Control hand signals for use by traffic officers: what it means
Sign SS1
What it means
These are the hand signals a traffic officer uses to direct traffic. They are regulatory signals, and they take precedence over (come before) any other traffic signal.
What you must do
Focus on the signals the officer gives and strictly obey the signal given.
Where you see it
In areas where there is high traffic congestion, at the scene of an accident, or where the normal traffic signals are not working.
Remember
Three hand signals mean stop and two mean go. Follow the officer.
The five control hand signals:
- (a) Stop: stops traffic approaching the officer from the front.
- (b) Stop: stops traffic approaching the officer from the rear (from behind).
- (c) Stop: stops traffic approaching from the front and from the rear.
- (d) Go/Proceed: tells you that you may proceed (go on).
- (e) Go/Proceed: also tells you that you may proceed.
Test yourself
Question 1
Which of these regulatory signals is a control hand signal for use by traffic officers?
A B C Show answer
Answer: Picture B
The control hand signals used by traffic officers are regulatory signals.
Question 2
Which ONE of the following is NOT a circumstance in which traffic officers use control hand signals to direct traffic?
Show answer
Answer: A: Where a herdsman leads animals across a roadway
Traffic officers use hand signals in high traffic congestion and at accident scenes, not where a herdsman leads animals.
Question 3
The traffic lights at an intersection are not operational and a traffic officer is directing the traffic. Which signals does the officer use to direct traffic?
Show answer
Answer: C: Control hand signals
Where the normal traffic signals are not working, traffic officers direct traffic with control hand signals.
Part of the chapter Traffic lights and traffic officer signals
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