Connecticut Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Regulatory signs are white rectangles with black legends and are legally enforceable; a red circle with a diagonal slash means the maneuver or condition is prohibited.

SPEED LIMIT signs show the maximum lawful speed in miles per hour under favorable conditions; driving slower than the posted limit is permitted, but driving unreasonably slowly can itself be a violation.

A STOP sign (red octagon, white legend) requires a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or edge of the traveled way before proceeding; a YIELD sign (red-and-white downward triangle) requires slowing and giving right-of-way, stopping only if necessary.

Lane-use control signs assign direction to specific lanes: a white left-turn arrow with a slash means no left turn, a green arrow means permitted, and a yellow diamond lane symbol with an X means that lane is closed.

Two-way left-turn lane signs (white rectangle with opposing arrows) permit left turns from either direction into the shared center lane only for turning, not for passing or travel.

Turning control signs: a black curved arrow with a red slash prohibits that turn; a sign reading NO U-TURN prohibits U-turns; NO RIGHT TURN ON RED prohibits turning right after stopping at a red signal.

Parking control signs state the rule in words and the times or days it applies; an arrow pointing left or right extends the restriction in that direction, and no arrow means the restriction applies where the sign stands.

A red-and-white sign reading DO NOT ENTER marks a one-way roadway against traffic; a WRONG WAY sign is posted further into the same roadway to warn drivers already traveling in the wrong direction.

A white rectangular sign with a black down-and-left arrow reading KEEP RIGHT directs traffic to pass to the right of a median or obstruction, and it is a regulatory order rather than a suggestion.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black symbols or legends; they alert drivers to a condition ahead and do not themselves change the speed limit or right-of-way rules.

Curve warnings: a single curved arrow indicates a curve ahead; a curve arrow with a recommended speed plaque (yellow rectangle, black numerals) sets an advisory speed for the curve, not an enforceable limit.

A circular arrow with a red slash or a winding-road symbol indicates a series of curves; a reverse-curve symbol (S-shaped arrow) marks two successive curves in opposite directions.

Intersection warnings: a cross symbol indicates a four-way intersection ahead, a T symbol indicates a T-intersection, and a side-road symbol shows traffic entering from the right or left.

Road narrowing: a symbol with two parallel lines converging indicates the pavement narrows ahead; a symbol with a lane ending indicates a merge from that side, and a NARROW BRIDGE plaque warns of reduced width with no shoulders.

Hill warnings: a steep-grade symbol with a percentage plaque shows the downgrade ahead (for example 6% GRADE), warning that braking distance increases and lower gears may be needed.

Surface-condition warnings include SLIPPERY WHEN WET, loose gravel, falling rocks, and pavement ends; each indicates a change in traction or surface that requires reduced speed.

A yellow diamond showing a pedestrian, bicycle, deer, or farm vehicle warns of that traffic or hazard crossing or sharing the roadway ahead; the sign itself grants no right-of-way.

A yellow diamond with an arrow bent at a right angle and a small black plate reading an advisory speed warns of a sharp turn; the advisory speed is a safe maximum for the turn under good conditions.

Orange is the color reserved for temporary traffic control in work zones; orange diamond warning signs and orange rectangular guide signs mark construction, maintenance, or utility work.

Typical work-zone signs include ROAD WORK AHEAD, LANE CLOSED AHEAD, SHOULDER WORK, and FLAGGER AHEAD; a flashing arrow panel directs traffic to merge away from the closed lane.

A flagger in a work zone has the authority of a traffic control signal: a driver must stop when the flagger displays a STOP paddle or signals stop, and proceed only on the flagger's release.

A flagger's orange-red STOP/SLOW paddle is read by approaching drivers; the paddle's message controls the lane, and drivers must remain stopped until the paddle is turned to SLOW or the flagger waves them on.

Channelizing devices in work zones include cones, drums, tubular markers, and barricades; a barricade with diagonal stripes sloping down toward the travel lane means traffic must pass on the side the stripes slope toward.

Detour signs are orange or black-on-white rectangles marked DETOUR with an arrow; a detour route temporarily replaces the normal route and must be followed until the route rejoins the original road.

Work-zone speed limits posted on orange signs are enforceable and typically reduce the limit for the duration of the work; fines for moving violations in work zones are often doubled when workers are present.

Temporary traffic signals and stop signs in work zones have the same legal force as permanent ones; a dark or covered permanent signal does not authorize proceeding through a work zone without obeying the temporary control.

Advance warning in a work zone is staged: signs appear well before the work area, then at the taper where lanes close, then through the activity area, and finally with an END ROAD WORK sign restoring normal rules.

Guide signs are green with white legends on conventional highways and interstates; they provide directions, distances, destinations, and exit information and do not impose regulatory requirements.

Interstate route markers are shield-shaped with red, white, and blue coloring; even-numbered interstates generally run east-west and odd-numbered ones north-south, with numbers increasing from south to north and west to east.

A three-digit interstate number beginning with an even digit (such as 291) indicates a loop or bypass returning to the parent route; an odd leading digit (such as 395) indicates a spur that does not reconnect.

U.S. route markers are white shields with black numerals; state route markers vary by state and are usually rectangular or circular with the state name or shape.

Exit signs on freeways show the exit number, destination, and distance; an exit number with a letter suffix (such as 12A, 12B) indicates multiple exits served from the same interchange.

A green sign reading EXIT ONLY over a lane means that lane must exit; drivers who intend to continue must change lanes before the gore area marked by the striped pavement.

Service signs are blue with white symbols and indicate gas, food, lodging, camping, hospital, and phone services; recreational and cultural area signs are brown with white legends.

