A driving instructor teaches you how to interpret the sound of a traffic officer's whistle: "To avoid confusion, you just need to consider whether the blast is short or long."

Many people have gotten confused by the directions of a traffic officer . It's a situation we've all been in at some point : rushing, traffic, and the nerves of trying to correctly interpret a sign (or several) can all play tricks on us. At Autoescuela Merinero, they give the key, in one of their latest TikTok videos (more than 62,000 followers), to never fail to hear a police officer's whistle again.

And what should we pay attention to? Basically, time, and this is how they explain it: "I want to give you a tip so you know what an officer's whistle blasts mean . Pay close attention so you don't get confused. When they're short blasts, what they're doing is cutting you off, stopping you," they warn us. "What if it's a long, continuous blast? If it's continuous, you should continue." It's that simple.

It's important to know this information because the officer likely won't be looking directly at you, and all you can do is interpret his beeps . If they're short beeps, stop. If the beep is long, move forward. Of course, be sure to check the guard's position relative to you so you don't mess things up. But once you know the timing trick, it's harder—if not impossible—to make a mistake.

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This trick is useful for both complicated traffic situations and passing your driving test. It's a very easy mnemonic to learn, and you can use it—literally—even with your eyes closed. Of course, if you're driving, it's best to keep them open. Especially if you're stuck in traffic or an ambulance is passing by . But keep in mind that a traffic officer's signals can be both audible and visual and are always "executive": you have the obligation to comply with them immediately, and they supersede any other traffic rules or signs around you.

So next time, if you want to avoid a reprimand from the officer or, in the worst case, a fine, pay attention to the timing of the whistle. You'll surely thank us the next time you have a traffic officer near you.