Want a full guide to the New Hampshire road signs?
Then you’ve come to the right place.
Here, we’re going to look at the meaning and visual aids for:
- Traffic signals
- Traffic signs
- Pavement markings
And when you know and follow these road signs, you can fulfill 1 or all 3 of these:
- Ace your New Hampshire knowledge test
- Avoid getting annoying tickets
- Be a safe and responsible driver
So let’s get right to it!
New Hampshire Traffic Signals
Traffic signals are pretty basic — all drivers, and even non-drivers, know their meaning.
But just in case you need reminding, let’s quickly go over the traffic signals in New Hampshire.
Steady Traffic Lights
You’ll usually see traffic signals showing steady lights. Here are what the three colors mean:
GREEN
It allows you to proceed and cross an intersection. However, you must yield the right-of-way if vehicles and pedestrians are already there.
YELLOW
Contrary to popular belief, speeding up when you see a yellow light might not be the best thing to do. Instead, you should begin slowing down and preparing to stop since a yellow light means the traffic signal’s about to turn red. That said, if you are already at the intersection, you can still cross.
RED
You have to stop before the intersection. Ensure you stay behind the crosswalk or stop line and remain there until the light turns green.
There is one exception to a red light — turning right. You can proceed with care at a right turn even when the light is red unless a traffic sign prohibits it. Make sure that there’s also a pedestrian Don’t Walk sign or signal at the intersection.
Flashing Traffic Lights
There are times you’ll notice that the traffic signal is flashing lights. When you’re in this situation, here’s what you have to do:
YELLOW
You don’t have to stop for a flashing yellow light. However, always slow down and proceed with caution.
RED
A flashing red light means you must stop behind the crosswalk, intersection, or stop line. However, you can continue crossing the intersection with care after yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians and vehicles.
Arrow Traffic Lights
Other times you’ll see an arrow on a traffic signal instead of a light. These come in the same colors — red, yellow, and green. Here’s what each of them means:
🡨
You can proceed in the direction the arrow is pointing. However, if pedestrians or other vehicles are in the intersection, you must yield the right-of-way.
🡨
Begin to slow down, but you can still proceed in the direction the arrow is pointing.
🡨
You cannot turn left if the arrow is red. However, a right turn is possible as long your situation meets these conditions:
- There is no traffic sign prohibiting a right turn on a red signal
- There is a pedestrian Don’t Walk signal displayed
New Hampshire Traffic Signs
Okay, let’s move on to something more complex — traffic signs.
In New Hampshire, there are 6 types of signs. These are:
- Warning signs
- Regulatory signs
- Route number signs
- Guide signs
- Railroad warning signs
- Work zone signs
To make it easier for you, these signs come in different colors and shapes. Let’s first look at that before reviewing the signs.
Sign Colors
New Hampshire uses 7 colors for its traffic signs. Each color indicates a purpose.
Here’s a rundown:
□
Means stop or prohibit you from doing something
□
Gives guidance or direction
□
Leads you to driver services facilities
□
Warns you of possible dangers
□
Shows road rules and regulations
□
Used in construction or work zones
□
Directs you to recreational or tourist spots
Sign Shapes
The sign shape allows you to determine the signs’ purposes, too.
Here are the 8 you’ll often encounter in New Hampshire.
▭ – guide signs
⚪– Warns of a nearby railroad crossing
Warning Signs
As its name implies, warning signs alert you of potential road hazards. Most are diamond-shaped and bright yellow, so they’re easy to spot.
When you see a warning sign, it’s best to slow down.
Here is a table showing you some examples of warning signs in New Hampshire.
 Cross Road Ahead |  Side Road Ahead |  T-Intersection Ahead |  Y-Intersection Ahead |
 Curvy Road Ahead |  Right Curve |  Divided Highway Begins |  Divided Highway Ends |
 Lane Ends |  Merging Traffic |  Added Lane |  Traffic Signal Ahead |
 Stop Sign Ahead |  Sharp Turn Ahead |  Advisory Speed Around Curve |  School Crossing |
 Pedestrian Crossing |  Share the Road with Bicycles |  Bicycle Crossing |  Slippery When Wet |
Regulatory Signs
Regulatory signs help implement traffic laws.
