Arkansas Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Shape meanings: octagon = stop; inverted triangle = yield; diamond = warning; pennant = no-passing zone; circle = railroad advance warning; crossbuck = railroad crossing; pentagon = school zone or school crossing.

Rectangle orientation: vertical rectangles commonly carry regulatory messages; horizontal rectangles commonly carry guide or service information.

Color categories: red = stop, yield, or prohibition; yellow = warning; orange = temporary work zone; white = regulatory; green = guide; blue = motorist services; brown = recreation or cultural interest.

Fluorescent yellow-green is used for school, pedestrian, and bicycle warning signs; it is not the general warning color for work zones.

A sign's family can be identified from color plus shape: yellow diamond = warning, white vertical rectangle = regulatory, green horizontal rectangle = guide.

Warning signs normally use a yellow background with black legend or symbol; regulatory signs normally use white with black or red legend.

Route markers and destination signs provide guidance; they do not by themselves establish a speed limit or turning requirement.

Even when a sign's legend is unreadable, shape and color alone convey the sign family: stop, yield, warning, guide, or work zone.

Speed limit signs are white rectangles with black numerals; the posted number is the maximum lawful speed under normal conditions.

STOP sign: octagon with white legend on red; a complete stop is required at the stop line, crosswalk, or edge of the intersection before proceeding.

YIELD sign: inverted triangle with a red border; slow or stop as needed and give the right-of-way to traffic on the intersecting road.

Prohibitory signs use red circles or slashes or red legends; examples include no U-turn, no left turn, and no parking.

DO NOT ENTER uses a red circle with a white bar; WRONG WAY uses a red background with white legend; both prohibit entry against traffic flow.

One-way signs use a black arrow on white; lane-use signs with turn arrows require the driver to follow the indicated movement.

Parking, stopping, and standing signs are regulatory; their posted times and restrictions define when the prohibition applies.

Weight, height, and size restriction signs are regulatory; a vehicle exceeding the posted limit must use another route.

Yellow diamond signs warn of conditions ahead; the symbol or legend identifies the specific hazard, and the sign does not itself set a legal speed limit.

Curve signs show right curve, left curve, sharp curve, winding road, or hairpin; chevron signs mark the alignment through a sharp bend.

Advisory speed plaques are yellow and recommend a safe speed for the warned condition; they are not the same as a white regulatory speed limit sign.

Intersection warning signs include crossroad, side road, T-intersection, Y-intersection, and stop-ahead or yield-ahead plaques.

Lane and roadway warnings include merge, lane ends, divided highway begins or ends, two-way traffic, and added lane.

Surface and hazard warnings include slippery when wet, deer crossing, falling rocks, low clearance, narrow bridge, and open pavement edge.

Hill warnings include steep grade and downgrade; a lower gear helps control speed on a long downgrade.

School, pedestrian, and bicycle warnings use fluorescent yellow-green; work-zone warnings use orange.

Green guide signs provide destinations, distances, exit information, and route guidance; they are informational rather than regulatory.

Interstate routes use the red, white, and blue shield; U.S. routes use a shield-shaped marker; Arkansas state routes use a state route marker.

Blue signs with white symbols identify motorist services such as fuel, food, lodging, hospital, rest area, and camping.

Brown signs identify recreation, cultural, historical, or scenic attractions.

Exit signs typically show the exit number, destination, and directional arrow; advance signs give drivers time to change lanes.

Mile markers and exit numbers help drivers locate positions and destinations along a route.

Guide signs may indicate lane assignments for exits or through traffic; drivers use them to select the correct lane.

A guide sign does not override a regulatory sign or signal; regulatory devices control the required action.

Steady red: stop before the stop line or crosswalk; a right turn may be permitted after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it.

Steady yellow: the signal is about to turn red; stop if safe, otherwise clear the intersection with caution.

Steady green: proceed if the intersection is clear; yield to pedestrians and to vehicles already lawfully in the intersection.

Flashing red: stop completely, then proceed when safe, like a stop sign; flashing yellow: slow down and proceed with caution.

Green arrow: movement in the arrow direction is protected; red arrow: do not move in that direction.

Pedestrian signals: walking person or WALK means proceed; raised hand or DON'T WALK means do not start crossing.

Stop lines and crosswalks locate where vehicles must stop; do not stop on or block a crosswalk.

At a circular green signal, a left turn is not protected; yield to oncoming traffic before completing the turn unless a green arrow controls the movement.

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

Broken yellow centerline permits passing when safe; solid yellow or double solid yellow prohibits passing across the line.

A solid white edge line marks the right edge of the roadway; a yellow edge line may mark the left edge of a divided highway.

Stop bars are wide white lines at intersections; stop before the bar when required by a sign or signal.

Crosswalk markings are white parallel or ladder lines; drivers must yield to pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

Painted turn arrows designate lanes for turning; a straight-only arrow means no turn from that lane.

Chevron or diagonal hatched markings separate or buffer traffic; do not drive across them unless entering a designated lane.

Diamond symbols mark HOV lanes; bicycle symbols and lane lines mark bike lanes.

Railroad advance warning sign: yellow circle with black R X R; crossbuck: white X with RAILROAD CROSSING legend at the tracks.

Flashing red lights at a railroad crossing require a stop; gates require a stop when lowered or lowering, and never drive around a gate.

Do not stop on railroad tracks; before crossing, confirm there is room to clear the tracks completely.

School zone signs are pentagon-shaped and fluorescent yellow-green; posted school speed limits apply when flashing or as signed.

School crossing signs and pavement markings identify crossings; obey crossing guards and watch for children near buses.

Work zones use orange warning signs and devices such as cones, drums, and barricades; these mark temporary traffic paths.

A flagger's STOP or SLOW paddle directs traffic; a flagger's instruction controls over conflicting signs in the work zone.

Temporary work-zone speed limits and lane closures are regulatory; obey posted limits and do not cross channelizing devices.