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DrivingLingo

Tema 29: signals and orders from traffic officers in the DGT exam

First in the order of precedence. Six gestures, and the exam asks what they make you do, not what they are called.

Reviewed on 6 October 2026 · sources: BOE and DGT

A police officer's (agente) orders come first in the order of precedence. The exam asks what they make you do, not what they are called.

  • Arm raised vertically: every road user approaching the officer stops.
  • Arms extended horizontally: stop whoever approaches from directions that cut across the arm.
  • Swung red or amber light: stops the users the officer points it at. Short, frequent whistle blasts order a stop; one long blast orders you to move off.
  • Extended arm moving up and down: slow down, not stop.
  • School patrols, roadworks staff and special-transport escorts regulate passage, but they are not officers. They must be distinguishable at 150 metres.

Watch out: the officer lowering their arms is not permission to move off.

In DrivingLingo: study the road signs, review traffic lights and which sign wins, then practise with the .

Source: RGC annex I, section 1.1; RGC art. 141.1 and 141.4

Key rules of topic 29

Arm raised

An arm raised vertically obliges every road user approaching the officer to stop.

  • You stop at the nearest stop line or, failing that, just before the officer.
  • Exception: the driver who cannot stop in conditions of sufficient safety.
  • At a junction it does not bind a driver who has already entered it.

Source: RGC anexo I, apdo. 1.1.a)

Arms extended

One or both arms extended horizontally stop whoever approaches from directions that cut across the arm.

  • Your direction of travel is irrelevant: what counts is whether your line cuts across the arm.
  • The signal stays in force even with the arms lowered, as long as the officer neither moves nor signals otherwise.

Source: RGC anexo I, apdo. 1.1.b)

Swinging light and whistle

Swinging a red or amber light stops the users the officer points it at.

  • Short, frequent whistle blasts: an order to stop.
  • One long whistle blast: an order to move off.

Source: RGC anexo I, apdo. 1.1.c) y 1.1.e)

Arm moving up and down

An extended arm moving up and down means slow down, not stop.

  • It binds whoever approaches on the side of the signalling arm, and perpendicular to it.

Source: RGC anexo I, apdo. 1.1.d)

Signals from a vehicle

A flashing red light aimed forward from a police vehicle orders you to pull over on the right, in front of it.

  • You stop where you create no risk and follow the instructions given over the loudspeaker.
  • Red flag: road closed. Green flag: reopened. Yellow flag: heighten your attention.

Source: RGC anexo I, apdo. 1.2

Who is not an officer

School patrols, roadworks staff and special-transport escorts may regulate passage, but they are not officers.

  • They use catalogue signs mounted on a paddle, and school patrols only invite you to stop.
  • All of them must be distinguishable at 150 metres in high-visibility clothing with retroreflective elements.

Source: RGC art. 141.1 y 141.4

Learn the rule, then practise it

Study topic 29 step by step: the rule, its citation and exam-style questions.

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