Civic Education, SS 1, Week 7
Topic: Traffic Regulation
Contents:
- Meaning of Traffic Regulation
- Some Traffic Regulations
- Road signs
Meaning of Traffic Regulation
Traffic regulation can be defined as the rules and regulations which guide the behavior or action of road users. This is in place in order to prevent accidents and enhance the free flow of traffic.
Traffic signs or road signs are signs erected at the side of or above roads to give instructions or provide information to road users.
Some Traffic rules and regulation
- Do not drink and drive: Users of road should avoid to alcohol before and while driving
- Vigilance: Pedestrians crossing roads should be vigilant in order not to cause accidents.
- Avoid hands free / earpiece: All road users are required to avoid all forms of hand free/ earpiece as this may not allow them to hear well and concentrate.
- Wearing of seat belt: Motorist are expected to wear the seat -belt whenever they are driving, passengers should also use the seat belt where they are provided
- Noise pollution: All road users are expected to guide against noise pollution. Drivers of vehicles should not blow their horns excessively to disturb or distract others
- Obstruction parking: All road users should avoid packing on the road as this may lead to obstruction for other road users, thereby leading to heavy traffic.
- Making calls while driving: Making and receiving of calls should be avoided while driving as this can cause distraction and lead to accident.
- Use of trafficator: Road users should trafficate before entering or leaving the road to indicate and create awareness for other vehicles coming behind; this will help to avoid accident
- Speed limit: All road users should avoid packing on the road as this may lead to obstruction for other road users, thereby leading to heavy traffic
- Bridges and zebra crossing point: Pedestrians should use pedestrians bridges or zebra crossing points where they are provided
Road Signs
Road signs are symbols which help road users gain full information about road. In other to avoid accidents. These signs are grouped into
- Regulatory signs: These are signs that appear often in circular shapes. “They are divided into
(a). Mandatory regulatory signs: Mandatory regulatory signs appear with blue circles but without red border such as diversion signs , roundabout sign etc. Examples are:
(b). Prohibitive Regulatory signs: They are signs with red and yellow circles. They are Stop sign, No light sign etc.The color red for regulatory signs as a background color to denote restriction and as a circular outline and diagonal bar a prohibitory symbol.
2. Informative Signs: They are provided to give required information to road users. they appear rectangular in shape. is a very legibly printed and very noticeable placard that informs people of the purpose of an object, or gives them instruction on the use of something
3. Warning Signs: These will be used to call attention to hazardous conditions, actual or potential, that would otherwise be readily apparent.
Mandatory Signs
4. Prohibitory Signs: They provide information on the prohibitions and failure to comply with these signs constitutes an offence.
5. Directional Signs: These signs provide information on the road that you are approaching.
6. Other Signs: They consist of different signs such as pedestrian crossing signs and facility signs, which users should heed and/or obey.
Entry to 20 mph zone
End of 20 mph zone
Maximum speed
National speed limit applies
School crossing patrol
Stop and give way
Give way to traffic on major road
Manually operated temporary
STOP and GO signs
No entry for vehicular traffic
No vehicles except bicycles being pushed
No cycling
No motor vehicles
No buses (over 8 passenger seats)
No overtaking
No towed caravans
No vehicles carrying explosives
No vehicle or combination of vehicles over length shown
No vehicles over height shown
No vehicles over width shown
Give priority to vehicles from opposite direction
No right turn
No left turn
No U-turns
No goods vehicles over maximum gross weight shown (in tonnes) except for loading and unloading
No vehicles over maximum gross weight shown (in tonnes)
Parking restricted to permit holders
No waiting
No stopping during period indicated except for buses
No stopping (Clearway)
No stopping during times shown except for as long as necessary to set down or pick up passengers
Signs with blue circles but no red border mostly give positive instruction.
