Traffic signals. Traffic Laws

One of the main means of traffic management are traffic lights. Cars crossing an adjustable intersection are obliged to travel solely on the instructions of these optical devices. This orderliness of the road traffic minimizes the possibility of an accident.

Traffic signals are a means of organizing traffic. In exceptional cases, namely, when the device is operating in a freelance mode, the traffic coordinator is engaged in the coordination of vehicle traffic.

Traffic lights

For the first time the traffic light (semaphore) was installed in London and switched manually. Time, as they say, does not stand still. Everything is being updated, developing, and traffic lights as well. Today we are more used to seeing it as a device installed on the road. Traffic signals - red, yellow and green, are familiar to everyone.

The most common is the traffic light (photo above); On its signals are oriented not only drivers, but also pedestrians. However, in addition to such means of organizing the movement, there are other types used at railway crossings, rivers and so on.

Kinds

Traffic lights are divided into the following types:

• Street.

- Automobile (round);

- Arrowheads;

- with a flashing red signal;

- installed at railway crossings;

- Reversible;

- adapted for pedestrians, cyclists, route vehicles;

- tramway.

• Railway.
• River.
• For motorsports.

Traffic lights for street transport - round

Each of us, as a child, was taught to navigate by signals. The most common source is the three-color circular traffic light, which decorates an adjustable intersection and regulates the movement of vehicles and pedestrians.

What signals are given to traffic participants by a traffic light?

• Red. Prohibits the commencement of the passage / passage of the intersection. The flashing signal of this color has the same value.
• Yellow blinking - the movement is allowed. However, he warns of the danger at the crossroads. It can also inform traffic participants that the traffic light does not work. If there is an adjuster at the intersection, the journey is carried out according to his instructions.
• Yellow. Traffic lights indicate that the traffic is prohibited and informs about the rapid change of color.
• Green. Allows you to move.
• Green flashing. Does not prohibit movement. Informs that the ban will soon begin.

At some traffic lights, a digital scoreboard is installed for more accurate information.

A one-time ignition of two colors (red and yellow) tells drivers of cars, pedestrians and other traffic participants about the prohibition of passage / passage, and that soon green will turn on.

Traffic lights with additional sections and arrows

These devices are installed at more busy intersections. Traffic signals are arrows in the usual colors for us: red, yellow or green, and have the same meaning as the round ones. The difference lies in the direction indicated. It should be noted that the arrow that allows you to turn to the left, also allows you to turn (except when the latter is prohibited by an additional road sign).

A circular traffic light, on the lenses of which the arrows are shown, is located above each strip. It facilitates the orientation of the driver on the carriageway, showing where he can go after the authorization light comes on. And they are similar to the usual round.

A traffic light with additional sections has one more cell with an arrow pointing the direction. That is, movement in a certain direction is allowed only when this signal is green. There is another situation: the additional section and the red prohibition signal light up green at the same time. This means that it is allowed to start moving towards the direction of the arrow only after the vehicles passing the intersection from other directions are missed.

With an additional section, the traffic light (photo) can be seen at the bottom.

For a better orientation and avoiding an erroneous rotation, a black contour arrow is displayed on the main green lens. Even in the dark, when the switched off additional section at the traffic light can simply not be noticed, the drivers of vehicles will be aware of its availability.

SDA: reverse traffic light

On some sections of the highway at certain times huge congestion is being collected. To speed up traffic and not create many-hour traffic jams, on the roads are introduced bands with reversible movement, that is, changing direction depending on the signal of the traffic light. Each strip has its own, according to the SDA.

The traffic light has three sections. In the first red sign "X". In the second section there is a yellow arrow, in the third - green. Accordingly, the red signal - prohibits movement, green - allows, and yellow warns. In the second section, the direction of the arrow may change to the right or left and indicate where to go after the enable signal lights up. With the reversed traffic light turned off, traffic on the lanes is prohibited.

Traffic lights for pedestrians and cyclists

This means of organizing traffic has only two colors - it's red and green. The lens depicts the silhouette of a pedestrian or a bicyclist. Green allows movement, red - prohibits.

To arrange the passage of bicyclists, a traffic light with round signals is sometimes used, under which an informational tablet is installed. It has the following appearance - a white background on which a black bicycle is depicted.

To attract attention, as well as for blind pedestrians, traffic lights are equipped with an audible signal. It is given when the green light is illuminated, allowing the passage of the roadway.

Technical means of regulating the movement of trams

For motor vehicles, which are allocated a separate strip, a special traffic light can be installed. It has four round lenses of the same color - white-lunar. These signals are arranged in the form of the letter "T".

It is quite easy to navigate such a traffic light. In it, three lenses are arranged in a row, and the fourth in the center below. The movement of trams is permitted when two signals are illuminated simultaneously. So, for the journey, the lower lens must be directly turned on and in the upper row the central lens. The combination of the two signals informs the driver that the traffic is directly allowed. When the lower lens is on and the right / left upper tram can be turned in the corresponding direction. Passage is prohibited in all directions, when the traffic lights are illuminated by the three upper signals. This combination is a kind of demand for a tram stop.

This traffic signal is obliged to be used by drivers of route vehicles, which are allocated a certain band. In our country it is most often trams. Nevertheless, other road users should take into account the traffic light with white-lunar lenses. After all, with the simultaneous placing signal of different traffic lights, rail vehicles have priority.

Round white-lunar flashing traffic lights are installed and before the railway crossings. The included lenses allow you to travel through the paths. In comparison with the round traffic light that is usual for us, this signal is similar to green, which allows movement.

If the lens does not blink white-lunar, but on the contrary - it burns red, the crossing of the railway tracks is permitted in the absence of rail transport in the zone of visibility. In this situation, do not rush. It is better to slowly assess the situation at the crossing. Remember that on many railways there is a left-hand traffic.

Penalties

The most common driver error is the travel to the prohibiting traffic light signal. For the first time for a violation, your wallet will lose one thousand rubles.

If I went by red the second time, the payment will be much higher: five thousand rubles to the state treasury or the deprivation of the driver's license for up to six months.

It is worth noting that the penalty is issued not only for the passage to the red light, but also for yellow, as well as their combination.

Reminder for novice drivers

Carefully evaluate the situation on the road. It is better to delay a little, than to hurry and become the initiator of a traffic accident.

Try not to lose sight of a single sign or markup. After all, initially incorrectly occupied position on the roadway will not allow you to make a planned maneuver.

Undoubtedly, every road user (whether driver or pedestrian) is required to know the traffic rules and move in accordance with them.