Are you preparing for your knowledge test?
Maybe you want to avoid getting pesky tickets.
Or maybe you’re just trying to be the safest driver out there.
Whatever the case, it’s a MUST to know and obey the different road signs in New Jersey.
This is why, here, we’re going to give you a complete guide to New Jersey road signs, traffic signals, and pavement markings.
With this, you’ll be able to fulfill whatever you came here for.
So let’s dive right in!
New Jersey Traffic Signals
If there’s one thing all drivers and non-drivers are familiar with, it’s traffic signals. No matter, it’s still important to get a brief rundown.
Now, traffic signals are usually found in intersections. It controls the flow of traffic so that there’s no chance of an accident.
Traffic signals can be vertical (which is more common) or horizontal. The former always has the red light on top, while the latter has it on the left.
For a brief rundown, let’s see what the different lights and arrows mean.
Steady Red Light | You must bring your vehicle to a complete stop when the light is red. Ensure that you stop before the crosswalk or the intersection. |
Steady Yellow Light | Seeing a yellow light means you should slow down because the light is about to turn red. Be ready to stop before you enter the intersection or reach the crosswalk. However, if you’re too near and stopping becomes more of a hazard, continue with caution. |
Steady Green Light | A green light indicates that you can cross the intersection. It’s essential to yield the right of way to pedestrians or vehicles already there, though. You must do the same (yield right of way) to approaching vehicles before completing a left turn. |
Steady Green Arrow | A green arrow functions similarly to a green light, except that your movement is limited to the direction where it’s pointing. Proceed with care and yield to pedestrians and vehicles if necessary. |
Flashing Yellow Light | Reduce your speed, but you can still proceed cautiously. |
Flashing Red Light | You must stop before a flashing red light. However, if it’s safe to do so, you can proceed forward with caution. Always be ready to yield the right of way to vehicles and pedestrians. If you’re near a railway crossing, flashing red lights signify an oncoming train. As a result, you must stop and only resume driving when all the warning signals are deactivated. |
Unlit Signals | When a traffic signal doesn’t show any lights or arrows, and no one is directing traffic, the best thing to do is stop. Treat the area as a four-way intersection. That means yield to vehicles coming from the left or right. Afterward, you can proceed with caution. |
Pedestrian Signals
Not all traffic signals are for vehicles. There are signals for pedestrians, too.
As a driver, it’s a good idea to watch out for these signals to prepare for pedestrian crossings.
Orange, Steady, Raised Palm | Pedestrians facing this signal should remain where they are and not attempt to cross the road. However, if they’re already in the middle of the crosswalk, it’s best to hurry to the other side (without sacrificing safety). |
White, Steady, Pedestrian Silhouette | This signal means it’s safe for pedestrians to cross. It’s typically accompanied by a timer, indicating how much time is left for people to get to the other side. |
New Jersey Traffic Signs
Sure, everyone knows about traffic signals — but when it comes to traffic signs, not so much.
In New Jersey, traffic signs come in 3 general categories:
- Warning signs
- Regulatory signs
- Guidance signs
Although you’ll encounter some signs more than others, it’s best to be familiar with everything.
We break these categories down in the sections below and give examples for each.
Sign Colors and Shapes
Hold up!
Before we get into the different traffic signs, let’s focus a bit on the sign colors and shapes. This is because it will help you determine what the sign is for.
The table below provides more detail.
| Color | Shape | Meaning |
| White |   | Regulation Railroad Crossing |
| Red |   | Stop Yield |
| Yellow |     | No Passing School Sign Railroad Crossing Warning Signs |
| Orange |  | Construction and Maintenance Signs |
| Green |  | Directional Guidance |
| Blue |  | Motorist information and service facilities |
| Brown | | Guide to Recreation and Scenic Areas |
Warning Signs
Warning signs give you a heads-up of hazards you may encounter. As we saw, these signs are diamond-shaped and yellow — this makes them easy to spot.
