Several instructions at once

When driving in towns and cities, you often need to take several traffic instructions into account at the same time. For example, you may encounter traffic lights, road signs, road markings and a person directing traffic at the same junction. You must then know which instruction takes priority.

If several instructions apply at the same time, they apply in this order: first signals from a police officer or another authorised person, then traffic lights, then road signs and finally general traffic rules, such as the priority to the right rule.

You must also be aware of the signals you send to other road users through your light and sound signals, your speed and your positioning.

You must know what applies when you receive several instructions at the same time

Police officer signals

Of all the signals you can encounter while driving, a police officer's signal has the highest priority. It applies before traffic signals, road signs and general traffic rules.

If you approach a junction and a police officer signals for you to continue, you must follow the officer's signal, even if the traffic light is red or there is a stop sign. You must still drive carefully and pay attention to other traffic.

It is called "police officer's signal", but the following occupational groups also have the authority to direct traffic:

• Vehicle inspectors
• Escorts for wide, long and heavy loads
• Customs officials
• Traffic wardens (parking officers)
• Road workers with a red flag
• Other persons appointed by an authority to direct traffic

Traffic wardens are one of the occupational groups that have the authority to direct traffic

Below are the signals these occupational groups can use to direct road traffic. When you see one of them, you need to quickly recognise whether it means that you must stop, drive forward, slow down or make way.

When a police officer is on or next to a road

Stop for those coming from the front or from behind – This signal is used in junctions and applies for as long as the police officer is facing in the same direction. For road users approaching from the side, the signal indicates that it is permitted to advance.

Drive forward and stop – This waving signal (which the police officer makes with his right arm) indicates that road users coming from the direction the signal is given may continue forward. The other signal (which the police officer makes with his left arm) indicates that road users coming from the front or from behind must stop.

Stop for those coming from the front or from behind – This signal indicates that road users facing the lantern must stop.

Slow down – This signal indicates that road users facing the police officer must slow down.

Stop - This signal indicates that road users facing the police officer's palm must stop.

When a police officer is in a police vehicle

Follow and stop behind the police vehicle – This signal indicates that the driver of the vehicle behind the police vehicle should follow and stop behind the police vehicle when it stops. The signal can be given with a hand or a stop paddle with the text "STOP" or "POLIS".

Pull over to the side of the road and stop in front of the police vehicle – This signal indicates that the driver of the vehicle in front of the police vehicle should pull over to the side of the road and stop. You must stop in a suitable place as soon as it is safe to do so. You must not stop in such a place or in such a way that causes danger or unnecessarily obstructs or disturbs traffic. The signal is given with alternating flashing blue and red lights.

Slow down – This signal indicates that road users behind the police vehicle should slow down. The signal is given with the palm of the police officer's hand facing downwards. The signal can also be given by the police officer sitting in the driver's seat.

Make way – This signal indicates that road users in front of the police vehicle must make way. You are obligated to facilitate the accessibility of the police vehicle. The signal is given with flashing blue lights, with or without sirens.

Traffic signals

A traffic signal is a light or sound signal that regulates traffic. Traffic lights tell you when to stop, when you may drive and when you need to be extra careful. Even when you are allowed to drive, you must check that it is safe.

Traffic signals have the second highest priority. They apply before road signs and general traffic rules, but after police officers' signals. So if the traffic light is green, you may continue driving, even if there is a stop sign at the junction.

Traffic lights in Sweden change signal in the following sequence: red → red and yellow → green → yellow → red.

	Red Red always means stop. You must stop before the stop line or, if there is no stop line, the traffic light. A signal that is red with a black contour arrow only applies to the direction or directions indicated by the arrow.
	Red and yellow Red and yellow means that the signal is about to change to green. You should prepare yourself to drive, but you must not advance until the signal changes to green.
	Green Green means that you may continue forward. A green arrow means that the signal only applies to the direction of travel indicated by the arrow. Even if the signal next to it is red, you may still drive in the direction of the arrow.
	Yellow Yellow means that the signal is about to change to red. You must stop if it is safe to do so. If you are so close to the traffic light that braking would be dangerous, you should continue.
	Flashing yellow or turned off Flashing yellow means that the traffic signals at the junction are out of order or not controlling traffic as they normally do. When passing a traffic light flashing yellow, you must observe special caution. When traffic signals are flashing yellow or turned off road signs or, if there are no road signs, general traffic rules apply instead.
	Extra light Next to some traffic lights there is sometimes a smaller extra light with only two lamps. If the extra light is off, the signal shown by the main light applies. If the main light is green and the extra light is off (as in the picture), the green light applies, which means that you may continue forward. If the main light is red and the extra light is off you must stop. If the main light is red and the extra light shows a green arrow you may only drive in the direction of the arrow.

