Colorado Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Regulatory signs are white rectangles with black legends and are legally enforceable; a red circle with a diagonal slash over a black symbol means the action is prohibited.

R5-1 style signs read SPEED LIMIT with the number in black on white; the posted number is the maximum lawful speed in ideal conditions, not a required speed.

A red octagon is reserved for STOP; a red-and-white downward-pointing triangle is reserved for YIELD, where you slow and give right of way, stopping only if needed.

At a four-way STOP, first arrival proceeds first; if two vehicles arrive together, the vehicle on the right goes first, and a vehicle going straight has priority over one turning left across its path.

A YIELD sign requires yielding to cross traffic and to pedestrians; a rolling merge without yielding is a violation even if you do not come to a full stop.

Mandatory direction signs are white with black arrows (for example a left-turn-only arrow or a straight-ahead arrow), and you must travel in the direction indicated by the arrow in your lane.

Prohibition signs include NO U-TURN, NO LEFT TURN, DO NOT PASS, and NO PEDESTRIANS; passing zones end where a DO NOT PASS sign or solid yellow line appears.

A red slash through a symbol on a white background prohibits that movement; a green circle or arrow on a black background is a permitted movement, not a mandatory one.

Regulatory signs take precedence over guide and warning signs; when a sign conflicts with a pavement marking, obey the sign and treat the conflict as a hazard.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black symbols or legends; they alert you to a condition ahead and require reduced speed and increased attention, not a legal stop.

A black-and-yellow chevron or arrow sign marks a sharp change in alignment; the arrow points in the direction of the curve, and multiple chevrons indicate a continuing curve.

A yellow diamond with a black crossroad symbol warns of a cross intersection ahead; a side-road symbol shows a T or Y intersection, and a symbol with a merging arrow shows traffic joining from that side.

ROAD NARROWS signs show which side loses width; a symbol narrowing on both sides means the lane width shrinks from both edges.

Hill signs: a yellow diamond with a percent grade and a truck symbol warns of a steep descent where heavy vehicles may be slow; a hill symbol with an up arrow warns of a climb ahead.

Surface-condition warnings include SLIPPERY WHEN WET, loose gravel, and falling rocks; they indicate reduced traction, so lower speed before reaching the hazard.

A yellow diamond with a pedestrian, bicycle, or animal symbol warns of that traffic crossing or sharing the road ahead; scan the shoulders and slow down.

Warning signs are placed in advance of the hazard; the distance to the condition depends on the posted speed, so do not assume the hazard is at the sign itself.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow curving and a speed plaque below (advisory speed) shows a recommended maximum for the curve, which is often lower than the posted limit.

Work zone signs are orange diamonds with black legends or symbols; orange is the color reserved for temporary traffic control and construction and maintenance areas.

A flagger symbol sign or a FLAGGER AHEAD sign warns that a person with a stop/slow paddle controls traffic; obey the paddle over any conflicting sign or signal.

Channelizing devices include orange-and-white striped drums, cones, and tubular markers; drive between them and never cross a line of drums into a closed lane.

Temporary traffic signals and portable stop signs in a work zone carry the same legal force as permanent ones; a red signal or STOP paddle requires a full stop.

Lane-closure signs use a black arrow on orange showing the lane shift or merge direction; a sign with a right or left arrow indicates which lane is closed ahead.

Reduced-speed work zone plaques post a lower limit that is enforceable while workers are present; fines may be doubled for violations in a work zone.

Pilot cars and one-lane two-way operations mean you follow the pilot vehicle and do not pass; the lead vehicle sets the safe speed through the site.

A ROAD WORK AHEAD sign or a detour sign directs traffic around the work; follow the detour markers rather than your usual route.

Guide signs are green with white legends on conventional highways and blue with white legends on interstates; they give directions, distances, and destinations rather than rules.

The interstate shield is red, white, and blue; even-numbered interstates generally run east-west and odd-numbered ones north-south, with numbers increasing from west to east and south to north.

Three-digit interstate numbers beginning with an even digit are bypass or loop routes around a city; those beginning with an odd digit are spurs into a city that do not reconnect.

A white Colorado state highway marker with a black outline and number identifies a state route; a blue pentagon marks a county road, and a white square or rectangle marks a local street.

Interstate mile markers are small green signs with white numbers placed at one-mile intervals; they increase from south to north and west to east and locate your position for emergencies.

A blue sign with white symbols marks a rest area, hospital, or other motorist service; a brown sign marks a recreation area or point of interest.

Exit signs show the exit number in a small yellow or green panel; the exit number usually corresponds to the nearest mile marker.

A sign with an arrow and a destination name indicates the lane to use for that destination; a sign with no arrow applies to all lanes continuing ahead.

A white rectangular sign with black route and destination text on a conventional road may be a guide sign, but regulatory signs are white with black legends and carry legal force.

Octagon = STOP only; inverted triangle = YIELD only; round = railroad advance warning; pennant (triangle) = NO PASSING ZONE; crossbuck = railroad crossing.

Rectangle with the long side vertical = regulatory; rectangle with the long side horizontal = guide or warning; diamond = warning; trapezoid = recreation or similar area.

Red means stop, yield, or prohibition; yellow means warning; orange means construction and maintenance; green means guide and permitted movement; blue means motorist services and information.

White means regulatory; black is used for legends and symbols on white and yellow; brown means recreation and cultural interest; fluorescent yellow-green marks school and pedestrian crossings.

A red circle with a slash prohibits the symbol inside; a green circle or green arrow permits the movement shown.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol is a warning; a yellow diamond with a black legend such as SLOW or a speed plaque adds an advisory or condition to the warning.

