DC Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Regulatory signs are white rectangles with black legends and tell drivers what they must or must not do; disobeying one is a traffic violation, not a suggestion.

Red-and-white regulatory signs (STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, WRONG WAY) use red to signal a mandatory action or prohibition; STOP means a full stop at the marked line or before entering the crosswalk.

YIELD requires slowing and stopping only if necessary to let cross traffic, pedestrians, or the conflicting flow proceed; rolling through when traffic is present is a violation.

Speed limit signs are white rectangles with black numerals; the posted number is the maximum lawful speed in ideal conditions, and lower limits apply in rain, fog, ice, or heavy traffic.

Regulatory signs that restrict turning, passing, or lane use apply until the next intersection or until a sign or pavement marking cancels them.

One-way and lane-use regulatory signs (white arrows on black, or black on white) define legal travel direction; a red circle with a slash over a symbol means the action is prohibited.

A red octagon is reserved for STOP and an inverted red-and-white triangle is reserved for YIELD, so shape alone identifies the required action at a distance.

Parking and standing regulatory signs specify days, hours, and exceptions; the arrow or bracket on the sign shows which side of the sign the restriction covers.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black symbols or legends in daylight; they alert drivers to a condition ahead and do not by themselves change the legal speed limit.

Yellow diamond warnings are normally placed in advance of the hazard; the distance to the condition is often posted on a small supplemental plaque.

Curve warnings show the direction of the bend; a W1-series curve sign with an advisory speed plaque gives a recommended safe speed, not a legal maximum.

Diamond warnings for intersections, merging traffic, lane ends, and divided highway begin/end tell the driver to adjust speed or lane position before reaching the conflict point.

Pedestrian, school, and bicycle warning signs are yellow-green or yellow in many jurisdictions; school zone signs often carry a posted reduced speed that applies during stated hours.

Five-sided yellow signs mark school zones or school crossings, and round yellow signs mark highway-rail grade crossings; both are warning shapes, not regulatory ones.

Winding road, steep grade, slippery when wet, and deer crossing warnings describe conditions where the posted speed limit may be too fast; reduce speed before the hazard.

Orange is used for temporary warning conditions in work zones, while yellow is used for permanent warnings; both diamond shapes mean the same thing: hazard ahead, be prepared.

Guide signs are typically green with white legends (or blue for services, brown for recreation and points of interest) and provide direction, distance, and destination information.

Interstate route markers are red, white, and blue shields; U.S. route markers are white shields with black numerals, and state route markers vary by state.

Green guide signs on freeways give exit numbers, destinations, and lane assignments; exit numbers usually correspond to mileposts along the route.

Blue signs indicate motorist services such as gas, food, lodging, and hospitals; brown signs indicate recreation areas, parks, and cultural or historic sites.

White rectangular signs with black legends used for regulatory and informational purposes include mileage markers, mileposts, and some boundary or jurisdictional signs.

Guide signs do not impose legal requirements; they inform, so a driver may still need to obey a separate regulatory sign for speed, lane use, or turning.

Interchange guide signs with arrows show which lane serves which exit; a sign with an exit-only arrow means the lane ends at the exit and cannot continue through.

Orange is the standard color for temporary traffic control devices in work zones; diamond-shaped orange signs warn of construction, lane shifts, and workers ahead.

Work zone signs are temporary and override permanent signs where they conflict; the posted temporary speed limit in a work zone is enforceable when workers are present or as posted.

Channelizing devices (cones, drums, barricades) and arrow boards direct traffic around the work area; an arrow board with flashing arrows points traffic to the open lane.

A flagger has the same authority as a sign or signal; a driver must stop when directed by a flagger holding a STOP paddle or giving a stop hand signal.

Temporary traffic control uses advance warning, transition, activity, and termination areas; the advance warning area gives drivers time to slow and change lanes.

When a lane is closed, merge as directed by signs and arrow boards; late merging against a posted merge instruction can create a hazard and may be cited.

Work zone devices may be removed when work is not active, but posted work zone speed limits and signs remain enforceable while in place.

A solid yellow center line means no passing in that direction; a broken yellow line means passing is permitted when safe; double solid yellow means no passing for 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 that may be crossed.

