[ARCHIVED] Your Survival Guide to American Traffic Laws/Signs (2024)

With the upcoming release of ATS (woo woo hype train) I've put together this guide:

The Essential Survival Guide To:

http://www.americantrucksimulator.com/images/ats_logo.png

1. On the Topic of Red Lights

With red lights, right turns are legal unless there is a sign that says "no right turn on red" usually there is a separate turning signal. Turning left on red is also legal ONLY if the street you are turning on to is a one-way street going from right to left.

Example of "No Turn on Red" sign:

http://mothercopper.com/case_yours/images/NoTurnOnRed_02.jpg

2. On the Topic of Weight
Roads (especially residential ones) and bridges can be weight restricted, which will be designated on signs. Trucks making local deliveries (meaning somewhere on the road) on weight restricted roads are exempt.
Bridges that are weight restricted are another story, you'll be warned about the weight restriction, and then have another sign directly at the bridge. The weight limit is different depending on how big your truck is. Example:

2a. On the Topic of Weigh Stations

In America on major Interstates there are weigh stations, which are usually open during weekdays. When a weigh station is open (which is shown on LED signs) ALL trucks besides pickup trucks must pull off at the weigh station. When on the off-ramp for the weigh station you will be given one of two signals. A weigh signal which means you must proceed to the scales, or you may receive a bypass signal, which means you can continue along the slip-road (set up similar to how some large fuel stations in ETS2 are setup) and merge back onto the Interstate without being weighed.

Example of weigh station sign:

http://cbsboston.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/weigh.jpg

DISCLAIMER: How the weigh stations are set up in ATS is not identically reflective of the real world!

3. On the Topic of Road Signs:

3a. General Road Signs

http://cdn.prochan.com/80281E/pc_u/u/other/2012/Oct/25/e53_1351184775_sf_1.jpg

Clearance signs are similar to the EU ones, except they are yellow and are larger and usually there are more of them. the left number is feet and the right number is inches.

(this sign reads that the clearance of the obstacle ahead is 11 feet 8 inches)

http://us.123rf.com/450wm/captainvector/captainvector1508/captainvector150804561/43309835-right-curve-with-advisory-speed-sign.jpg

Advisory speed sign, shows a description of what to expect ahead, and the number designates the advisory speed for the curve(in miles per hour obv) the advisory speed can also be on a separate sign below the sign. (THIS IS ADVISORY AND NOT A SET SPEED LIMIT)

http://www.trafficsign.us/650/warn/w4-2.gif
Lane ends sign, varies to reflect which lane ends and what lane it merges into
http://us.123rf.com/450wm/jojoo64/jojoo641503/jojoo64150300272/37324861-us-road-warning-sign-merge-ahead.jpg
Lane merge sign. warns you that whichever lane is shown on the sign merges into a lane (either right or left) commonly used on freeway entrances.

http://pad3.whstatic.com/images/thumb/0/0e/Understand-Traffic-Signs-Step-2.jpg/728px-Understand-Traffic-Signs-Step-2.jpg

Stop signs, pretty self explanatory, except that the sign underneath designates which traffic of the intersection ALSO has a stop sign (two-way means oncoming traffic also has a stop sign but cross traffic does not, 3-way is usually used on intersections with more than two directions of travel. All-Way means every direction of travel has a stop sign)

http://www.painetworks.com/photos/iy/iy7118.JPG

Grade sign, means that there is a steep grade ahead (will usually say the percentage on the sign or on a separate sign below it) Ingame there is a sign below that says "trucks use low gear"

3b. Interstate and Highway Signs

http://www.trafficsign.us/media/m1-1a.gif

interstate sign, similar to motorway signs in europe, it tells you what interstate you are on and usually has a sign above or below that says what direction you are travelling (northbound, southbound, etc.)

http://www.pd4pic.com/images/sign-road-route-highway-u-s-route-101.png

US Highway Sign. Unlike interstates state highways are usually smaller, but can travel at a faster speed, and can go out of state just like interstates.

State Highway signs vary from state to state. These highways usually do not go outside of their state.

California:

Nevada:

(This area will be updated as more states are released.)

As for Interstate destination/exit signs I made this diagram:

http://i.imgur.com/Iqq3Z4X.jpg

4. Right of Way

In America turning traffic does not have right of way. Traffic continuing straight should NOT stop for them.

On interstates and highways traffic merging onto the interstate does not have right of way. You must stop for any traffic that is already on the interstate.

ALSO: Hazardous materials are not allowed on some county/state highways! There will usually be a sign before any on-ramps onto the highway that will say "no hazardous materials on US (or state route) XX" (this probably isnt simulated in ATS)

DOUBLE ALSO: there is a trick with exit numbers, they usually are how many miles away from the next/last state border the interstate crosses

This Guide will be updated with any info that I feel isnecessary. Happy Trucking!

Changelog (does anyone even read these):

03/02/2016:

1.US highway sign wasmislabeled. Corrected.

2.Added section on specific state highway signs.

3.Changed some wording in the weigh station section

4.Added ingame info on grade signs

07/02/2016:

1. Added section on right of way