When a law enforcement or traffic officer is directing the flow of traffic, you should:

• A. Follow the normal traffic signals
• B. Obey the officer's hand signals instead of the signs or pavement markings
• C. Ignore the officer
• D. Stop until told to proceed

Answer: (B)

When an officer is directing traffic, their directions take precedence over traffic signals or signs. You should follow the officer's hand signals and any verbal instructions rather than what the lights, signs, or pavement markings would normally indicate. This allows the officer to manage the flow safely based on real-time conditions like accidents, construction, or unusual hazards that the usual controls can’t account for. If the officer motions you to stop, you stop; if they motion you to proceed, you move forward, maintaining caution and watching for others who may also be responding to the officer’s directions. Ignoring the officer’s signals can create confusion and dangerous situations, so their instructions override everything else.