Signals by authorised persons
Some people can direct traffic in person, and their signals override the signs and markings around them. Police officers, traffic officers, traffic wardens and school crossing patrols all have that authority, and you must obey them: an officer directing you through a red light is giving a lawful instruction. Because these signals are given by hand rather than by machine, they are easy to misread, so it is worth knowing which arm position means stop from which direction. The same section also covers the signals you give to a person controlling traffic, so they know which way you want to go.
Police signal: stop traffic approaching from the front
Police signal: stop traffic approaching from front and behind
Police signal: stop traffic approaching from behind
Police signal: beckoning traffic on from the side
Police signal: beckoning traffic on from the front
Police signal: beckoning traffic on from behind
Signal to a person controlling traffic: going straight on
Signal to a person controlling traffic: turning left
Signal to a person controlling traffic: turning right
Traffic officer vehicle
DVSA officer vehicle
School crossing patrol: not ready to cross
School crossing patrol: barrier to stop pedestrians
School crossing patrol: vehicles prepare to stop
School crossing patrol: all vehicles stop
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
