Categories by Shapes

• Diamond signs indicate priority

• Red triangle signs post warnings

• Red circles indicate restrictions

• Blue circles identify requirements

• Square signs and rectangular signs give guidance

Categories by color

• Red signs give negative information such as a prohibition or a warning.

• Blue signs give positive information, instructing road users in what to do rather than telling them what not to do. For example, signs for rest stops, bike paths, or parking garages.

Signs and Signals for Train crossings

• Level Train crossings without barriers—designated by 3 triangular signs placed at 80 meter intervals. The triangular sign is on the top of a post with painted with diagonal hash marks.

  • 1st sign: Three red diagonal hash marks, indicating a crossing in 240 meters
  • 2nd sign: Two red diagonal hash marks, indicating a crossing in 180 meters
  • 3rd sign: One red diagonal hash mark, indicating a crossing in 80 meters

• Train approaching—a flashing red beacon and/or a continuous bell. Proceed when the beacon changes to white or amber and/or the bells stops ringing.

• Turn off your headlights while waiting at a crossing.

European Traffic signals

• A solid or flashing amber light generally precedes the red and the green light—This is a significant difference for USA drivers.

• A green arrow to the right beneath a red light allows you to make a yielding right turn. Do not turn if both lights are red.

• No right turn on red.

• A protected left turn—only when there is a green arrow both pointing left and on the left side of the intersection.

• A yielding left turn—only when there is a green arrow both pointing left and on the right side of the intersection.

• Traffic signals are often turned off or flash yellow at night.

Road Markings

Signs in cities:

• Street signs are generally posted one story up on buildings, not on poles at intersections.

• The name of a street may change frequently as you drive from one area to another.
  Main roads may not be indicated on a sign, while local cross streets will be.

Priority:

• A sign with two arrows pointing in opposite directions. If one arrow is red, traffic moving in that direction must yield to traffic moving in the opposite direction.

Maps:

United States: http://www.aaroads.com/

Map Quest: http://www.mapquest.com/

Routes International http://www.routesinternational.com

World Highways http://www.worldhighways.com/

Bikeroute http://www.bikeroute.com/

The Road Information Program (TRIP-US) http://www.tripnet.org/

Michelin Travel Publications, 1 Parkway S, Greenville, SC 29615. Call 803/4586330.