As we saw, these are usually rectangular, but there are some exemptions. For example, the stop and yield signs have an octagon and triangle (inverted) shape.
As for the color, most of them are white with black letters. However, regulatory signs that prohibit some actions usually show a red circle with a slash.
Now, obeying a regulatory sign is crucial — not doing so might result in a violation.
Here are some regulatory signs to watch out for in New Hampshire:
 Stop Sign | You must complete a full stop before reaching an intersection (behind a stop line or crosswalk). You may proceed in the direction you’re traveling after yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians and/or vehicles. |
 Yield Sign | You must slow down and yield to vehicles with the right-of-way before entering the intersection. |
 Speed Limit | Indicates the fastest you can go in an area. |
 Shared Center Lane, Left Turn Only | It indicates which lane is used primarily for turning left. |
 One Way | It tells you that traffic only goes in one direction (where the arrow points). |
Other regulatory signs are as follows:
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
Route Number Signs
Depending on its design, route number signs can show interstate, US, state, city, county, or local routes.
Here are some examples:
Remember the following regarding route number signs:
- Interstate routes with even numbers move from west to east or vice versa. Those with odd digits move from north to south or vice versa.
- Three-numbered routes beginning with an odd digit are those going into a city. Those starting with even numbers go through or around a city.
Guide Signs
Guide signs come in different colors. Green ones help you get to cities or towns. Brown ones alert you to tourist attractions. Blue ones point you to service facilities.
Here are some examples:
 |  |  |  |
Railroad Warning Signs
Railroad crossings require a lot of care — it’s too easy to get into an accident if you aren’t paying attention. Fortunately, New Hampshire ensures signs are there to let drivers know they’re approaching one.
Before you even get to a highway-railroad grade crossing, you’ll see a yellow circular sign with an X and two Rs. When you encounter it, slow down and keep your eyes and ears open for oncoming trains.
If there is a train, you must stop before a stop line. If that isn’t present, ensure you’re at least 15 feet away from the nearest rail. However, don’t stop too far — more than 50 feet might impede traffic.
Work Zone Signs
Work zone signs are similar to warning signs (these are diamond-shaped, too) but are orange instead of yellow.
Here are examples of work zone signs in New Hampshire:
 Flagger Ahead |  Workers Ahead |  Road Construction Ahead |
 One Lane Road Ahead |  Detour |
Hazards in a work zone are different, so ensure you follow the traffic signs.
If there is a flagger directing you where to go, always follow them.
You may even see barriers to prevent traffic from interfering with dangerous areas. Examples of these are the following:
New Hampshire Pavement Markings
Lastly, let’s look at the pavement markings in New Hampshire.
These markings are found on the road and help traffic flow.
- Single, dashed lines: These come in either white or yellow and divide a road into lanes. The white lines indicate that traffic flows in the same direction. The yellow ones mean traffic goes in opposite directions.
Also, with dashed lines, you can pass other vehicles. However, ensure that it’s safe to do so before proceeding.
- Solid lines (white or yellow): These indicate that passing other vehicles is prohibited.
- Solid and dashed lines (white or yellow): If the lines on your side are solid, you can’t pass other vehicles. If you are on the side with the dashed lines, you are allowed to pass.
- Edge markings: These indicate where the side of the road ends. On one-way streets, edge markings are yellow on the left and white on the right.
- Crosswalks: These indicate where pedestrians can cross. You must always look out for these and slow down when you see them — a pedestrian might be crossing.
- Arrows: White arrows on lanes tell you where you must go (either straight or turn).
- Shared Center Turn Lane: You can only make left turns here, but vehicles from both directions can use it.
The Wrap Up
Remember, every signal, sign, and marking plays its part in keeping New Hampshire roadways safe.
Knowing what each one means, and following it, will make you a better and safer driver. If not, then it will certainly help you ace the knowledge test or avoid getting tickets.
And if it’s too much for you to memorize, just familiarize yourself with the colors and shapes. From there, you can easily figure out the meaning.
So that concludes your complete guide to New Hampshire road signs.