Arizona Road Signs Practice flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Regulatory sign appearance

White rectangle with black legend, or black rectangle with white legend such as ONE WAY. These signs state a legal requirement, and disobeying one is a traffic violation rather than a mere caution.

Red circle with slash

Means the maneuver or vehicle class pictured is prohibited. A red circle with no slash instead marks an action that is mandatory or a class that is restricted to that use.

Stop sign requirement

Requires a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or roadway edge before entering the intersection. A rolling stop is a violation even when the road appears empty.

Yield sign meaning

Slow down and give right of way to traffic on the crossing road. Stop only when needed, but stop fully if a vehicle or pedestrian is present or approaching closely.

Minimum speed sign

A regulatory sign setting the lowest lawful speed. Drivers unable to maintain it must use another route or move right, because impeding traffic is itself a violation.

Warning sign appearance

Yellow diamond with black legend, or fluorescent yellow-green for school, pedestrian, and bicycle warnings. These alert to a condition ahead and call for speed or lane adjustment.

Advisory speed plate

A yellow rectangular plate with black numerals mounted below a warning sign. It shows the recommended maximum speed for the hazard, not a legally enforceable speed limit.

Winding road sign

A yellow diamond showing an S-shaped arrow warns of three or more successive curves. A single-bend arrow instead warns of one pronounced change in alignment.

Steep grade percentage

A plate showing a percentage on a downgrade sign gives the slope of the hill ahead. Downshift before the descent instead of riding the brakes to control speed.

Guide sign colors

Green signs give destinations, distances, and exits. Blue signs mark motorist services such as fuel, food, lodging, and hospitals. Brown signs mark recreation and cultural areas.

Interstate route marker

The red-and-blue shield identifies an Interstate highway. U.S. routes use a white shield, and state routes use a state-specific shape such as a white circle or outline.

Mile marker purpose

Small green signs placed at one-mile intervals along a route. They increase in the direction of travel and are the primary reference for reporting a location in an emergency.

Exit only plaque

A white-on-green plate over a lane means that lane must leave the highway at the exit. Drivers continuing through must change lanes before reaching the gore area.

Work zone sign color

Orange with black legends. These temporary signs override the permanent signing they replace while work is active, and posted work zone speed limits are enforceable.

Work zone area sequence

Advance warning, then the transition taper, then the activity area where workers are present, then the termination area where normal traffic resumes.

Flagger authority

A person holding a STOP/SLOW paddle controls traffic directly. The flagger's signals override posted signs and signals, and drivers must obey the paddle.

Flashing arrow board

A portable board on a work vehicle or trailer directs traffic to merge in the direction the arrow points. Treat it as a lane-closure instruction and change lanes early.

Detour sign response

Orange or black-on-white markers with a DETOUR legend and arrow route traffic around a closure. Follow the markers continuously instead of improvising an alternate street.

School sign shape

Fluorescent yellow-green pentagon. The five-sided shape is reserved for school advance and school crossing signs, making it recognizable from the back or at a distance.

School zone speed limit

Enforceable only during the posted hours or when the beacon is flashing, depending on the installation. Outside those times the normal speed limit applies.

Crossing guard signal

A raised hand or stop paddle held by a crossing guard has the force of a stop sign. Drivers must stop and stay stopped until all children clear the roadway.

Pedestrian countdown signal

A raised hand or countdown means do not start crossing. A flashing hand means finish crossing if already in the roadway but do not begin a new crossing.

Railroad advance warning sign

A round yellow sign with a black X and RR legend warns that a highway-rail crossing is ahead. It is placed in advance and does not mark the crossing itself.

Crossbuck meaning

A white X-shaped sign with RAILROAD CROSSING legend marks the tracks and carries the same meaning as a yield sign: yield to any approaching train.

Lowered railroad gate

Means stop and remain stopped until the gate rises fully and the lights stop flashing. Never drive around or under a lowered gate, even if no train is visible.

Stalled vehicle on tracks

Occupants should exit immediately and move away at an angle toward the approaching train, not along the track direction, to escape debris from a collision.

Yellow pavement lines

Separate traffic moving in opposite directions. A broken yellow line permits passing when safe, while a solid yellow line on your side prohibits passing.

White pavement lines

Separate lanes moving in the same direction or mark the right edge. A broken white line may be crossed to change lanes; a solid white line discourages lane changes.

Sign shape code

Octagon means stop, inverted triangle means yield, diamond means warning, pentagon means school, round means railroad advance warning, and rectangle means regulatory or guide.

HOV lane markings

A diamond symbol marks a high-occupancy vehicle lane. Crossing the solid double white line bordering the lane to enter or exit is prohibited outside designated openings.

Sign recognition sequence

Identify shape first, then color, then legend. Shape and color narrow the meaning before the words are read, which allows an earlier response at highway speed.

Overriding human direction

Directions from a flagger, police officer, or crossing guard override posted signs and signals in the immediate situation. Obey the person directing traffic first.