CHAPTER 3

SIGNS FOR DESIGNATIONS

SIGNALS WHICH THE ROAD USERS GIVE TO EACH
OTHER
What is the difference between “ a road sign”
and “ a designation sign’?
• ► The road sign is permanently placed on the
roadway.
• ►The sign for designation is placed on the
vehicle and it gives some special, very important
information to the other road users.
Yellow reflective boards over the rear side of the vehicle: with or
without red stripes?
This is what is important! Never choose two different in the tests!
These are load vehicles over 3.5t weight and longer
than 7m. So, the weight matters, the length also All the trailers ( regardless of their type)
matters. have such boards over their back side.

Oversized
vehicles
All the texts on the
► maximum admissible width of the designation boards will be
vehicle including the load is 2.55m. written in Bulgarian in the
tests!
► maximum admissible length of the Remember the sizes very
vehicle including the load is 12m ( for well!
every single vehicle)
This board designates the
► maximum admissible height of the vehicle on its front and
vehicle including the load is 4.00m back
side!
Prohibitions by
law concerning
the oversized
vehicles:
1. No movement at night;
2. No movement in case
of reduced visibility
below 50m
3. No movement on
slippery roads;
4. No stopping in the
driveway;
5. No movement in heavy
traffic

SLOW-MOVING
VEHICLES
Their maximum permissible speed is 30
km/h.
Their drivers are obligated to pull over if
there is a need and to give way to the
formed column of vehicles behind them.
The most proper position of the slow-
moving vehicle on the road is in the
rightmost road lane.
This sign designates the back
side of the slow-moving
vehicle.
Remember: 30km/h is in a
relation with slow-moving
vehicles only.
They are prohibited to move
on highways and speed roads,
because their minimum
designed speed is less than
50km/h.
Prohibitions
by law:
1. No movement at night;
2. No movement in case of
reduced visibility below
50m
3. No movement on slippery
roads;
4. No overtaking;
5. No movement in heavy
traffic!
 Prohibitions by
law about
VEHICLES WITH
vehicles with
DANGEROUS GOODS dangerous
goods:
What an information is hidden in the numbers
from the orange board?
►first figure from the first row shows the
This sign designates the front and the 1. No movement in case
back side of a vehicle with dangerous
class of the good; goods.
of reduced visibility
► second figure from the first row shows the If you are a witness of an accident where below 50m;
level of the danger; such a vehicle participates: 2. No movement on
1. Stay away unless there is a need to slippery roads
► the whole number below is the unique save someone’s life;
number of the exact dangerous good 2. Call 112 and tell the numbers from
the orange board.
These are international classifications!
 A vehicle which transports
an organized group of kids

The biggest disadvantage of the kid on the

road is the size: kids are small. We hardly
notice them!
When you are asked “ Is there some danger
when such a bus is stopped on the
driveway?”, the answer is definitely “
YES”!
Kids are like cockroaches: never alone, fast
and they change suddenly their direction!
While passing near such a vehicle observe the three
conditions for safety:
1. Slow down!
2. Have readiness to stop!
3. Have enough lateral distance!
These conditions must work together to be enough safe!
 It is rectangle board where is written in Bulgarian
“Военна колона“ with the warning sign “ Caution!
Other dangers” inside.

A sign which designates a

military column
The vehicles in the column move with same slow speed.
Accept all the vehicles in the military
column as one! The sign designates the front side of the first vehicle and
the back side of the last one.
If you take measures to overtake the
column you should be able to overtake all It is better to pull over somewhere and to have a cup of
the vehicles in it! coffee but do not take the risk to overtake!
The drivers of these convoys are not
allowed to let you pass between them.
Even do not try to approach!
 Other designation signs

You in the future! It is a sticker on the front and It is a sticker on the front and
It designates a driving school rear window of a vehicle which rear window of a vehicle which
car. driver is deaf-mute. driver is handicapped.
 SIGNALS ON THE ROAD
• 1. Road indicators
• 2. Emergency lights
• 3. Sound signal
• 4. Short switching over the lights( low to high beams for a short)
• 5. The signal of the pedestrian when he/she wants to cross if there isn’t a pedestrian crossing nearby
• 6. Blind pedestrians
• 7. Signals of the special vehicles
• 8. Signals of the vehicles with a special regime of movement
 SOUND SIGNAL
• In populated areas is prohibited unless there is a need to attract the attention of someone with
purpose avoiding an accident;
• In non-populated areas you are allowed to use it as an additional signal while making some
maneuver;
• If the horn is out of order from a technical point you are allowed to continue driving to the
nearest car service;
• You commit an offence if your sound signal is inoperative- this is from administrative point.
• If you drive near a hospital you should take measures to limit the sound usage!
• Do not give sound signal to cyclists- you will stress them!
 Road indicators- they don’t give you priority! They just
inform!

This is how to signalize if the road indicators are inoperative!

а) movement to the left
б) movement to the right
в) stopping
 EMERGENCY LIGHTS
• This is when all the road indicators blink simultaneously.
• It is mandatory to activate them when:
1. There is some technical problem with the vehicle or very serious healthy problem
with some of the people inside;
2. You are a participant in a road accident or you have stopped to help;
3. Your vehicle is being towed due to a failure;
4. A load has fallen on the road from your vehicle and you take measures to remove
it out of the driveway.
 Short switching over the lights
/ we use this signal to warn each other about police radar
nearby/
• This signal is allowed in Bulgaria.
• It reduces the risk on the road because it makes the others more cautious.
• It is so short so it doesn’t dazzle the eyes of the other drivers but it attracts
their attention.
• It is common signal to say : “ There is an open door!”, “ Soft tire!”, “
Slow down! There is an accident right after the turn!”, “ There is police
car!”, “ Something fell on the road from your vehicle!” etc.
 Pedestrian signals

I want to cross! Please, let me cross! Blind pedestrian

• The pedestrian stands on the edge of the • If some pedestrian holds a white
sidewalk with raised or stretched arm.
stick it means that he/she is blind.
• You are obliged to give him/her way only if
there are conditions for safety ( which
means that there is no need to stop abruptly).
• Do not invite anyone to cross because you
can not give a guarantee to this person that
all the others see him/her.
 Special vehicles and vehicles with a special regime of movement
There is nothing in common between them !

Special vehicle Vehicles with a special regime of movement

• Definition: They have an additional equipment
which allows them to do special work on the road.
• These are garbage vehicles, road assistance
vehicles, vehicles cleaning the roads etc.
• They have orange or yellow light to designate
them as obstacles on the road
• Their drivers are not allowed to break the road
rules.
• These are police cars, fire brigade, ambulance.
• They have blue or red lights and an additional
sound signal.
• Their drivers are allowed to break the road
rules only if both the signals are on.
• Their drivers are allowed to break all the road
rules except one: they must observe the traffic
controller’s positions as all the others!
 Useful tips!
There are many tricky questions in this chapter
• 1. When you are asked:” Is there a danger in this situation…”, the answer is always “
Yes”! In the tests is always dangerous!
• 2. When you see in the question that something is “ enough”, the answer is always “
incorrect”, “ wrong”, “ no”. It is never enough safe!
• 3. Be very careful with the word “ only”. If it exists in the question, the answer is
always “ incorrect”, “ wrong”, “ no”!
• There are many questions with pedestrian crossings. You are obliged to give way to the
pedestrian only if he/she is already stepped on the crosswalk. If he/she is still standing
on the sidewalk, pass with high attention observing the three conditions for safety!