Q. Why does the sign for the I-95 South Exit 2 in Hopkinton read “Exit Only” when clearly a vehicle may reenter I-95 in either the north- or south-bound directions?

A. The section of I-95 near Exit 2 in Hopkinton is a four-lane section with two lanes in each direction. In areas where there are steep grades, or hills, on the highway we provide an additional right lane for heavy vehicles to use, mainly trucks that will probably travel more slowly up inclines. These lanes are referred to as truck-climbing lanes, and they are installed so that the trucks don’t slow down the free-flowing traffic on the highway.

This is the case prior to Exit 2 in Hopkinton on I-95 South. Since this location is in close proximity to Exit 2, the lane continues into an exit-only lane for this exit. The sign “Exit Only” is included on the advance exit sign because the lane drops off at the exit, and motorists in this lane must exit.

This sign is not to be interpreted as once a motorist exits, they cannot access the freeway. It is only meant to inform motorists that the right lane is an exit-only lane, and motorists in this lane must exit the highway at that exit.

Motorists don’t direct traffic

Q. Are motorists allowed to direct traffic? Today on Route 1 in North Kingstown a Cox truck driver stopped to allow a motorist to cross traffic to turn left (south) from the Walt’s Roast Beef store. The truck was in the right (curb) lane facing north. I was in the left lane traveling north and had a very near collision with the entering auto. Where I come from it is illegal for a motorist to direct traffic, but what is the rule here in Rhode Island?

A. The answer to your question is no, motorists are not allowed to direct traffic. According to the Rhode Island General Laws, and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), only uniformed police officers, and flaggers who are trained in safe traffic control practices are allowed to direct traffic in situations where temporary traffic control is needed.

The situation you describe in which a vehicle is attempting to turn left out of a driveway on a four-lane road and the driver in the right lane stops for the vehicle to pull out of the driveway, but the vehicle in the left lane is unaware of the entering vehicle is a situation that should be avoided, because it can cause an accident.

According to the General Laws, any driver exiting a driveway must yield the right of way to all vehicles approaching on the road before entering the road. Therefore, in a situation such as you describe, no motorist should stop and give someone the right-of-way to exit from a driveway, especially on a four-lane road where two lanes of traffic must stop to allow the vehicle to enter the road. However, if they do, the motorist exiting the driveway should politely motion the vehicle to proceed and then wait until the traffic clears and he or she is provided with an acceptable gap and then safely enter the road.

Dana Alexander Nolfe, chief public affairs officer for the state Department of Transportation, has agreed to answer questions of general interest posed by Journal readers about state roads and other state transportation matters.

The DOT is responsible for the state’s transportation infrastructure, which includes highways, bridges, traffic signals and bikeways.

To ask a question that would also be of interest to other readers, send a letter to Ask RIDOT, Features Department, The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902. You can also e-mail your question to projocars@projo.com. Please put “Question for the DOT” in the subject field.

Questions or complaints of a specific nature should be posed to the DOT directly and will not be answered in this column.