A solid red traffic signal means stop at the stop line or before the crosswalk; right turns on red are permitted only after a full stop and only where not prohibited by a sign.

A flashing red signal is treated like a STOP sign: stop, yield, and proceed when clear; a flashing yellow means slow down and proceed with caution.

A green arrow means the movement indicated is protected; a green circle means proceed if clear, yielding to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully in the intersection.

Pavement arrows and lane-use markings indicate required or permitted movements; a turn arrow in a lane means that lane must turn in the direction shown.

Crosswalk markings and stop lines define where vehicles must stop for pedestrians and signals; stopping beyond the stop line can block the crosswalk and violate the signal.

Red means stop, yield, do not enter, or prohibition; white means regulatory information; yellow means warning; orange means temporary work zone warning.

Green means guide and direction; blue means motorist services; brown means recreation or points of interest; fluorescent yellow-green marks school, pedestrian, and bicycle warnings.

Octagon = STOP, inverted triangle = YIELD, diamond = warning, pentagon = school zone or school crossing, circle = railroad advance warning, and rectangle = regulatory or guide.

A red circle with a diagonal slash over a black symbol means the action or vehicle type shown is prohibited.

Railroad crossbucks are white X-shaped signs with black letters; they mark the crossing itself, while round yellow signs give advance warning of the crossing.

Symbols and pictograms replace words on many signs so they can be read quickly; a sign's shape and color communicate the message even before the legend is legible.

A black-on-white rectangular sign is generally regulatory; a white-on-green rectangular sign is generally a guide or destination sign.

Scan 12-15 seconds ahead and identify sign shape and color first; the shape and color tell you the sign's category before you can read the legend.

When a warning sign appears, reduce speed before reaching the hazard and check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes or merging.

At a STOP sign, come to a complete stop behind the stop line or crosswalk, check for pedestrians and cross traffic, then proceed when clear.

At a YIELD sign, slow and be prepared to stop; yield to vehicles on the cross road and to pedestrians in the crosswalk before entering.

At a flashing yellow, slow down and scan for cross traffic; at a flashing red, treat it as a stop sign and proceed only when clear.

In a work zone, obey flaggers and temporary signs, reduce speed, increase following distance, and avoid distractions; penalties for speeding in work zones are often increased.

Approaching a railroad crossing with a round yellow advance sign, slow down, look and listen, and never stop on the tracks; if gates or lights activate, stop before the crossing.

When a guide sign indicates your exit or lane, move into the correct lane early and avoid last-second lane changes; missed exits should be taken at the next exit rather than reversing.

Regulatory signs are white rectangles with black legends and tell drivers what they must or must not do; disobeying one is a traffic violation, not a suggestion.

Red-and-white regulatory signs (STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, WRONG WAY) use red to signal a mandatory action or prohibition; STOP means a full stop at the marked line or before entering the crosswalk.

YIELD requires slowing and stopping only if necessary to let cross traffic, pedestrians, or the conflicting flow proceed; rolling through when traffic is present is a violation.

Speed limit signs are white rectangles with black numerals; the posted number is the maximum lawful speed in ideal conditions, and lower limits apply in rain, fog, ice, or heavy traffic.

Regulatory signs that restrict turning, passing, or lane use apply until the next intersection or until a sign or pavement marking cancels them.

One-way and lane-use regulatory signs (white arrows on black, or black on white) define legal travel direction; a red circle with a slash over a symbol means the action is prohibited.

A red octagon is reserved for STOP and an inverted red-and-white triangle is reserved for YIELD, so shape alone identifies the required action at a distance.

Parking and standing regulatory signs specify days, hours, and exceptions; the arrow or bracket on the sign shows which side of the sign the restriction covers.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black symbols or legends in daylight; they alert drivers to a condition ahead and do not by themselves change the legal speed limit.

Yellow diamond warnings are normally placed in advance of the hazard; the distance to the condition is often posted on a small supplemental plaque.

Curve warnings show the direction of the bend; a W1-series curve sign with an advisory speed plaque gives a recommended safe speed, not a legal maximum.

Diamond warnings for intersections, merging traffic, lane ends, and divided highway begin/end tell the driver to adjust speed or lane position before reaching the conflict point.

