How Roads Work: Intersections, Signs, and Safety

Getting around safely isn’t just about knowing how to drive—it’s about understanding how roads are designed, how signs and signals guide you, and how construction and maintenance affect your ride. This guide will help new and young drivers learn the basics of intersections, lanes, speed limits, and work zones, plus provide fun resources to practice safe driving in Nebraska.

What is Traffic Engineering?

Good traffic engineering keeps traffic moving smoothly, reduces the risk of crashes, and makes Nebraska roads safer for everyone. It includes planning, designing, and building the roads, intersections, signs, and signals so drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians can get where they need to go safely.

Traffic engineering also includes the ongoing upkeep that keeps roads safe year-round. This can include replacing signs, updating guardrails and lighting, mowing roadsides for visibility, clearing debris, repairing potholes, sealing cracks, and making sure drainage systems prevent hazards.

Work zones (orange cones, reduced speed signs, etc.) are often set up to protect both drivers and crews in these areas. Slow down. Pay attention. Put your phone down. People are working just feet from traffic, and when drivers ignore signs or get distracted, they can seriously injure—or even kill—the crews keeping the roads safe. We’ll dive deeper in the Work Zone Safety section below.

Traffic Control Devices

Traffic control devices are features on the road designed to guide you safely. They tell you when to stop, when to go, which lane to use, how fast to drive, and alert you to hazards. Common examples include traffic signals, stop and yield signs, rumble strips that warn you if you drift out of your lane, guardrails that prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway, and cable median barriers that reduce the risk of head-on collisions.

These devices are also used temporarily in work zones to keep traffic and crews safe. Temporary traffic control devices might include cones, barrels, reduced speed signs, warning signs, arrow boards, flashing beacons, portable traffic signals, and AFADs (Automated Flagger Assistance Devices). Temporary lane lines or pavement markings guide drivers through changed traffic patterns. Paying attention to all of these visual cues helps traffic flow smoothly and keeps everyone—drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians—safe.

Speed Limits and Safe Speeds

Speed limits aren’t random—they’re set based on traffic patterns, road conditions, and safety data. Understanding how speed limits are determined helps you drive safely and avoid crashes.

Intersection & Lane Design

Not all intersections are created equal. Modern intersection designs and lane types—like roundabouts, RCUT intersections, and center turn lanes—help traffic flow smoothly and reduce the risk of crashes.

Watch for Workers: Work Zones & Road Maintenance

NDOT crews work year-round to keep roads safe. This includes construction projects—like building or upgrading roads, bridges, and intersections—as well as repairs and upkeep. Road maintenance and management includes mowing, pothole repair, crack sealing, guardrail updates, drainage work, clearing debris, and even managing noxious weeds and protecting pollinators. All of this work helps keep roads safe, smooth, and reliable for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Road work often happens in a work zone. A work zone is a temporary area marked by cones, barrels, reduced speed signs, and sometimes lane shifts. Work zones are carefully set up to protect both drivers and the crews working to build, repair, and maintain our roads. These areas often require reduced speeds, lane shifts, or temporary detours to keep traffic moving safely around equipment and workers.

It’s crucial to slow down, follow signs, do not use your phone, and watch for workers. People’s lives depend on it. Sometimes maintenance happens without cones or signs. Always stay alert and slow down whenever you see crews or equipment near the road.

Types of Maintenance

Work Zone Safety

Relevant Links for Safe Driving

Glossary of Terms

AFAD (Automated Flagger Assistance Device): Portable, remotely operated device used in work zones to control traffic safely from a distance.
Arrow Boards / Message Boards: Electronic signs showing directions, warnings, or lane closures.
Cable Median Barrier: Steel cables in a median to prevent vehicles from crossing into oncoming traffic.
Center Turn Lane: Lane in the middle of the road used for left turns from either direction to improve flow and reduce crashes.
Cones & Barrels: Orange markers used in work zones to guide drivers and mark construction areas.
Construction Project: Building or upgrading roads, bridges, and intersections.
Debris: Objects or materials on the roadway that can create hazards and need to be cleared.
Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI): Interchange where traffic briefly crosses to the opposite side to improve flow and reduce left-turn conflicts.
Drainage Systems: Structures like ditches or pipes that manage water runoff to prevent flooding and hazards on roads.
Flashing Beacons: Lights that call attention to work zones or specific hazards.
Guardrail: Safety barrier along roadsides designed to prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway or hitting hazards.
High-Visibility Pavement Markings: Painted lines and symbols on the road that are easy to see in rain, low light, or at night.
Intersection: Point where two or more roads meet; can be designed in many ways to improve safety and traffic flow.
Lane Shift: Temporary change in the normal flow of traffic lanes, often used in work zones to keep traffic moving safely.
Maintenance: Ongoing work to keep roads safe, including mowing, pothole repair, crack sealing, guardrail updates, drainage, and debris removal.
Multimodal: Transportation system that accommodates more than one way of traveling, such as driving, biking, walking, or public transit.
Noxious Weeds: Harmful or invasive plants along roadsides that crews remove to protect the environment and maintain visibility.
Pavement Blow-Up: Road damage where pavement cracks or bulges, often due to high heat, requiring repair.
Pavement Markings: Painted lines and symbols that guide traffic and communicate rules, like lane divisions, crosswalks, and turn arrows.
Pedestrian: A person walking along or crossing a road; part of traffic that drivers must watch for to stay safe.
Plow / Snowplow: Vehicle used to clear snow and ice from roads in winter.
Portable Traffic Signals: Temporary stoplights for controlled one-lane traffic.
RCUT (Restricted Crossing U-Turn) Intersection: Intersection designed to reduce crashes by limiting left turns at the main intersection.
Real-Time: Information updated immediately as conditions change, such as traffic, construction, or weather alerts.
Reduced Speed Sign: Signs posted in work zones or certain areas to slow traffic for safety.
Road Conditions: Physical state of the road, including pavement quality, hazards, weather impacts, and visibility.
Roundabout: Circular intersection where traffic flows around a center island to reduce crashes and improve flow.
Rumble Strips: Grooved or raised patterns that alert drivers when a vehicle drifts out of its lane.
Speed Limit: Maximum legal speed, based on traffic patterns, road conditions, and safety data.
School Zone: Area near a school with reduced speed limits and increased caution for children.
Traffic Calming Features: Roadway designs like speed humps, raised crosswalks, or curb extensions that reduce speeds and improve safety.
Traffic Engineering: Planning, designing, building, and managing roads, intersections, signs, signals, and maintenance to keep traffic flowing smoothly and safely.
Traffic Patterns: How vehicles move along roads, including speed, lane use, and congestion patterns.
VRU (Vulnerable Road User): Any road user at greater risk of injury, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
Zipper Merge: Traffic technique where drivers take turns merging at the lane closure point instead of merging early.