Chapter 8: Traffic Signals

1. Signalling, with examples

Order of priority: traffic officers; temporary signs, delineation and barriers that change normal road use; traffic lights; vertical signs; road markings. If signs of the same type conflict, obey the more restrictive one. Specific exceptions, such as flashing amber lights and green lane arrows, still apply.

	At an intersection, there is a red light on the left side and a green one on the right. Which light should you obey if you intend to go straight? - The red light, because it is on the left and you intend to go straight.
	It is prohibited to cross an imaginary line formed by a row of yellow lights (solid or flashing) or cones..
	A level crossing with two flashing red lights indicates that the crossing is temporarily prohibited
	Use extreme caution, and give way/yield (if necessary), when approaching a traffic light with one or two flashing yellow lights. A STOP sign must still be obeyed. From 1 October 2026, as a general rule, flashing amber for vehicles at a crossing with pedestrian lights must not coincide with steady green for pedestrians and must be preceded by steady red for vehicles.
	A green arrow light on black background indicates that vehicles can take the direction indicated by the arrow regardless of the light on the adjacent traffic light. Proceed cautiously, yield to vehicles in the lane you join and do not endanger people crossing. If your lane must be used for that direction, you must follow the arrow.
	A red x-shaped light signals that it is prohibited to occupy the indicated lane and drivers who are in it must exit as soon as possible.
	Traffic lights displaying an illuminated cycle silhouette apply exclusively to cycles.

2. Most common signage

The current traffic-sign catalogue took effect on 1 July 2025. Older designs of retained signs can remain until normal renewal; abolished signs had to be removed by 1 July 2026. The original illustrations are retained here, with their meanings updated below.

In Practicatest we help our students with the complete list of traffic road signs in Spain. See full list. Here is a summary of the signs that most usually appear in DGT english exams.

	Intersection with priority Danger due to an upcoming intersection with a road, whose users should give way/yield to you.
	Railway Level crossing without barriers with more than one track Danger due to the immediate presence of a level crossing without barriers over a railway.
	Give Way / Yield All drivers are required to give way/yield at the next intersection to vehicles traveling on the upcoming road or lane in which you intend to merge.
	Mandatory stop All drivers are required to stop their vehicles before the next stop line or, if it doesn’t exist, immediately before the intersection, and give way. If visibility is insufficient after stopping, move forward cautiously and stop again where you can see, without endangering other users.
	Other direction traffic has priority Entry prohibited in a narrow section if it is not possible to cross without forcing vehicles traveling in the opposite direction to stop.
	Driving forbidden Entry is prohibited for all types of vehicles in both directions.
	Entry of motorized vehicles prohibited Motorized vehicles may not enter. (Does not restrict access to mopeds).
	Entry of motorized vehicles prohibited, except 2-wheeled motorcycles Motorized vehicles may not enter, except two-wheeled motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles legally assimilated to motorcycles.
	Entry of motorcycles is prohibited Motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles legally assimilated to motorcycles may not enter.
	Minimum Gap Driving without maintaining a gap equal to or greater than indicated on the sign is prohibited, except for overtaking.
	No Parking Parking on the side of the road where the sign is located is prohibited, except with an opposite indication, the prohibition starts from the vertical line of the sign and ends at the next junction. Stopping is not prohibited.
	No Stopping and Parking Stopping and parking on the side of the road where the sign is located are prohibited, except with an opposite indication, the prohibition starts from the vertical line of the sign and ends at the next junction.
	No parking in garage entrance Parking is prohibited in front of an entrance way.
	Mandatory way The arrow indicates the direction in which vehicles are required to travel.
	Mandatory roadway for automobiles, except 2-wheeled motorcycles Drivers of automobiles must use this carriageway, except drivers of two-wheeled motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles legally assimilated to motorcycles.
	Mandatory roadway for trucks, tractor units and vans These vehicles must use this carriageway regardless of mass. If a tonnage is shown on the sign or a supplementary panel, the obligation applies only when the vehicle or combination's maximum authorised mass exceeds that figure.
	Lane reserved for cyclists or bike Cyclists are required to travel in the lane where the sign is located, and other users are forbidden to use it.
	Road exclusively for vehicles with working electronic toll equipment (telepass system) Mandatory electronic tolls. Obligation to pay the toll using the dynamic or electronic toll system.
	End of prohibitions (R-500) Indicates where all specific prohibitions imposed by previous signs on moving vehicles cease to apply. It does not cancel stopping or parking restrictions.
	End of recommended maximum speed Indicates the end of a stretch in which it is recommended to travel at the speed indicated on the sign in kilometres per hour.
	Bus stop Indicates an area reserved for bus stops.
	Living and play area (S-28) Primarily intended for pedestrians: maximum speed 10 km/h, with pedestrian priority. Vehicles may park only in spaces indicated by signs or markings. Pedestrians may use the whole traffic area, and games and sports are permitted. Cycles and, where authorised, VMP may travel in both directions unless the competent authority decides otherwise. S-28 must be accompanied by an R-301 sign showing 10 km/h.
	Fork to the right on a two-lane road Indicates that on a two-lane, one-way road, in the next stretch the right lane will split off towards the right.
	Reserved and mandatory cycle lane beside a two-way carriageway (S-64b) Cycles must use the indicated lane, and other users may not use it. Arrows show the number of lanes and their direction. S-65a and S-65b indicate reserved cycle lanes without, by themselves, making their use compulsory.
	Rest area Indicates the location of a rest area.
	Distance to beginning of hazard or restrictions Indicates the distance from the sign to the point where the hazard begins or where restrictions begin to apply. If situated beneath a narrow roadway warning sign, it may indicate the free width of the roadway.

Cycle signs: municipal ordinances may extend the meaning of cycle-specific signs to VMP or other authorised vehicles, even if their symbols are not shown.

Low-emission zones (R-120): entry restrictions depend on the environmental criteria and exemptions shown on the supplementary panel and in the applicable local rules.

No overtaking: R-305 prohibits overtaking motor vehicles when this requires entering the part reserved for oncoming traffic. R-306 prohibits lorries over 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass from overtaking motor vehicles, even without entering the oncoming side. Road markings and the general overtaking rules must also be obeyed.

Lane signals: a downward green arrow permits use of that lane but does not cancel a red circular light, STOP sign or Give Way sign. An oblique arrow means you must move safely towards the lane it indicates.