Pedestrian, school, and bicycle warning signs are yellow-green or yellow in many jurisdictions; school zone signs often carry a posted reduced speed that applies during stated hours.

Five-sided yellow signs mark school zones or school crossings, and round yellow signs mark highway-rail grade crossings; both are warning shapes, not regulatory ones.

Winding road, steep grade, slippery when wet, and deer crossing warnings describe conditions where the posted speed limit may be too fast; reduce speed before the hazard.

Orange is used for temporary warning conditions in work zones, while yellow is used for permanent warnings; both diamond shapes mean the same thing: hazard ahead, be prepared.

Guide signs are typically green with white legends (or blue for services, brown for recreation and points of interest) and provide direction, distance, and destination information.

Interstate route markers are red, white, and blue shields; U.S. route markers are white shields with black numerals, and state route markers vary by state.

Green guide signs on freeways give exit numbers, destinations, and lane assignments; exit numbers usually correspond to mileposts along the route.

Blue signs indicate motorist services such as gas, food, lodging, and hospitals; brown signs indicate recreation areas, parks, and cultural or historic sites.

White rectangular signs with black legends used for regulatory and informational purposes include mileage markers, mileposts, and some boundary or jurisdictional signs.

Guide signs do not impose legal requirements; they inform, so a driver may still need to obey a separate regulatory sign for speed, lane use, or turning.

Interchange guide signs with arrows show which lane serves which exit; a sign with an exit-only arrow means the lane ends at the exit and cannot continue through.

Orange is the standard color for temporary traffic control devices in work zones; diamond-shaped orange signs warn of construction, lane shifts, and workers ahead.

Work zone signs are temporary and override permanent signs where they conflict; the posted temporary speed limit in a work zone is enforceable when workers are present or as posted.

Channelizing devices (cones, drums, barricades) and arrow boards direct traffic around the work area; an arrow board with flashing arrows points traffic to the open lane.

A flagger has the same authority as a sign or signal; a driver must stop when directed by a flagger holding a STOP paddle or giving a stop hand signal.

Temporary traffic control uses advance warning, transition, activity, and termination areas; the advance warning area gives drivers time to slow and change lanes.

When a lane is closed, merge as directed by signs and arrow boards; late merging against a posted merge instruction can create a hazard and may be cited.

Work zone devices may be removed when work is not active, but posted work zone speed limits and signs remain enforceable while in place.

A solid yellow center line means no passing in that direction; a broken yellow line means passing is permitted when safe; double solid yellow means no passing for 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 that may be crossed.

A solid red traffic signal means stop at the stop line or before the crosswalk; right turns on red are permitted only after a full stop and only where not prohibited by a sign.

A flashing red signal is treated like a STOP sign: stop, yield, and proceed when clear; a flashing yellow means slow down and proceed with caution.

A green arrow means the movement indicated is protected; a green circle means proceed if clear, yielding to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully in the intersection.

Pavement arrows and lane-use markings indicate required or permitted movements; a turn arrow in a lane means that lane must turn in the direction shown.

Crosswalk markings and stop lines define where vehicles must stop for pedestrians and signals; stopping beyond the stop line can block the crosswalk and violate the signal.

Red means stop, yield, do not enter, or prohibition; white means regulatory information; yellow means warning; orange means temporary work zone warning.

Green means guide and direction; blue means motorist services; brown means recreation or points of interest; fluorescent yellow-green marks school, pedestrian, and bicycle warnings.

Octagon = STOP, inverted triangle = YIELD, diamond = warning, pentagon = school zone or school crossing, circle = railroad advance warning, and rectangle = regulatory or guide.

A red circle with a diagonal slash over a black symbol means the action or vehicle type shown is prohibited.

Railroad crossbucks are white X-shaped signs with black letters; they mark the crossing itself, while round yellow signs give advance warning of the crossing.

Symbols and pictograms replace words on many signs so they can be read quickly; a sign's shape and color communicate the message even before the legend is legible.

A black-on-white rectangular sign is generally regulatory; a white-on-green rectangular sign is generally a guide or destination sign.

Scan 12-15 seconds ahead and identify sign shape and color first; the shape and color tell you the sign's category before you can read the legend.

When a warning sign appears, reduce speed before reaching the hazard and check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes or merging.