Ahead only
Turn left ahead (right if symbol reversed)
Turn left (right if symbol reversed)
Keep left (right if symbol reversed)
Vehicles may pass either side to reach same destination
Mini-roundabout (roundabout circulation – give way to vehicles from the immediate right)
Route to be used by pedal cycles only
Segregated pedal cycle and pedestrian route
Minimum speed
End of minimum speed
Buses and cycles only
Trams only
Pedestrian crossing point over tramway
One-way traffic
With-flow bus and cycle lane
Contra-flow bus lane
With-flow pedal cycle lane
Warning Signs
Mostly triangular
Distance to ‘STOP’ line ahead
Dual carriage-way ends
Road narrows on right (left if symbol reversed)
Road narrows on both sides
Distance to ‘Give Way’ line ahead
Crossroads
Junction on bend ahead
T-junction with priority over vehicles from the right
Staggered junction
Traffic merging from left ahead
Double bend first to left (symbol may be reversed)
Bend to right (or left if symbol reversed)
Roundabout
Uneven road
Plate below some signs
Two-way traffic crosses one-way road
Two-way traffic straight ahead
Opening or swing bridge ahead
Low-flying aircraft or sudden aircraft noise
Falling or fallen rocks
Traffic signals not in use
Traffic signals
Slippery road
Steep hill downwards
Steep hill upwards
Tunnel ahead
Trams crossing ahead
Level crossing with barrier or gate ahead
Level crossing without barrier or gate ahead
Level crossing without barrier
School crossing patrol ahead (some signs have amber lights which flash when children are crossing)
Frail (or blind or disabled if shown) pedestrians likely to cross road ahead
Pedestrians in road ahead
Zebra crossing
Overhead electric cable; plate indicates maximum height of vehicles which can pass safely
Available width of headroom indicated
Sharp deviation of route to left (or right if chevrons reversed)
Light signals ahead at level crossing, airfield or bridge
Miniature warning lights at level crossings
Cattle
Wild animals
Wild horses or ponies
Accompanied horses or ponies
Cycle route ahead
Risk of ice
Traffic queues likely ahead
Distance over which road humps extend
Other danger; plate indicates nature of danger
Soft verges
Side winds
Hump bridge
Worded warning sign
Quayside or river bank
Risk of grounding
Direction signs
Mostly rectangular
Signs on motorways – blue backgrounds
At a junction leading directly into a motorway (junction number may be shown on a black background)
On approaches to junctions (junction number on black background)
Route confirmatory sign after junction
Downward pointing arrows mean ‘Get in lane’. The left-hand lane leads to a different destination from the other lanes.
The panel with the inclined arrow indicates the destinations which can be reached by leaving the motorway at the next junction
Signs on primary routes – green backgrounds
On approaches to junctions
At the junction
Route confirmatory sign after junction
On approaches to junctions
Primary route forming part of a ring road
On approach to a junction in Wales (bilingual)
Signs on non-primary and local routes – black borders
On approaches to junctions
At the junction
Direction to toilets with access for the disabled
Other direction signs
Picnic site
Ancient monument in the care of English Heritage
Direction to a car park
Tourist attraction
Direction to camping and caravan site
Advisory route for lorries
Route for pedal cycles forming part of a network
Recommended route for pedal cycles to place shown
Route for pedestrians
Diversion route
Symbols showing emergency diversion route for motorway and other main road traffic
Information Signs
All rectangular
Entrance to controlled parking zone
Entrance to congestion charging zone
End of controlled parking zone
Advance warning of restriction or prohibition ahead
Parking place for solo motorcycles
With-flow bus lane ahead which pedal cycles and taxis may also use
Lane designated for use by high occupancy vehicles (HOV) – see rule 142
Vehicles permitted to use an HOV lane ahead
End of motorway
Start of motorway and point from which motorway regulations apply
Appropriate traffic lanes at junction ahead
Traffic on the main carriageway coming from right has priority over joining traffic
Additional traffic joining from left ahead. Traffic on main carriageway has priority over joining traffic from right hand lane of slip road.
Traffic in right hand lane of slip road joining the main carriageway has priority over left hand lane.
‘Countdown’ markers at exit from motorway
Motorway service area sign showing the operator’s name
Traffic has priority over oncoming vehicles
Hospital ahead with Accident and Emergency facilities
Tourist information point
No through road for vehicles
Recommended route for pedal cycles
Home Zone Entry
Area in which cameras are used to enforce traffic regulations
Bus lane on road at junction ahead
Road works signs
Road works
Loose chippings
Temporary hazard at road works
Temporary lane closure (the number and position of arrows and red bars may be varied according to lanes open and closed)
Slow moving or stationary works vehicle blocking traffic lane. Pass in the direction shown by the arrow
Mandatory speed limit ahead
Road works 1 mile ahead
End of road works and any temporary restrictions
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