Alaska Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Regulatory signs tell drivers what they must do or must not do; they are enforceable traffic laws, not suggestions.

White background with black legend and black border is the standard pattern for most regulatory signs (speed limit, keep right, turn restrictions).

Red is reserved for prohibitions on regulatory signs: STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, and WRONG WAY all use red.

A STOP sign is the only red octagon; drivers must come to a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or edge of the roadway before proceeding.

YIELD (red and white inverted triangle) requires slowing and giving right of way; stop only if traffic or pedestrians require it.

Speed limit signs show the maximum lawful speed in mph under normal conditions; Alaska default urban limit is 25 mph and rural default is 55 mph unless posted otherwise.

DO NOT ENTER (red circle with white horizontal bar) and WRONG WAY (red rectangle) mark the exit of one-way roads and must never be passed.

A red circle with a diagonal slash over a black symbol means the action shown is prohibited.

Warning signs alert drivers to upcoming hazards or changes in road conditions; they are yellow diamonds with black legends in standard use.

Yellow diamond = general warning; orange diamond = construction/temporary warning; fluorescent yellow-green diamond = school, pedestrian, or bicycle warning.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow curving right warns of a curve ahead; a reverse curve sign shows an S-shaped arrow.

Chevron signs (black chevron on yellow) are placed at the curve itself to guide drivers through the turn, unlike the advance-warning curve sign.

Hill, downgrade, and grade percentage signs warn of steep slopes; truck escape ramp signs advise runaway trucks where to exit.

Winding road, crossroad, side road, merge, and lane-ends signs each use a distinct black pictogram on yellow.

A yellow diamond showing a pedestrian, bicycle, or deer warns of that hazard crossing or sharing the roadway ahead.

Advisory speed plaques (yellow with black numerals) under warning signs recommend a safe speed for the hazard, not a legal maximum.

Guide signs give route, destination, distance, and service information; they are informational, not regulatory.

Green guide signs mark destinations, distances, and exits on freeways and major highways.

Blue signs indicate motorist services: gas, food, lodging, camping, and hospitals.

Brown signs identify recreational, cultural, and scenic areas and points of interest.

White rectangular signs with black legends provide regulatory or general information such as speed limits and lane use.

Interstate route markers are red, white, and blue shields; the number of digits indicates the route type (odd = north-south, even = east-west).

Mileposts and exit numbers help drivers locate positions and plan exits; Alaska uses mile-based references on major routes.

A white sign with a black 'H' or hospital symbol indicates medical services nearby.

Orange is the standard color for construction and maintenance warning signs; it signals temporary conditions.

A diamond-shaped orange sign with a black symbol or legend warns of workers, lane changes, or road work ahead.

Flagger signs (orange diamond with a person holding a flag) mean a trained flagger controls traffic; obey the flagger's signals.

Channelizing devices such as cones, drums, and barricades separate traffic from work areas; do not cross them.

Reduced speed limits posted in work zones are enforceable even when workers are not present unless otherwise posted.

A 'ROAD WORK AHEAD' sign is an advance warning; a 'END ROAD WORK' sign marks the return to normal conditions.

Detour signs (often orange or black on white) direct traffic around a closed section; follow them rather than improvising.

Work zone signs may be mounted on portable supports and take precedence over permanent signs in the same location.

Fluorescent yellow-green is the standard color for school zone, pedestrian, and bicycle warning signs.

A pentagon-shaped sign (five sides, point up) marks a school zone or school crossing.

School zone speed limits are posted and enforceable during posted hours or when children are present; the limit is typically 20 mph or as posted.

A sign showing a walking person warns of a pedestrian crossing ahead; a sign showing a school bus warns of school bus stops.

Crosswalk markings and pedestrian signals work with signs; drivers must yield to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk.

A crossing guard or adult supervisor may stop traffic; drivers must obey their signals and stop before the crosswalk.

In Alaska, drivers must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm on an undivided road.

Flashing yellow lights on a school sign indicate the zone is active; a reduced speed limit applies while they flash.

Red = stop, yield, prohibition, or danger; white = regulatory background; black = legend on regulatory signs.

Yellow = general warning; orange = construction/work zone; fluorescent yellow-green = school and pedestrian warning.

Green = guide and destination information; blue = motorist services; brown = recreation and points of interest.

Octagon = STOP only; inverted triangle = YIELD only; pentagon = school zone/crossing; round = railroad advance warning.

Diamond = warning; rectangle = regulatory or guide; horizontal rectangle = guide or informational.

A white X-shaped crossbuck with 'RAILROAD CROSSING' marks a passive railroad crossing; flashing red lights and gates mean stop.

A circle with a diagonal slash means 'prohibited'; a red circle alone means 'do not enter.'

Symbols (arrows, pedestrians, bicycles, deer, trucks) convey the hazard faster than words and are standardized nationwide.

Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions; white lines separate traffic moving in the same direction.

A solid yellow line on your side means no passing; a broken yellow line means passing is permitted when safe.

Double solid yellow lines mean no passing in either direction; a broken line beside a solid line permits passing only on the broken side.

White dashed lines mark lane dividers; solid white lines mark the right edge of the roadway or a lane that should not be crossed.

A solid white stop line marks where to stop at a signal or stop sign; a crosswalk is marked by parallel white bars.

A flashing red signal means stop, then proceed when clear (treat as a stop sign); a flashing yellow signal means slow and proceed with caution.

A steady red arrow means stop for that movement; a green arrow means the movement is protected.

A solid yellow light warns that the signal is about to turn red; drivers should stop if they can do so safely.

Railroad pavement markings (white X and R R) warn of tracks ahead and correspond to the round advance warning sign.