At a STOP sign, come to a complete stop behind the stop line or crosswalk, check for pedestrians and cross traffic, then proceed when clear.

At a YIELD sign, slow and be prepared to stop; yield to vehicles on the cross road and to pedestrians in the crosswalk before entering.

At a flashing yellow, slow down and scan for cross traffic; at a flashing red, treat it as a stop sign and proceed only when clear.

In a work zone, obey flaggers and temporary signs, reduce speed, increase following distance, and avoid distractions; penalties for speeding in work zones are often increased.

Approaching a railroad crossing with a round yellow advance sign, slow down, look and listen, and never stop on the tracks; if gates or lights activate, stop before the crossing.

When a guide sign indicates your exit or lane, move into the correct lane early and avoid last-second lane changes; missed exits should be taken at the next exit rather than reversing.

Regulatory signs are white rectangles with black legends and tell drivers what they must or must not do; disobeying one is a traffic violation, not a suggestion.

Red-and-white regulatory signs (STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, WRONG WAY) use red to signal a mandatory action or prohibition; STOP means a full stop at the marked line or before entering the crosswalk.

YIELD requires slowing and stopping only if necessary to let cross traffic, pedestrians, or the conflicting flow proceed; rolling through when traffic is present is a violation.

Speed limit signs are white rectangles with black numerals; the posted number is the maximum lawful speed in ideal conditions, and lower limits apply in rain, fog, ice, or heavy traffic.

Regulatory signs that restrict turning, passing, or lane use apply until the next intersection or until a sign or pavement marking cancels them.

One-way and lane-use regulatory signs (white arrows on black, or black on white) define legal travel direction; a red circle with a slash over a symbol means the action is prohibited.

A red octagon is reserved for STOP and an inverted red-and-white triangle is reserved for YIELD, so shape alone identifies the required action at a distance.

Parking and standing regulatory signs specify days, hours, and exceptions; the arrow or bracket on the sign shows which side of the sign the restriction covers.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black symbols or legends in daylight; they alert drivers to a condition ahead and do not by themselves change the legal speed limit.

Yellow diamond warnings are normally placed in advance of the hazard; the distance to the condition is often posted on a small supplemental plaque.

Curve warnings show the direction of the bend; a W1-series curve sign with an advisory speed plaque gives a recommended safe speed, not a legal maximum.

Diamond warnings for intersections, merging traffic, lane ends, and divided highway begin/end tell the driver to adjust speed or lane position before reaching the conflict point.

Pedestrian, school, and bicycle warning signs are yellow-green or yellow in many jurisdictions; school zone signs often carry a posted reduced speed that applies during stated hours.

Five-sided yellow signs mark school zones or school crossings, and round yellow signs mark highway-rail grade crossings; both are warning shapes, not regulatory ones.

Winding road, steep grade, slippery when wet, and deer crossing warnings describe conditions where the posted speed limit may be too fast; reduce speed before the hazard.

Orange is used for temporary warning conditions in work zones, while yellow is used for permanent warnings; both diamond shapes mean the same thing: hazard ahead, be prepared.

Guide signs are typically green with white legends (or blue for services, brown for recreation and points of interest) and provide direction, distance, and destination information.

Interstate route markers are red, white, and blue shields; U.S. route markers are white shields with black numerals, and state route markers vary by state.

Green guide signs on freeways give exit numbers, destinations, and lane assignments; exit numbers usually correspond to mileposts along the route.

Blue signs indicate motorist services such as gas, food, lodging, and hospitals; brown signs indicate recreation areas, parks, and cultural or historic sites.

White rectangular signs with black legends used for regulatory and informational purposes include mileage markers, mileposts, and some boundary or jurisdictional signs.

Guide signs do not impose legal requirements; they inform, so a driver may still need to obey a separate regulatory sign for speed, lane use, or turning.

Interchange guide signs with arrows show which lane serves which exit; a sign with an exit-only arrow means the lane ends at the exit and cannot continue through.

Orange is the standard color for temporary traffic control devices in work zones; diamond-shaped orange signs warn of construction, lane shifts, and workers ahead.

Work zone signs are temporary and override permanent signs where they conflict; the posted temporary speed limit in a work zone is enforceable when workers are present or as posted.