Here are some examples of warning signs in New Jersey:
 Two-Lane Traffic |  Sharp Turn Ahead |  Divided Highway |  Road Narrows |
 Winding Road |  Merge |  Hill |  Lane Reduction Ahead |
 Crossroad |  Cattle Crossing |  School |  Slippery When Wet |
 Yield Ahead |  Signal Ahead |  Advisory Ramp Speed |  Side Road |
 No Passing Zone |  Stop Sign Ahead |  Bicycles Present |  Railroad |
 Parallel Track Sign |  Deer Crossing |
Road Work Signs
Technically, these are also warning signs, but you’ll only find them in areas where road work is happening. In these areas, road conditions may differ — traffic might only flow in a specific direction, you’re more likely to encounter debris, and there is much equipment to avoid.
You must always obey work road signs. If you don’t, the State of New Jersey doubles the penalties for violations in these areas.
Here are some examples of road work signs. You can easily tell a road work sign from a warning sign since it is orange instead of yellow.
 Workers |  Flagman Ahead |  Detour |  Road Closed |
Regulatory Signs
Of all New Jersey road signs, you’ll probably encounter regulatory signs most often. These indicate what you can or can’t do.
Disobeying regulatory signs typically leads to traffic violations.
Here are some examples:
 Stop |  Left Turn Only |  No Trucks |  Multiple Turning Lanes |
 No Entry |  No U-turn |  No Parking |  Do Not Pass |
 Bike Lane |  Bike May Use Full Lane |  No Standing at Any Time |  Road Closed |
 No Pedestrians |  No Turns |  Left Turn Only |  Left or Straight Only |
 Bus or Carpool Lane |  One Way |  Keep Right |  Wrong Way |
 Yield |  No Right Turn |  Crossbuck(Yield to Train) |  Stop Here on Red |
Guidance Signs
As the name suggests, guidance signs guide you.
Now, these signs usually come in three colors:
- Green (for destinations)
- Brown (for tourist attractions)
- Blue (for service facilities)
State, county, and interstate markers also fall under this category.
 Hospital |  Person with Disability |  U.S. Route Marker |
 State Route Marker |  County Route Marker |  Interstate Marker |
 Exit |  Mile Marker |  Rest Area |
New Jersey Road Markings
So we’ve covered traffic signals and traffic signs. The only thing left is road markings.
These are symbols you can find painted on New Jersey roadways. They reinforce traffic flow and regulations in the state.
The table below shows you the New Jersey road markings and their meanings.
| Marking | Meaning |
| Yellow Center Lines | Separates traffic going in opposite directions. |
| White Lines | Separates traffic going in the same direction into lanes. These also indicate the edge of a road. |
| Dashed Lines | You can pass other vehicles if it’s safe to do so. |
| Solid Lines | You cannot pass other vehicles if a solid line is on your side. |
| Road Arrows | Indicates the direction you must go if you continue using the said lane. |
| Double Yellow and White Solid Lines | No passing allowed. |
| Yellow Solid and Dashed Lines | A solid line on your side indicates you cannot pass other vehicles. Dashed lines on your side mean you can pass if it’s safe to do so. |
| White Crosswalks | Marks the area where pedestrians can cross. |
| White Stop Lines | Marks the area where you must stop when there is a Stop sign or if the traffic signal turns red. |
| White Written Markings | These usually include the following: Stop Ahead (warns you of a Stop sign)School (indicates you’re in a school zone)R x R (alerts you that a railroad crossing is nearby) |
| White Diamonds | Marks lanes for high occupancy vehicles (HOVs) that transport multiple riders (as indicated on the sign). Some markings show the schedule (days and hours) when this regulation takes effect. |
The Wrap Up
Phew, that was a lot!
However, now you have all the information you need to understand the various New Jersey road signs, traffic signals, and pavement markings.
In turn, you can use this to pass the knowledge test, avoid pesky tickets, and be the safest driver out there.
So always watch out for signals, signs, and markings!