Mile markers are small green signs showing the distance from the state line or route origin and are used to report locations in emergencies; they are not speed or distance-to-destination indicators.

A white rectangular sign with black legend such as KEEP RIGHT or ONE WAY is regulatory rather than guide, even when posted alongside green guide signs; color and shape, not location, determine the sign's category.

School zone signs are fluorescent yellow-green pentagons or diamonds; a pentagon shape is reserved for school advance warnings and school crossing signs.

A SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT sign with a flashing beacon sets a reduced limit that applies only when the beacon flashes or when children are present, depending on the posted legend.

A school crossing sign shows two walking figures; a pedestrian crossing sign shows a single walking figure, and both warn drivers to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

In Connecticut, drivers must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and a driver approaching a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk must not pass that vehicle.

Crosswalk markings are white longitudinal lines or a ladder pattern; at an uncontrolled crosswalk without a signal, pedestrians in the crosswalk have the right-of-way over approaching vehicles.

Bicycle signs: a yellow diamond with a bicycle warns of bicyclists ahead or crossing; a white rectangular sign with a bicycle and SHARE THE ROAD indicates that bicyclists are permitted to use the full lane.

A green bike lane or green pavement marking highlights a conflict area where motor vehicles cross a bicycle lane; drivers must yield to bicyclists when turning across it.

A pedestrian signal displaying a steady upraised hand (DON'T WALK) means pedestrians may not start crossing; a flashing hand means finish crossing but do not start; a walking figure means cross.

A yellow diamond showing children with a SCHOOL plaque warns of children crossing; the sign does not itself change the speed limit, so the posted school zone limit or statutory limit governs.

A round yellow sign with a black X and two R's (the railroad advance warning sign) marks a crossing ahead; it is placed in advance of the crossing and requires slowing and looking.

A white X-shaped crossbuck with black letters reading RAILROAD CROSSING marks the crossing itself; at a crossbuck without other signals, drivers must yield the right-of-way to an approaching train.

Flashing red lights at a railroad crossing require a stop; a lowered gate requires a stop and prohibits proceeding until the gate rises fully and the lights stop flashing.

A white rectangular sign reading 3 TRACKS or a number indicates the number of tracks at the crossing, warning that a second train may follow the first from either direction.

A yellow diamond with a train symbol and an EXEMPT plaque indicates a crossing where certain vehicles (such as those required to stop) are exempt from the stop requirement; the plaque does not exempt ordinary passenger vehicles.

A yellow diamond with a symbol of a vehicle on a hill or a runaway-truck symbol warns of a steep downgrade or an escape ramp; trucks should use lower gears and the ramp if brakes fail.

Special-condition signs include FOG AHEAD, HIGH WIND AREA, and ICE ON BRIDGE; each warns of a localized hazard and calls for reduced speed and increased following distance.

A yellow diamond showing a traffic signal warns that a signal is ahead and may be red when reached; a yellow diamond showing a stop sign ahead warns that a stop is required beyond the crest or curve.

Red means stop, yield, prohibition, or wrong way; white means regulatory requirements; yellow means general warning; orange means temporary work-zone control; fluorescent yellow-green means school and pedestrian warning.

Green means guide and directional information; blue means motorist services; brown means recreational and cultural areas; pink means incident management; purple means electronic toll collection.

Octagon is reserved for STOP only; the inverted triangle is reserved for YIELD only; the round shape is reserved for railroad advance warning; the pentagon is reserved for school advance and school crossing signs.

A horizontal rectangle is used for guide and regulatory information; a vertical rectangle is used for regulatory instructions; a diamond is used for warning signs.

A red circle with a diagonal slash means prohibited; a red slash alone over a black symbol also means prohibited, and the symbol shows what is not allowed rather than what is required.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol is a warning; a white rectangle with black legend is regulatory; the same symbol on a different color or shape changes the sign's meaning and legal effect.

A red-and-white striped barricade or vertical panel with diagonal stripes indicates an obstruction or closed lane; the stripes slope downward toward the side on which traffic should pass.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow bent at a right angle indicates a turn or curve ahead, while a white rectangle with a black arrow indicates a required or permitted direction of travel.

A green sign with white letters provides distance and destination information; a blue sign with white symbols provides services; neither imposes a legal requirement on the driver.

A solid yellow line marks the left edge of traffic moving in one direction; a broken yellow line separates opposing traffic and may be crossed to pass when safe and permitted.

A solid white line marks the right edge or separates lanes moving in the same direction; a broken white line separates same-direction lanes and may be crossed to change lanes.

Double solid yellow lines prohibit passing in both directions; a solid yellow line on the driver's side of a broken line prohibits passing for that driver only.

A steady red signal requires a full stop before the stop line or crosswalk; in Connecticut, a right turn on red is permitted after stopping unless a NO TURN ON RED sign prohibits it, and a left turn on red is permitted only from a one-way street onto another one-way street.

A steady yellow signal warns that the light is changing to red; a driver who cannot stop safely may proceed through the intersection, but the yellow does not authorize entering on red.

A flashing red signal is treated as a stop sign: stop, yield, and proceed when clear; a flashing yellow signal requires slowing and proceeding with caution without a mandatory stop.

A green arrow permits movement in the direction of the arrow only; a green arrow and a red circle together mean the arrow movement is protected while other movements are prohibited.

White stop lines and crosswalk markings define where vehicles must stop at signals and stop signs; when a stop line is absent, the stop is made at the crosswalk or the edge of the intersection.

Pavement markings and signs work together: a white left-turn arrow painted in a lane plus a sign restricting the lane means the lane serves only that movement, and a sign overrides a conflicting marking.