Channelizing devices (cones, drums, barricades) and arrow boards direct traffic around the work area; an arrow board with flashing arrows points traffic to the open lane.

A flagger has the same authority as a sign or signal; a driver must stop when directed by a flagger holding a STOP paddle or giving a stop hand signal.

Temporary traffic control uses advance warning, transition, activity, and termination areas; the advance warning area gives drivers time to slow and change lanes.

When a lane is closed, merge as directed by signs and arrow boards; late merging against a posted merge instruction can create a hazard and may be cited.

Work zone devices may be removed when work is not active, but posted work zone speed limits and signs remain enforceable while in place.

A solid yellow center line means no passing in that direction; a broken yellow line means passing is permitted when safe; double solid yellow means no passing for 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 that may be crossed.

A solid red traffic signal means stop at the stop line or before the crosswalk; right turns on red are permitted only after a full stop and only where not prohibited by a sign.

A flashing red signal is treated like a STOP sign: stop, yield, and proceed when clear; a flashing yellow means slow down and proceed with caution.

A green arrow means the movement indicated is protected; a green circle means proceed if clear, yielding to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully in the intersection.

Pavement arrows and lane-use markings indicate required or permitted movements; a turn arrow in a lane means that lane must turn in the direction shown.

Crosswalk markings and stop lines define where vehicles must stop for pedestrians and signals; stopping beyond the stop line can block the crosswalk and violate the signal.

Red means stop, yield, do not enter, or prohibition; white means regulatory information; yellow means warning; orange means temporary work zone warning.

Green means guide and direction; blue means motorist services; brown means recreation or points of interest; fluorescent yellow-green marks school, pedestrian, and bicycle warnings.

Octagon = STOP, inverted triangle = YIELD, diamond = warning, pentagon = school zone or school crossing, circle = railroad advance warning, and rectangle = regulatory or guide.

A red circle with a diagonal slash over a black symbol means the action or vehicle type shown is prohibited.

Railroad crossbucks are white X-shaped signs with black letters; they mark the crossing itself, while round yellow signs give advance warning of the crossing.

Symbols and pictograms replace words on many signs so they can be read quickly; a sign's shape and color communicate the message even before the legend is legible.

A black-on-white rectangular sign is generally regulatory; a white-on-green rectangular sign is generally a guide or destination sign.

Scan 12-15 seconds ahead and identify sign shape and color first; the shape and color tell you the sign's category before you can read the legend.

When a warning sign appears, reduce speed before reaching the hazard and check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes or merging.

At a STOP sign, come to a complete stop behind the stop line or crosswalk, check for pedestrians and cross traffic, then proceed when clear.

At a YIELD sign, slow and be prepared to stop; yield to vehicles on the cross road and to pedestrians in the crosswalk before entering.

At a flashing yellow, slow down and scan for cross traffic; at a flashing red, treat it as a stop sign and proceed only when clear.

In a work zone, obey flaggers and temporary signs, reduce speed, increase following distance, and avoid distractions; penalties for speeding in work zones are often increased.

Approaching a railroad crossing with a round yellow advance sign, slow down, look and listen, and never stop on the tracks; if gates or lights activate, stop before the crossing.

When a guide sign indicates your exit or lane, move into the correct lane early and avoid last-second lane changes; missed exits should be taken at the next exit rather than reversing.

Regulatory signs are white rectangles with black legends and tell drivers what they must or must not do; disobeying one is a traffic violation, not a suggestion.

Red-and-white regulatory signs (STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, WRONG WAY) use red to signal a mandatory action or prohibition; STOP means a full stop at the marked line or before entering the crosswalk.

YIELD requires slowing and stopping only if necessary to let cross traffic, pedestrians, or the conflicting flow proceed; rolling through when traffic is present is a violation.

Speed limit signs are white rectangles with black numerals; the posted number is the maximum lawful speed in ideal conditions, and lower limits apply in rain, fog, ice, or heavy traffic.

Regulatory signs that restrict turning, passing, or lane use apply until the next intersection or until a sign or pavement marking cancels them.

One-way and lane-use regulatory signs (white arrows on black, or black on white) define legal travel direction; a red circle with a slash over a symbol means the action is prohibited.

