if road obstructions or conditions make it necessary
- Edge line angling inward
- Warns the road is getting narrower ahead
- Stop / crosswalk lines
- Stop before the line — or before the crosswalk if there's no line
- Diamond symbol
- Marks reserved lanes for buses, carpools, or other qualifying vehicles
Traffic officers
- Priority
- A traffic officer's directions override any sign, signal, or pavement marking
- Who counts
- Police officers, fire police, flag persons, school crossing guards, school bus drivers
- Example
- If an officer waves you through a red light or stop sign, you must go
Summarized from the official New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 4: Traffic Control. Always confirm anything safety-critical against the official NY DMV manual.
Now test yourself
18 real questions from the official Chapter 4 quiz, with answers verified against the manual.
Chapter 4 — FAQ
What does Chapter 4 of the NY DMV manual cover?▾
Chapter 4, Traffic Control, covers signs (by shape and color), traffic signals (steady and flashing), pavement markings (lane lines, stop lines, crosswalks), and the priority of traffic officers over signs and signals.
Is Chapter 4 tested on the real New York permit exam?▾
Yes. The New York DMV website states that chapters 4 through 11, plus the road signs section, cover the material tested on the written knowledge test for a Class D, DJ, or E learner permit.
Who has priority: a traffic officer or a traffic light?▾
A traffic officer always takes priority over signs, signals, and pavement markings. If an officer directs you to stop at a green light or go through a red light, you must follow the officer.
Is this an official New York DMV page?▾
No. This is an independent study guide summarizing the official New York State Driver's Manual. For the original text, see the New York DMV website.