Warning Signs: Curves, Intersections, Road Narrowing, Hills and Surface Conditions
Warning signs tell you what is coming, not what is required. The exam tests whether you recognize a warning by its yellow diamond and read its symbol, plaque and placement fast enough to act before the hazard.
Curves and alignment
A curve sign (W1-2) shows a single bend with an arrow pointing in the direction of the curve; a turn sign (W1-3) shows a sharper, roughly 90-degree change. Chevron alignment signs (W1-8) sit on the outside of the curve itself and guide you through it, and the large arrow sign (W1-6) marks a sharp change in alignment. A yellow advisory plaque such as 35 MPH under a curve sign is the recommended maximum, not a legal limit.
Intersections and road configuration
Crossroad (W2-1), side road (W2-2), T-intersection (W2-3) and Y-intersection (W2-4) signs warn of traffic entering where you may not expect it; a STOP AHEAD or SIGNAL AHEAD plaque may accompany them. Lane warnings include merge (W4-1), added lane, lane ends (W4-2) and road narrows (W5-1). Two-way traffic (W6-3) and divided highway begins/ends signs mark a change in the road's basic structure.
Hills and surface conditions
Steep grade signs (W7-1) carry a percentage plaque: 7% means a 7-foot drop per 100 feet. Truck escape ramps are signed separately, usually well in advance. Hill blocks view, slippery when wet, loose gravel, and bump or dip signs warn of conditions that change stopping distance or sight distance.
Worked example
You see a yellow diamond reading 7% with a DOWNHILL NEXT 4 MILES plaque, then a sign for a truck escape ramp. Nothing here sets your speed. The right response is to select a lower gear before the descent begins and hold a steady low speed, because a 7% grade overheats brakes if you ride them all the way down.
Traps
Confusing the orange diamond of a work zone with a permanent yellow warning. Reading an advisory plaque as enforceable. Ignoring chevrons because they contain no words. Misreading a curve arrow as the direction to steer rather than the direction the road bends.