Signs, signals and markings in New Mexico

By the end of this topic you can

• You can explain what each traffic light color, flashing light and arrow means.
• You can recognize warning, regulatory, work zone and guide signs by shape and color.
• You can read yellow and white lines and know when you may pass or change lanes.
• You can use reversible, reserved and shared center lanes correctly.

What you need to know and understand

• A flashing red light means the same as a stop sign.
• A flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed with caution.
• Warning signs are usually yellow diamonds; work zone signs are orange.
• A stop sign has eight sides; a yield sign is a downward-pointing triangle.
• Yellow lines separate opposite directions; white lines separate lanes going the same way.
• You may not pass if the solid yellow line is on your side.
• On reversible lanes, a green arrow means use the lane and a red X means do not.

Reading the lights

• Steady green: go if the way is clear, yielding to crossing traffic still in the intersection.
• Green arrow: a protected turn in that direction.
• Steady yellow: the light is about to turn red; stop if you safely can. If you are already in the intersection, keep going.
• Yellow arrow: the protected turn is ending; prepare to stop or yield.
• Steady red: stop and wait. A right turn after a full stop is allowed unless a sign prohibits it.
• Flashing red: treat it as a stop sign.
• Red arrow: stop; you may not go in the direction of the arrow.

Shapes and colors of signs

Warning signs are mostly yellow diamonds with black symbols, such as merging traffic, hill or slippery when wet. Work area signs are orange, diamond or rectangular, and warn of crews, detours and lower speeds. Regulatory signs are usually white, red or black rectangles, or special shapes, and state the rules; a red circle with a slash means an action is prohibited.

Guide signs help you find your way: green or brown for destinations and recreation areas, blue for services such as gas or rest areas. At railroad crossings, a round yellow sign with an X and RR warns you a crossing is ahead, and the white X-shaped crossbuck at the tracks means yield to trains. In rural New Mexico, watch for animal crossing signs: vehicles have hit wildlife there before.

Lines and special lanes

• Dashed white line: you may change lanes when safe. Solid white line: stay in your lane unless you must change.
• Dashed yellow line: you may pass when safe. Solid yellow on your side: no passing. Double solid yellow: no passing for either side, though you may cross to turn into a driveway when safe.
• Stop before the stop line or crosswalk when a sign or signal requires you to stop.
• Shared center lane (solid and dashed yellow on each side): only for left turns, or U-turns where allowed, from either direction.
• Reversible lanes: green arrow, use it; red X, do not; steady yellow X, move out; flashing yellow X, turning only.
• Reserved lanes, often marked with a white diamond, are for buses, bicycles or HOV vehicles. HOV 3 means at least three people in the vehicle.

Common mistakes

• Treating a flashing red light like a flashing yellow. Flashing red means a full stop.
• Using a shared center lane to travel or pass. It is for turning only.
• Braking hard on a late yellow when you are already in the intersection. Clear it safely instead.
• Ignoring a crossbuck because no lights are flashing. It still means yield to trains.

Test yourself: Signs, signals and markings in New Mexico

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• New Mexico Driver’s License for Adults and New Residents
• Learning to Drive in New Mexico
• New Mexico Permit Test and Instructional Permit