2.2 Signals and Pavement Markings

Traffic Signals

Traffic signals are one of the three traffic-control devices — signals, signs, and pavement markings — the Washington Driver Guide says you must look for and obey. One rule overrides them all: when a police officer, flagger, construction worker, or school crossing guard directs traffic, their hand signals overrule the lights. If an officer waves you through a red light, you go; if a flagger holds a STOP paddle at a green light, you stop.

Steady (Solid) Lights

• Steady red: Stop behind the stop line or crosswalk and wait. After a full stop you may turn right on red (unless a No Turn on Red sign is posted) and may turn left on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street, yielding to pedestrians and cross traffic.
• Steady yellow: The light is changing to red — slow down and prepare to stop. You may not accelerate beyond the speed limit to beat it. If you are already in the intersection, continue through.
• Steady green: Go, but first let the intersection clear and yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and any emergency vehicles.

Arrows and Lane-Use Signals

• Red arrow: Stop — you may not go in the direction of the arrow, and (unlike a red ball) most red arrows do not permit a turn on red.
• Yellow arrow: The protected movement is ending; prepare to stop or to yield.
• Green arrow: Go in the direction of the arrow with a protected right-of-way — oncoming and crossing traffic is being held.
• Flashing yellow arrow: You may turn in that direction, but you must yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians first.
• Lane-use control signals: A green down-arrow means the lane below it is open in your direction; a red X means the lane is closed — do not drive in it; a yellow X means clear the lane because it is about to close or reverse.

Flashing Lights and Dark Signals

• Flashing red: Functions exactly like a stop sign — make a full stop, then proceed when it is your turn.
• Flashing yellow: Has the same meaning as a yield sign — slow down, treat the intersection as uncontrolled, and go when you have the right-of-way.
• Signal dark / not working: Treat the intersection as a four-way stop. Stop fully and yield to traffic on your right.

Pavement (Road) Markings

Road markings are lines, arrows, and symbols painted on the roadway. They divide lanes and show where you may pass or change lanes. Two color rules and two pattern rules unlock almost every marking question.

Color tells you direction:

• Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions — they mark the center of a two-way road.
• White lines separate lanes of traffic moving the same direction, and mark the right edge of the road and bike lanes.

Pattern tells you permission:

• Solid line: stay in your lane / do not cross to pass.
• Broken (dashed) line: you may cross to pass or change lanes when it is safe.

Key Washington Marking Rules

• Double solid yellow centerline: No passing in either direction.
• Solid yellow with a dashed yellow: You may pass only if the dashed line is on your side.
• Double solid white lines: A barrier between lanes — it is illegal to cross them.
• Single solid white line: Discourages lane changes (often near intersections); cross only when necessary.
• Edge lines: A solid white line marks the right edge; a solid yellow line marks the left edge on divided highways and one-way roads.
• Stop line / crosswalk: A wide solid white “stop bar” shows where to stop for a sign or signal; white crosswalk lines mark where pedestrians cross — stop before them.
• Two-way left-turn (center) lane: Bounded by a solid yellow line outside and a dashed yellow line inside, with left-turn arrows. Vehicles from either direction use it to turn left; do not travel more than 300 feet in it and never use it to pass.
• HOV / carpool lane: Marked with a diamond symbol and separated by a solid white line; motorcycles are allowed.

Example: You are on a two-lane road and the centerline is solid yellow on your side and dashed yellow on the oncoming side. Pattern beats color here: passing is tied to the dashed line. The dashed line is on the oncoming side, so oncoming drivers may pass when clear — but the solid line on your side means you may not pass.

Signal Quick-Reference

Line-Type Quick-Reference