A red octagon is reserved for STOP and an inverted red-and-white triangle is reserved for YIELD, so shape alone identifies the required action at a distance.

Parking and standing regulatory signs specify days, hours, and exceptions; the arrow or bracket on the sign shows which side of the sign the restriction covers.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black symbols or legends in daylight; they alert drivers to a condition ahead and do not by themselves change the legal speed limit.

Yellow diamond warnings are normally placed in advance of the hazard; the distance to the condition is often posted on a small supplemental plaque.

Curve warnings show the direction of the bend; a W1-series curve sign with an advisory speed plaque gives a recommended safe speed, not a legal maximum.

Diamond warnings for intersections, merging traffic, lane ends, and divided highway begin/end tell the driver to adjust speed or lane position before reaching the conflict point.

Pedestrian, school, and bicycle warning signs are yellow-green or yellow in many jurisdictions; school zone signs often carry a posted reduced speed that applies during stated hours.

Five-sided yellow signs mark school zones or school crossings, and round yellow signs mark highway-rail grade crossings; both are warning shapes, not regulatory ones.

Winding road, steep grade, slippery when wet, and deer crossing warnings describe conditions where the posted speed limit may be too fast; reduce speed before the hazard.

Orange is used for temporary warning conditions in work zones, while yellow is used for permanent warnings; both diamond shapes mean the same thing: hazard ahead, be prepared.

Guide signs are typically green with white legends (or blue for services, brown for recreation and points of interest) and provide direction, distance, and destination information.

Interstate route markers are red, white, and blue shields; U.S. route markers are white shields with black numerals, and state route markers vary by state.

Green guide signs on freeways give exit numbers, destinations, and lane assignments; exit numbers usually correspond to mileposts along the route.

Blue signs indicate motorist services such as gas, food, lodging, and hospitals; brown signs indicate recreation areas, parks, and cultural or historic sites.

White rectangular signs with black legends used for regulatory and informational purposes include mileage markers, mileposts, and some boundary or jurisdictional signs.

Guide signs do not impose legal requirements; they inform, so a driver may still need to obey a separate regulatory sign for speed, lane use, or turning.

Interchange guide signs with arrows show which lane serves which exit; a sign with an exit-only arrow means the lane ends at the exit and cannot continue through.

Orange is the standard color for temporary traffic control devices in work zones; diamond-shaped orange signs warn of construction, lane shifts, and workers ahead.

Work zone signs are temporary and override permanent signs where they conflict; the posted temporary speed limit in a work zone is enforceable when workers are present or as posted.

Channelizing devices (cones, drums, barricades) and arrow boards direct traffic around the work area; an arrow board with flashing arrows points traffic to the open lane.

A flagger has the same authority as a sign or signal; a driver must stop when directed by a flagger holding a STOP paddle or giving a stop hand signal.

Temporary traffic control uses advance warning, transition, activity, and termination areas; the advance warning area gives drivers time to slow and change lanes.

When a lane is closed, merge as directed by signs and arrow boards; late merging against a posted merge instruction can create a hazard and may be cited.

Work zone devices may be removed when work is not active, but posted work zone speed limits and signs remain enforceable while in place.

A solid yellow center line means no passing in that direction; a broken yellow line means passing is permitted when safe; double solid yellow means no passing for 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 that may be crossed.

A solid red traffic signal means stop at the stop line or before the crosswalk; right turns on red are permitted only after a full stop and only where not prohibited by a sign.

A flashing red signal is treated like a STOP sign: stop, yield, and proceed when clear; a flashing yellow means slow down and proceed with caution.

A green arrow means the movement indicated is protected; a green circle means proceed if clear, yielding to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully in the intersection.

Pavement arrows and lane-use markings indicate required or permitted movements; a turn arrow in a lane means that lane must turn in the direction shown.

Crosswalk markings and stop lines define where vehicles must stop for pedestrians and signals; stopping beyond the stop line can block the crosswalk and violate the signal.

Red means stop, yield, do not enter, or prohibition; white means regulatory information; yellow means warning; orange means temporary work zone warning.

Green means guide and direction; blue means motorist services; brown means recreation or points of interest; fluorescent yellow-green marks school, pedestrian, and bicycle warnings.