Clarification on yellow lights

As a rule, you should stop when the traffic light shows yellow. You should only continue if you are so close to the signal that you cannot stop safely.

Many drivers make the mistake of speeding up at a yellow light to get through before the signal changes to red. This is risky. If you misjudge the distance, you may go through a red light and surprise other drivers, pedestrians or cyclists who have started crossing the road.

A traffic light that is yellow means that the signal is about to change to red

Separate right-turn lane without its own traffic signal

At some junctions, traffic turning right uses a separate lane that is not controlled by the traffic lights. If the lane has no traffic signal of its own, the red signal does not apply to road users using that lane. Instead, they usually have a duty to give way to traffic from the left or to traffic on the road they are joining.

This type of crossing increases accessibility and reduces the risk of queuing.

In this situation, you may continue driving, without stopping at the red light, since you are passing the traffic light on the right side. You do, however, have a duty to give way to traffic from the left.

Check traffic even at green lights

Many also make the mistake of just driving without checking traffic when they have a green light. You must always check traffic both ways before you turn or drive straight ahead at a junction. This applies even when you have a green light.

You can never fully trust other drivers to follow the traffic signals. A driver coming from another direction at a junction where you are continuing straight ahead may try to speed through the yellow traffic light or miss the red light entirely. If you drive merely because you have a green light, without checking traffic first, there is a great risk that you and the other driver might collide.

Road signs

Road signs have the third highest priority. They apply before general traffic rules, but after traffic signals and police officers' signals. If you approach a junction with the road sign Give way, the road sign applies before general traffic rules such as the priority to the right-rule.

	Warning signs Give warning of different types of dangers, indicating you should be extra attentive and careful. Almost all warning signs are triangular with a red border and black motif against a yellow background.
	Priority signs Inform about give way and duty to stop rules. All priority signs have different shapes and colours.
	Prohibitory signs Indicate that something is prohibited, for example entering a road with a vehicle. As a rule, the prohibition applies from the sign to the next junction. Another road sign or additional panel can also cancel the prohibition. Most prohibitory signs are round with a red border and black motif against a yellow background.
	Mandatory signs Tell you what you must do, for example drive in a certain direction. As a rule, the mandatory order applies from the sign to the next junction. Another road sign or additional panel can also cancel the mandatory order. Almost all mandatory signs are round with a white border and white motif against a blue background.
	Advisory signs Tell you about what applies to a particular location, road or road section. For example, that a motorway or pedestrian street begins or ends. Where advisory signs have been put up special traffic rules usually apply. Advisory signs apply until a cancelling sign. Advisory signs are always square or rectangular but do vary in appearance.
	Directional signs Show the way to a town, place, establishment, facility or similar. Directional signs vary in shape and appearance.
	Additional panels Provide additional information to the road sign above the panel. Additional panels vary in appearance but usually have the same colours as the road sign they supplement.

Time indications on additional panels

An additional panel with time indications always supplements another road sign and indicates which days and between which times the indication on the road sign applies. They can, for example, tell you when a road sign indicating a speed limit or parking prohibition applies.

• Black or white numbers without brackets indicate which times apply Monday-Friday (excepting holidays).
• Black or white numbers in brackets indicate which times apply on Saturdays (excepting holidays).
• Red numbers indicate which times apply on Sundays and holidays.

If the time indication extends past midnight, the time period after midnight applies the following day.

If a certain date or weekday is indicated, the regulation applies on that day regardless of whether the day is a weekday, weekend day or holiday.

Remember: If several traffic instructions apply at the same time, signals from a police officer take priority, followed by traffic lights, road signs and finally general traffic rules.

Your signals

By communicating clearly in traffic, you help other road users understand what you intend to do. You can do this, for example, with your indicators, brake lights, speed and positioning.

However, a signal never gives you the right to carry out a manoeuvre if it cannot be done safely. You are still responsible for staying alert, checking the traffic around you and making sure that the manoeuvre can be carried out without danger.

