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SIGNALS: GENERAL RULES:

TO KEEP LEFT as much as possible on a two-way road to allow traffic from the opposite direction to pass on your
right side and on a one-way road to allow vehicles behind you to overtake from your right.
WHEN TURNING LEFT, keep to the left side of the road you are leaving as well as the one you are entering. When
turning right, move to the centre of the road that you are leaving and arrive nearer to the left side of road that you are
entering.
SLOW DOWN at all road junctions, intersections, pedestrian crossings and road corners and wait until you are sure of
a clear passage ahead. If you are entering a main road where traffic is not being regulated, then you have to give way to
vehicles passing on your right.
HAND SIGNALS are necessary at certain times. When slowing down, extend your right arm palm down and swing it
up and down; When stopping, raise your forearm vertically outside the vehicle; When turning right or changing lane
to the right hand side, extend your right arm straight out, palm to the front; When turning left or changing lane to the
left hand side, extend your right arm and rotate it in an anti-clockwise direction.
USE OF DIRECTION INDICATORS are better instead of hands signals and try to use both in cases of any
emergency.
WEARING A HELMET FOR TWO WHEELER DRIVERS INCLUDING PILLION RIDER is a statutory
requirement. The helmet must conform to the ISI standards and should bear the ISI mark.
DO NOT PARK YOUR VEHICLE at or near a road crossing or on top of a hill or on a footpath; too near a traffic
light or pedestrian crossing; on roads that have a white line; near the bus- stops, schools or hospitals entrances; near a
fire hydrant thereby blocking access to it.
THE REGISTRATION MARK of the vehicle should be clear, legible and visible at all times. Do not load the motor
vehicle so as to obstruct the tail lights or any other lights or marks required for display on the vehicle for its and others
safety.
DO NOT DRIVE on a one way road except in the direction permitted. Reversing into a one way street in the wrong
direction is also prohibited.
DO NOT CROSS THE YELLOW LINE dividing the road even while overtaking and on roads with defined lanes use
appropriate indicator signals before changing lanes.
DO NOT CROSS THE STOP LINE painted on the road when you stop at a road junction or intersection or a
pedestrian crossing.
USE THE HORN only when required. Do not fit loud, multi-toned or harsh and shrill sounding horns or alarms in your
vehicle.
MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE DISTANCE from the vehicle ahead of you to avoid collision in case if that vehicle
suddenly slows down or stops.
DO NOT BRAKE SUDDENLY except for safety reasons.
ON MOUNTAINS AND STEEP ROADS the vehicle driving uphill must be given the right of way by vehicles
coming downhill.
DRIVERS OF TRACTORS AND GOODS VEHICLES are prohibited from carrying passengers for hire or reward.
In a tractor, the driver should not carry any other person and in a goods vehicle, he should not exceed the number of
persons permitted in the driver's cabin.
DO NOT CARRY GOODS on a motor vehicle in a manner that may cause danger to any person, or load it in such a
fashion so that the goods extend laterally beyond the side, front or to the rear of the vehicle. Carrying of explosives,
inflammable or dangerous substances by any public service vehicle are also prohibited.

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CARRY ONLY ONE PILLION RIDER on your two wheeler. You must carry the rider only on the back seat. Do not
allow any rider to sit or stand in front of you (not even children).
SHARING THE ROAD is very important. Drivers should not forget that roads are not just for them alone. They must
understand that the road is for use of pedestrians, cyclists, scooterists and motor cyclists also who do not have solid
protections around them.
ALWAYS GIVE WAY TO PEDESTRIANS if there is danger to their safety. Take extra care if they are children or
elderly people. You must give way to pedestrians on a pedestrian crossing.
WHEN OVERTAKING you should do so from right of the vehicles you are passing.
DO NOT OVERTAKE if the road ahead is not clearly visible; if you know that the vehicle behind you has begun to
overtake you; if the driver ahead of you has not yet signalled to allow you to pass him; if a vehicle has stopped at a
pedestrian crossing, intersection or railway crossing.
WHEN BEING OVERTAKEN do not increase the speed of your own vehicle. This may create confusion and problem
for the driver trying to overtake you.
WHILE TAKING A U-TURN signal by hand the way you would for a right turn, observe the traffic behind you in
your rear view mirror at the same time.
STOP well before the stop line. This makes the zebra crossing safe for the pedestrians. You are allowed to turn left at
the red signal unless there is a sign specifically forbidding you to do so. When turning, yield the right of way to
pedestrians and vehicles from other directions.
BE ALERT when the Amber light is flashing as it gives time for vehicles to clear the road when the signal is changing
from green to red. If caught in the Amber signal in the middle of a large road crossing please do not press your
accelerator in panic but do continue with care.
GO if you are first in line, but do not go tearing off at the green signal but pause to see whether vehicles from other
directions have cleared the road or not.
IN CASES OF FLASHING AMBER SIGNAL you should slow down and proceed with caution.
Road Signs ( Mandatory)
All the compulsory signs are indicated in a circular form. These are mandatory in nature.

Straight
prohibited
or No entry

One Way
Sign

One Way
Sign

Vehicle
Prohibited
in both
directions

All motor
vehicles
prohibited

Truck
Bullock cart Tonga
prohibited prohibited prohibited

Hand cart
prohibited

Cycle
Pedestrians Right turn
prohibited prohibited prohibited

Left turn
prohibited

U-turn
Overtaking
Horn
prohibited prohibited prohibited

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Bullock cart
& cart
prohibited

Length
limit

Speed limit Load limit

Height limit Width limit Axle load

limit

Restriction
ends sign

No parking No stopping Compulsory Compulsory

or standing ahead only keep left

Compulsory Compulsory Compulsory Compulsory

turn left
turn right turn right
turn left
ahead
ahead

Compulsory Compulsory Compulsory Compulsory

ahead or
ahead or cycle track sound horn
turn left
turn right
Precautionary Signs
These are signs indicated in a triangular form. They are meant for the safety of the road user:

Right hand
curve

Left hand curve

Right reverse
bend

Left reverse bend

Hair pin bend

right

Hair pin bend

left

Hump or rough
road

Barrier ahead

Steep ascent

Steep decent

Narrow road
ahead

Wide road ahead

Narrow bridge

Slippery road

Loose gravel

Cycle crossing

Pedestrian
crossing

School ahead

Men at work

Cattle

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Falling rocks

Ferry

Cross road

Gap in median

Side road left

Side road right

Y-intersection

Y-intersection

Y-intersection

Tintersection

Staggered
intersection

Staggered
intersection

Major road
ahead

Major road
ahead

Roundabout

Dangerous dip

200 meters
ahead

50-100 meters 200 meters ahead 50-100 meters in

in plain and
plain and rolling
rolling terrain
terrain and 30-60
and 30-60
meters in hill
meters in hilly
terrain
terrain
Unguarded level crossing
Guarded level crossing
Informatory Signs

These give you information about things such as high way facilities, parking facilities etc and you can recognise them
from their blue background.

Public
Petrol pump
telephone

Eating
place

Park this
side

Hospital

First aid
post

Resting
place

No
thorough
road

No thorough side road

Parking
both sides

Light
refreshment

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Scooter and Cycle stand Taxi stand

motorcycle
stand

Auto
rickshaw
stand
Top

Designed & Developed by : National Informatics Centre

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7/26/2014