Octagon = STOP, inverted triangle = YIELD, diamond = warning, pentagon = school zone or school crossing, circle = railroad advance warning, and rectangle = regulatory or guide.

A red circle with a diagonal slash over a black symbol means the action or vehicle type shown is prohibited.

Railroad crossbucks are white X-shaped signs with black letters; they mark the crossing itself, while round yellow signs give advance warning of the crossing.

Symbols and pictograms replace words on many signs so they can be read quickly; a sign's shape and color communicate the message even before the legend is legible.

A black-on-white rectangular sign is generally regulatory; a white-on-green rectangular sign is generally a guide or destination sign.

Scan 12-15 seconds ahead and identify sign shape and color first; the shape and color tell you the sign's category before you can read the legend.

When a warning sign appears, reduce speed before reaching the hazard and check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes or merging.

At a STOP sign, come to a complete stop behind the stop line or crosswalk, check for pedestrians and cross traffic, then proceed when clear.

At a YIELD sign, slow and be prepared to stop; yield to vehicles on the cross road and to pedestrians in the crosswalk before entering.

At a flashing yellow, slow down and scan for cross traffic; at a flashing red, treat it as a stop sign and proceed only when clear.

In a work zone, obey flaggers and temporary signs, reduce speed, increase following distance, and avoid distractions; penalties for speeding in work zones are often increased.

Approaching a railroad crossing with a round yellow advance sign, slow down, look and listen, and never stop on the tracks; if gates or lights activate, stop before the crossing.

When a guide sign indicates your exit or lane, move into the correct lane early and avoid last-second lane changes; missed exits should be taken at the next exit rather than reversing.

Regulatory signs are white rectangles with black legends and tell drivers what they must or must not do; disobeying one is a traffic violation, not a suggestion.

Red-and-white regulatory signs (STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, WRONG WAY) use red to signal a mandatory action or prohibition; STOP means a full stop at the marked line or before entering the crosswalk.

YIELD requires slowing and stopping only if necessary to let cross traffic, pedestrians, or the conflicting flow proceed; rolling through when traffic is present is a violation.

Speed limit signs are white rectangles with black numerals; the posted number is the maximum lawful speed in ideal conditions, and lower limits apply in rain, fog, ice, or heavy traffic.

Regulatory signs that restrict turning, passing, or lane use apply until the next intersection or until a sign or pavement marking cancels them.

One-way and lane-use regulatory signs (white arrows on black, or black on white) define legal travel direction; a red circle with a slash over a symbol means the action is prohibited.

A red octagon is reserved for STOP and an inverted red-and-white triangle is reserved for YIELD, so shape alone identifies the required action at a distance.

Parking and standing regulatory signs specify days, hours, and exceptions; the arrow or bracket on the sign shows which side of the sign the restriction covers.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black symbols or legends in daylight; they alert drivers to a condition ahead and do not by themselves change the legal speed limit.

Yellow diamond warnings are normally placed in advance of the hazard; the distance to the condition is often posted on a small supplemental plaque.

Curve warnings show the direction of the bend; a W1-series curve sign with an advisory speed plaque gives a recommended safe speed, not a legal maximum.

Diamond warnings for intersections, merging traffic, lane ends, and divided highway begin/end tell the driver to adjust speed or lane position before reaching the conflict point.

Pedestrian, school, and bicycle warning signs are yellow-green or yellow in many jurisdictions; school zone signs often carry a posted reduced speed that applies during stated hours.

Five-sided yellow signs mark school zones or school crossings, and round yellow signs mark highway-rail grade crossings; both are warning shapes, not regulatory ones.

Winding road, steep grade, slippery when wet, and deer crossing warnings describe conditions where the posted speed limit may be too fast; reduce speed before the hazard.

Orange is used for temporary warning conditions in work zones, while yellow is used for permanent warnings; both diamond shapes mean the same thing: hazard ahead, be prepared.

Guide signs are typically green with white legends (or blue for services, brown for recreation and points of interest) and provide direction, distance, and destination information.

Interstate route markers are red, white, and blue shields; U.S. route markers are white shields with black numerals, and state route markers vary by state.

