Signals, Pavement Markings, Special Lanes, Roundabouts and Ramps: Every Red, Yellow and Green Light and Arrow, Turning on Red, Dark Signals, Edge and Lane Lines, Solid and Dashed White and Yellow Lines and Their Exceptions, Crosswalks, Shared Center Lanes, Reversible Lanes, Reserved Bus, Bike and Car-Pool Lanes, Flex Lanes, One- and Two-Lane Roundabouts, Metered Ramps, the Diverging Diamond, Traffic Stops, Deer and Funeral Processions

Written for aiforu2 as the source for a practice-test bank and the on-device tutor for the Wisconsin knowledge test. The facts follow the official manual; the wording is ours.

Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook (WisDOT DMV, BDS126, 2026 edition), Section 5 "Signals, Pavement Markings and Lane Controls" (pages 32–38) and Section 6 "Driving Situations" (pages 39–43).

Traffic signals

Signals tell you when and where to stop or go, usually at intersections, with red on top, yellow in the middle and green at the bottom; many rural intersections have a single flashing red or yellow light. If a signal loses power or malfunctions, treat it as a stop sign, and always follow an officer directing traffic.

• Steady red: full stop; wait for green and clear cross traffic. You may turn right on red when safe and no sign prohibits it, and left on red only from a one-way street onto a one-way street. Turning on red means stop first, yield to all traffic, then proceed in your lane.
• Flashing red: full stop, then go when safe.
• Steady red arrow: full stop; wait for green.
• Flashing red arrow: full stop, then go when safe.
• Steady yellow: the light is about to turn red; slow and stop before the intersection, but if you are already in it, keep going.
• Flashing yellow: slow down, check for cross traffic and proceed with caution.
• Steady yellow arrow: about to turn red; stop if it is safe.
• Flashing yellow arrow: yield first, then turn with caution.
• Steady green: you may go, yielding to emergency vehicles and others as the law requires; if you were stopped, let cross traffic clear first. A steady green lets you turn left only when safe, because oncoming traffic has the right-of-way.
• Steady green arrow: turn in the arrow's direction; there should be no oncoming or crossing traffic, but watch for pedestrians.

Line markings

Lines divide the road into lanes, show where you may pass or change lanes and which lanes turn, and their color tells you whether the road is one-way or two-way. A solid white line marks the right edge of the lane; a solid or dashed yellow line marks the left edge of the lanes going your way. A dashed white line divides lanes going the same direction and may be crossed when safe, and white arrows show the required direction. A solid white line between lanes means do not cross, except for a hazard or when turning within the next block. A crosswalk is for pedestrians, sometimes with their own signals; stop with your front wheels just before the solid white line and never on the crosswalk, which can also be mid-block.

Solid yellow lines separate opposing traffic, and two solid yellow lines mean neither direction may pass. The exceptions: you may cross to turn into a driveway when safe, and you may pass a vehicle going less than half the speed limit when safe, unless it is farm equipment. A dashed yellow line means you may pass when safe, watching for traffic. With a dashed and solid yellow pair you may pass only from the dashed side; some passing zones are also signed.

Special lanes

A shared center lane is only for left turns or U-turns, from either direction, marked with white turn symbols and a solid plus a dashed yellow line on each side; cross the solid line only to make that turn, and only when safe. Reversible lanes change direction by the hour, are bounded by double dashed yellow lines, and are controlled by overhead lights: a red X means closed, a green arrow open, a yellow X that the lane is changing and you must move to a green-arrow lane. Reserved lanes for buses, bikes or car pools are marked by a white diamond on the sign and pavement; driving in one is illegal unless you are that kind of vehicle, except to turn across it within the next half block, and if a bicyclist is in the lane, fall in behind and turn when safe. A sign may set hours and days, for example buses and four-rider car pools only, 6 to 9 a.m., Monday through Friday; bus and bike lanes may be painted red, green or gray. A flex lane is a paved shoulder opened as a travel lane when signs say so, separated by a solid yellow line and opened by traffic volume or events: a green arrow means open, a yellow X means closing so merge into the general-purpose lanes, a red X means closed, and a Merge sign marks its end. Large trucks may not use the flex lane.

Roundabouts

Roundabouts move traffic counterclockwise and are safer and more efficient. Read the overhead signs to pick your lane: generally the left lane turns left, the right lane takes the next right, and a middle lane goes straight. Slow down; yield to pedestrians and bicycles; yield to traffic on your left already circulating; yield to semitrucks; enter on a safe gap; keep your speed low and stay in your lane; signal right as you reach your exit. With no traffic inside you need not wait, and never change lanes in the roundabout. If an emergency vehicle with its siren on approaches, pull over before entering, or if already inside exit at the next right and then pull over; avoid stopping in the roundabout. In a one-lane roundabout, yield to all traffic before entering; bicyclists may ride through or use the crosswalk; pedestrians at the curb look left and on the island look right. In a two-lane roundabout lane choice is critical: typically the right lane is for right turns or through traffic and the left lane for left turns, U-turns or through traffic, following the arrows and signs, and you yield to traffic in both lanes before entering.

Metered ramps and the diverging diamond

Some freeway entrance ramps have signals that space merging vehicles to cut congestion, active when the "Ramp Metered When Flashing" sign is lit. Pull all the way up to the white stop line so your tires trigger the pavement sensors; each lane has its own signal, go and merge on green, and disobeying the ramp signal can be ticketed. A diverging diamond interchange guides drivers through crossing entrances and exits for safety, less crowding and lower cost; follow its signs, signals and markings. Wisconsin's are near Janesville (two on I-39/90), in Appleton and in Beloit.

Traffic stops, deer and funerals

When emergency lights flash behind you, pull to the right side, put the car in park, turn off the engine and radio, stay in the vehicle with your seat belt on, roll down the window, put both hands on top of the wheel in plain sight, make no sudden moves or reaches, and do not argue over a ticket; that is for the court. Deer are most active from sunset to sunrise; watch for the glow of their eyes, slow down, use the horn and be ready to stop; expect more than one, and expect them anywhere, even in towns. If you hit one, check that the car is safe to drive, record the time, place and details for insurance and the crash report, and call police to issue a tag for the deer, which you may keep (or the next motorist may); if you do not want it, tell police where it is. In a funeral procession the lead vehicle obeys signs and signals, every vehicle drives with headlights on, and other drivers must not cut into or interfere with the line.

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