Being a responsible driver in 2025: Learning LTO traffic signs & symbols, Part II

Types of signs

Information provided

Sub-signs

Advance Direction Signs

Usually found on national highways indicating the directions to a certain province.

• Stack direction sign (multiple destinations)
• Stack direction sign (single destinations)
• Stack direction sign (with road/street name)
• Diagrammatic direction sign
• Diagrammatic direction sign (roundabout/rotunda junction)

Intersection Direction Signs

Usually, it is present a kilometer before an intersection. They inform the driver about the turn he/she should take when heading to a certain province.

• Intersection direction signs (right-facing)
• Intersection directions sign (left-facing)
• Intersection direction sign (left and right facing)
• Intersection direction signs with a route number and road name

Reassurance Direction Signs

This sign informs the driver about the distance to a certain city or province exit.

• Reassurance direction sign
• Reassurance direction sign with a route number and road name

Fingerboard & Direction Signs

This is a very specific sign pointing the driver toward the direction to go in order to go to a landmark, tourist spot, or town.

Street Name Signs 

It indicates the driver the street they are in, or heading towards, or exit.

Town Names & Geographical Feature Signs

It indicates the driver the town they are in, or heading towards, or exit.

along with some geographical features

• Town name
• Province name
• Geographical feature
• Local government unit boundary

Service Signs

They inform the driver about the available services on the road. For instance - hospitals, restaurants. They are usually rectangles with blue backgrounds and white symbols.

• Service sign (with service name, distance, and symbols)
• Service sign (advance sign with name of service)
• Weighbridge station

Route Markers

Helps the driver identify or give directions to the arterial road. In terms of design, they are round with a neutral background and black numbers and arrows

Tourist Information & Tourist Destination Signs

Provides local and international tourist direction to tourist spots and attractions, like lake, museum, fort, scenic lookout

Asian Highway Route Markers

These signs inform the driver that he/she is driving on routes of international importance in Asia. 

Expressway Approach Signs

Usually installed before or at the nearest intersection/interchange leading to the expressway.

Expressway Information Signs

• Toll charges: Give information about the amount required to be paid as a toll.
• Prohibited on the expressway: Gives information about the things/vehicles prohibited to travel on the expressway. Like - pedestrians, long & wide loads, animals, etc. 
• Lane direction: Guides the driver to the correct lane leading to an interchange or intersection.

Advance Exit Signs

They are placed before an exit toll and typically include the following signs -

• Exit advance sign (with distance)
• Exit advance sign (with distance & "Right Lane”)
• Supplementary exit advance sign (“Next Exit”)

Expressway Exit Direction Signs

These signs are placed before the exit ramp of an interchange for directions. Some included sub-signs are -

• Exit direction sign (placed overhead in advance of the exit ramp)
• Exit direction sign
• Next exit XX km
• Exit direction sign (for numbered exists)

Expressway Service Signs

They point towards the service offered on or off the expressway - rest rooms among others.

• Distance & Direction to various expressway services
• Distance & Direction to rest areas

Start & End of Expressway Signs

Indicate the start or end of an expressway.

• Start Expressway

Expressway Traffic Instruction & Regulatory Signs

These are special signs, exclusive to the expressways and are usually placed 200 meters away from toll exits.

Supplementary Signs

• Use Overpass
• Use Pedestrian Crossing
• Trucks Use Low Gear
• Check brakes

Movement Instruction Signs

• Reduce Speed
• Low Clearance ahead, high vehicles detour
• Stop here on the red signal
• No right turn on the red signal
• Slow vehicles use the right lane
• Mabagal na sasakyan mamalagi sa kanan
• Trak at bus mamalagi sa kanan maliban kung lulusot
• Trucks and buses keep right unless overtaking
• Road closed
• No through road

One-way hazard markers

Indicate the driver and the direction to follow at the end of the road.

Obstruction markers

The small vertical lines indicate the road closure ahead.

Two-way hazard markers

It warns the driver about the change in road direction. 

Two-way hazard markers

It is mostly used on two-way traffic obstructions or it is accompanied by a pass on either side sign.

Width markers (left)

Usually used on approaches of narrow bridges or mounted below a keep left sign on traffic islands where the road is narrow.

Width markers (right)

Usually used on approaches of narrow bridges or mounted below a keep right sign on traffic islands where the road is narrow.

Longitudinal Lines

• Central Line (separation line): This indicates to the driver that crossing a solid white line is discouraged and requires special care.
• Lane Line (broken white center line/lane divider): It dictates that drivers can change lanes when it is safe and will not result in obstruction.
• Barrier Line Double Solid Yellow Lines: Usually found around blind curves, it indicates that a driver should never cross to pass another vehicle unless permitted.
• Broken Yellow Line: It indicates that passing is allowed.
• Single Solid Yellow Line: It indicates that overtaking is prohibited, in both directions.
• Broken & Solid Yellow Line (Mixed Centre Line): It indicates that overtaking is partially permitted; yes on the side of the broken line but not on the side of the solid line.
• Solid Yellow Lane On Left of Traffic Direction: It indicates that a driver must not stop at the side of a road marked with a continuous yellow edge line.
• Continuity Line: On the right, it means that the lane will continue unaffected. On the left, it means the lane is either ending or exiting, so to travel in the same direction a driver must change lanes.
• Transition Line: It is used to guide the traffic safely past obstructions or indicate a change in the width of a roadway, and increase or decrease in traffic lanes.

Traverse Lines

• Stop Lines: They indicate that the vehicles are required to stop before the stop white line.
• Give Way or Holding Lines: These lines indicate that a driver must give way to all the traffic, as per the standard sign.
• Pedestrian Intersection Non-signalized 
• Pedestrian Intersection Signalized
• Roundabout Holding Lines: It indicates that the vehicles within the rotunda have the right-of-way over vehicles that are just about to enter.

Other Lines 

• Parking Bay: It indicates that the designated space can be used for parking.
• Loading and Unloading Bay Lane Line: Marked by broken white lines, they indicate proper areas for loading and unloading by public utility vehicles.
• This marking consists of a yellow box within the intersection and yellow diagonal lines forming an X inside the box. This box should be left open to avoid obstructing other vehicles.
• Turn Lines: They guide the vehicles turning at intersections.

Object Marking

• Object within the roadway
• Markings on curbs
• Objects adjacent to the roadway

Raised Pavement Markers

Cat’s Eyes

Other Markings

• Curb Markings for Parking and Loading & Unloading Restrictions
• Approach Markings to the Island and Obstructions
• Railroad Crossing Ahead
• Chevron Markings: They guide traffic into the right-turning lanes, separated by an island.
• Rumble Strips: It aids and provides drivers with visual, motion, and audio warnings on the road. These highly visible, horizontal lanes produce a humming sound and ample bums when drivers run over.
• Motorcycle lanes: It allows specific lanes for motorcycle riders, and can be shared by other vehicles as well.
• Bus Lanes: It indicates designated lanes for buses.
• Pavement Arrows: Painted on pavement, these white arrows on the pavement are for lane control.
• For Bicycle Only: These painted solid white lanes along either side of the street signify dedicated lanes for bikes.
• Speed Limit at 60 kmph: These speed limit markings on pavement supplement the roadside speed limit signs and symbols.