Green guide signs on freeways give exit numbers, destinations, and lane assignments; exit numbers usually correspond to mileposts along the route.

Blue signs indicate motorist services such as gas, food, lodging, and hospitals; brown signs indicate recreation areas, parks, and cultural or historic sites.

White rectangular signs with black legends used for regulatory and informational purposes include mileage markers, mileposts, and some boundary or jurisdictional signs.

Guide signs do not impose legal requirements; they inform, so a driver may still need to obey a separate regulatory sign for speed, lane use, or turning.

Interchange guide signs with arrows show which lane serves which exit; a sign with an exit-only arrow means the lane ends at the exit and cannot continue through.

Orange is the standard color for temporary traffic control devices in work zones; diamond-shaped orange signs warn of construction, lane shifts, and workers ahead.

Work zone signs are temporary and override permanent signs where they conflict; the posted temporary speed limit in a work zone is enforceable when workers are present or as posted.

Channelizing devices (cones, drums, barricades) and arrow boards direct traffic around the work area; an arrow board with flashing arrows points traffic to the open lane.

A flagger has the same authority as a sign or signal; a driver must stop when directed by a flagger holding a STOP paddle or giving a stop hand signal.

Temporary traffic control uses advance warning, transition, activity, and termination areas; the advance warning area gives drivers time to slow and change lanes.

When a lane is closed, merge as directed by signs and arrow boards; late merging against a posted merge instruction can create a hazard and may be cited.

Work zone devices may be removed when work is not active, but posted work zone speed limits and signs remain enforceable while in place.

A solid yellow center line means no passing in that direction; a broken yellow line means passing is permitted when safe; double solid yellow means no passing for 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 that may be crossed.

A solid red traffic signal means stop at the stop line or before the crosswalk; right turns on red are permitted only after a full stop and only where not prohibited by a sign.

A flashing red signal is treated like a STOP sign: stop, yield, and proceed when clear; a flashing yellow means slow down and proceed with caution.

A green arrow means the movement indicated is protected; a green circle means proceed if clear, yielding to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully in the intersection.

Pavement arrows and lane-use markings indicate required or permitted movements; a turn arrow in a lane means that lane must turn in the direction shown.

Crosswalk markings and stop lines define where vehicles must stop for pedestrians and signals; stopping beyond the stop line can block the crosswalk and violate the signal.

Red means stop, yield, do not enter, or prohibition; white means regulatory information; yellow means warning; orange means temporary work zone warning.

Green means guide and direction; blue means motorist services; brown means recreation or points of interest; fluorescent yellow-green marks school, pedestrian, and bicycle warnings.

Octagon = STOP, inverted triangle = YIELD, diamond = warning, pentagon = school zone or school crossing, circle = railroad advance warning, and rectangle = regulatory or guide.

A red circle with a diagonal slash over a black symbol means the action or vehicle type shown is prohibited.

Railroad crossbucks are white X-shaped signs with black letters; they mark the crossing itself, while round yellow signs give advance warning of the crossing.

Symbols and pictograms replace words on many signs so they can be read quickly; a sign's shape and color communicate the message even before the legend is legible.

A black-on-white rectangular sign is generally regulatory; a white-on-green rectangular sign is generally a guide or destination sign.

Scan 12-15 seconds ahead and identify sign shape and color first; the shape and color tell you the sign's category before you can read the legend.

When a warning sign appears, reduce speed before reaching the hazard and check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes or merging.

At a STOP sign, come to a complete stop behind the stop line or crosswalk, check for pedestrians and cross traffic, then proceed when clear.

At a YIELD sign, slow and be prepared to stop; yield to vehicles on the cross road and to pedestrians in the crosswalk before entering.

At a flashing yellow, slow down and scan for cross traffic; at a flashing red, treat it as a stop sign and proceed only when clear.

In a work zone, obey flaggers and temporary signs, reduce speed, increase following distance, and avoid distractions; penalties for speeding in work zones are often increased.

Approaching a railroad crossing with a round yellow advance sign, slow down, look and listen, and never stop on the tracks; if gates or lights activate, stop before the crossing.

When a guide sign indicates your exit or lane, move into the correct lane early and avoid last-second lane changes; missed exits should be taken at the next exit rather than reversing.