Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
4.17 Traffic Direction and Control
4.17.2 Manual Traffic Direction Procedures (Issued: 6/25/07)
Personnel assigned to provide traffic control shall utilize the following traffic control signals and
gestures:
A. Hand Signals
1. Stop Signal – The basic signal to stop is an upraised hand at the end of an
extended arm raised to at or above shoulder level, with the palm of the hand
clearly facing the approaching driver for whom the signal is intended.
2. Start Signal – The signal for a st opped vehicle to begin moving is for the officer
to extend his/her arm, at shoulder level, toward the stopped vehicle (pointing) and
waving the car onward by bending his/her arm at the elbow and moving the hand
repeatedly towards and away from the chest. O nce traffic begins moving in one
direction, the officer will turn and face traffic in the opposing direction and
deliver the same signal.
3. Left Turn – Once it is safe for the motorist to execute the left turn, the officer
should stop opposing traffic usi ng the standard stop signal. The officer will then
motion to the turning vehicle with a start signal, meantime pointing in the
direction the driver intends to go.
4. Right Turn – Right turns require little traffic direction unless the turn is across a
heav ily-traveled crosswalk or involves merging into heavy traffic. Natural gaps
are best used for vehicles turning right.
B. Whistle Signals
1. Stop – Single long blast
2. Start – Two short blasts
3. Emergency stop – Three or more short blasts
C. Flashlight Signals
A flashlight may be used to halt traffic. To stop traffic, slowly swing the flashlight across
the path of oncoming traffic. The beam from the flashlight strikes the pavement as an
elongated spot of light. After the driver has stopped, hand signals may be given in the
usual manner with the vehicles’ headlights providing illumination.