A white X-shaped crossbuck with the words RAILROAD CROSSING marks the crossing itself; a round yellow sign with an X and RR letters is the advance warning placed before it.

A pentagon-shaped sign (point up) marks a school zone or school crossing; a fluorescent yellow-green pentagon with a pedestrian symbol marks a school crossing.

Symbols replace words on many signs: a bicycle, pedestrian, deer, or truck symbol means that traffic or hazard may be present ahead.

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

White lines separate traffic moving in the same direction; a solid white line marks the right edge or a lane that should not be crossed, and a broken white line separates lanes where changing is allowed.

A solid white line at an intersection or in a turn lane means do not change lanes; a white arrow painted in a lane indicates the mandatory direction for that lane.

Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions; a yellow line on the left edge of a divided highway marks the left boundary of the roadway.

Object markers: a type 1 marker is a yellow reflector on a black post marking an obstacle; a type 3 marker is a striped vertical panel marking a hazard at the edge of the road.

A yellow object marker with black diagonal stripes indicates the object is on the left of your lane or the stripes slope down toward the side you should pass; red-and-white striped markers mark hazards.

A raised pavement marker (Botts' dot) in yellow or white supplements lane lines; yellow markers mark the left edge or center, and white markers mark lane lines.

A painted white diamond or HOV symbol marks a high-occupancy vehicle lane; a painted bicycle symbol marks a bike lane, and a painted arrow shows the required direction.

A stop line is a solid white bar across your lane at an intersection; stop before the line, and if there is no line, stop before the crosswalk or the edge of the intersection.

A round yellow advance warning sign with an X and RR letters is placed in advance of a railroad crossing; a crossbuck marks the crossing itself and means yield to trains.

A white crossbuck with black letters has the same meaning as a YIELD sign; a stop line, STOP sign, or gate at a crossing requires a full stop before the tracks.

Flashing red lights at a crossing mean stop and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and the gate is fully raised; never drive around a lowered gate.

A yellow sign with a black X and a number of tracks below indicates multiple tracks; wait for a second train after the first passes.

School zone signs are fluorescent yellow-green pentagons or diamonds; the posted school speed limit applies during the hours or when the lights flash as stated on the sign.

A school crossing guard or a crossing signal requires you to stop for children in the crosswalk; do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk for a pedestrian.

A white rectangular sign with a pedestrian symbol and a diagonal slash means no pedestrian crossing; a yellow diamond with a pedestrian symbol warns of pedestrians ahead.

Bicycle signs: a yellow diamond with a bicycle symbol warns of bicyclists; a white rectangular sign with a bicycle and a slash prohibits bicycles, and a green bike lane marking indicates a designated facility.

A shared-lane marking (sharrow) painted on the pavement indicates that bicyclists and motor vehicles share the lane; give bicyclists at least three feet when passing.

Colorado mountain passes use steep-grade and curve warning signs with advisory speed plaques; descend in a lower gear and avoid riding the brakes on long grades.

Chain-up and traction laws are posted on mountain corridors: signs may require chains, snow tires, or four-wheel drive, and the Colorado traction law applies to passenger vehicles on designated segments.

I-70 mountain corridor uses variable speed limit signs and ramp meters; the posted variable limit on the electronic sign overrides the static limit when it is displayed.

Avalanche and rockfall warning signs appear on mountain roads; a sign showing falling rocks or an avalanche symbol warns of debris on the roadway, especially after storms.

Wildlife warning signs with a deer or elk symbol are common in Colorado; scan for animals at dawn and dusk and slow down in marked corridors.

A sign reading BRIDGE ICES BEFORE ROAD warns that the deck freezes earlier than pavement; reduce speed and avoid sudden braking on bridges and overpasses in cold weather.

A sign with a snowflake or the words WINTER DRIVING warns of snowpacked or icy conditions; Colorado law requires clearing snow and ice from your vehicle before driving.

A sign reading NO SERVICES or LAST GAS warns of long distances between services on rural and mountain routes; plan fuel and water before the segment.

A yellow diamond with a curve arrow and a lower advisory speed is common on Colorado mountain roads; the advisory speed reflects the curve, not the posted limit, and is the recommended maximum in good conditions.

Colorado mountain passes use steep-grade and curve warning signs with advisory speed plaques; descend in a lower gear and avoid riding the brakes on long grades.

Chain-up and traction laws are posted on mountain corridors: signs may require chains, snow tires, or four-wheel drive, and the Colorado traction law applies to passenger vehicles on designated segments.

I-70 mountain corridor uses variable speed limit signs and ramp meters; the posted variable limit on the electronic sign overrides the static limit when it is displayed.

Avalanche and rockfall warning signs appear on mountain roads; a sign showing falling rocks or an avalanche symbol warns of debris on the roadway, especially after storms.

Wildlife warning signs with a deer or elk symbol are common in Colorado; scan for animals at dawn and dusk and slow down in marked corridors.

A sign reading BRIDGE ICES BEFORE ROAD warns that the deck freezes earlier than pavement; reduce speed and avoid sudden braking on bridges and overpasses in cold weather.

A sign with a snowflake or the words WINTER DRIVING warns of snowpacked or icy conditions; Colorado law requires clearing snow and ice from your vehicle before driving.

A sign reading NO SERVICES or LAST GAS warns of long distances between services on rural and mountain routes; plan fuel and water before the segment.

A yellow diamond with a curve arrow and a lower advisory speed is common on Colorado mountain roads; the advisory speed reflects the curve, not the posted limit, and is the recommended maximum in good conditions.