When possible, you can also try to make eye contact with other road users. This can make it easier to understand what they intend to do and reduce the risk of misunderstandings.

Light signals

A driver usually communicates with other road users using one or more of the following lights:

• Indicators, when moving the car sideways.
• Brake lights, when slowing down or stopping.
• Full beam headlights, when alerting another driver in darkness.
• Hazard warning lights, at emergency stops and during towing.

Always use the indicators before moving the car sideways

The indicators should be turned on well in advance (but not so early that your intentions may be misinterpreted) before you:

• Intend to turn at a junction.
• Intend to change lanes.
• Intend to move off from the side of the road.
• Intend to make a U-turn.
• Intend to turn into a parking space.
• Intend to move your car sideways in any other situation.

Do not forget to turn off the car's indicators after completing the manoeuvre.

Before turning, moving your car sideways or reversing, you must always check your rear-view mirror and side mirrors as well as your vehicle's blind spot by briefly glancing over your shoulder. The blind spot is the area not covered by any mirror.

The brake lights turn on automatically when you push the brake pedal. Before any hard braking you should tap the brake pedal lightly a few times, so as to activate the brake lights and therefore alert drivers behind you of your intentions to slow down.

When you push the brake pedal the brake lights turn on automatically

In darkness, full beam headlights can be used as a sort of "light horn" by quickly flashing them on and off. Just as with the regular horn, you should only use the light horn if needed to avert a dangerous situation. For example, if you meet an oncoming vehicle driving against traffic.

You may not use the light horn to greet another road user or to inform the driver in the vehicle in front of you that you intend to overtake.

The hazard warning lights should be turned on if you are forced to stop, due to an emergency, in a place where your car creates a danger or obstruction to traffic. It is also permitted to turn on the hazard warning lights when being towed.

Sound signals

The horn may only be used to attract other road users' attention if needed to avert a dangerous situation. For example, if you suspect a pedestrian has not seen your car and is heading out into the street.

You may not use the horn to greet another road user or to indicate your annoyance at someone's way of driving.

You may only use the horn if needed to avert a dangerous situation

Speed

You communicate a lot with the speed at which you are driving. For example, if you slow down and keep to the right, the driver behind you will probably think that you are letting them pass, or that it is safe to overtake.

Your speed is also key to communicating your intentions when you have a duty to give way. When you intend to give way it is important that you slow down well in advance, and if necessary, stop completely, so that other road users clearly understand that you intend to let them pass.

If you brake hard just before a give way junction, you have failed to give way because you did not slow down or stop in time.

Positioning

How you position your car often shows what you intend to do. By choosing the correct lane and positioning the car clearly well in advance, you help other road users understand your intentions and plan their driving.

For example, if you are going to turn left, you should position the car so that others can clearly see what you intend to do. If you position the car late or unclearly, other road users may misunderstand you, which can reduce both traffic flow and road safety.

Exceptions for certain professional roles

Drivers in certain professional roles are allowed to make exceptions to traffic rules while on duty if the task requires it, for example by going through a red light or exceeding the speed limit. This may apply to police officers, rescue service personnel or healthcare staff during urgent assignments.

This applies even when blue lights and sirens are not being used. However, the driver must still drive with great care and may only make exceptions if this can be done without danger.

Police officers may, if necessary, make exceptions to traffic rules while on duty

Make way for emergency vehicles

You must make way for emergency vehicles, such as police cars, fire trucks and ambulances, when they signal for a clear road using blue lights, with or without sirens. You must do what you can to let them pass, but you must still follow the traffic rules and act with great care so that no one is put in danger.

Making way for emergency vehicles can mean moving onto the hard shoulder or close to the side of the road. It can also mean continuing at the speed limit until you can make way in a safer place, or stopping completely if necessary.

However, stopping in the middle of a narrow road where a large fire engine cannot pass does not help the emergency vehicle get through.

You must make way for emergency vehicles that have their blue lights on, with or without sirens

In densely built-up areas and in heavy traffic, it is often necessary for all drivers to pull over to the side in order for an emergency vehicle to be able to pass. If it is appropriate, you should try to pull over to the same side as other drivers behind or in front of you have done.

As soon as you hear a siren or notice a flashing blue light, you must ready yourself for action and be prepared to make way.

Keep in mind that emergency vehicles often drive in a column, that is, one after another. After making way for one emergency vehicle, you must therefore check whether more emergency vehicles are coming before moving back.