Kansas Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Regulatory signs tell drivers what they must do or must not do; disobeying one is a traffic violation, not merely a suggestion.

Most regulatory signs use a white background with black legend and are rectangular in a vertical (portrait) orientation, such as STOP, YIELD-adjacent rules, and speed limits.

STOP sign: red octagon with white legend; requires a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or before entering the intersection when no line exists.

SPEED LIMIT signs are white rectangles with black numerals; the posted number is the maximum lawful speed in ideal conditions, not a required speed.

DO NOT ENTER is a red square with a white horizontal bar and white words; it marks the wrong-way side of a divided road or one-way street.

WRONG WAY is a red rectangle with white legend, paired with DO NOT ENTER, and appears on ramps or one-way roadways to warn a driver traveling against traffic.

One-way signs are black rectangles with a white arrow; a white arrow on black means traffic flows only in the arrow direction.

Movement and turn signs (no left turn, no U-turn, keep right) are white rectangles with black symbols, often with a red circle-and-slash prohibition symbol.

Regulatory signs may also be posted as symbol signs for lane use, such as a turn-only arrow; the arrow indicates the mandatory movement from that lane.

Warning signs alert drivers to upcoming conditions or hazards; most are yellow diamonds with black legend or symbols.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow curving right warns of a curve ahead; an advisory speed plaque below it shows a safe speed for the curve.

Yellow diamond with a pedestrian symbol warns of pedestrians crossing ahead; a school-related version uses fluorescent yellow-green.

Winding road, reverse curve, and hairpin symbols show the sequence of curves; the symbol shape matches the actual road geometry.

Hill and downgrade signs warn of steep grades; a percentage plaque shows the grade, and truck escape ramps are signed separately.

Merge, lane-ends, and added-lane signs show how lanes combine; the symbol indicates which lane disappears.

Yellow diamond with a black crossroad or side-road symbol warns of an intersection ahead where a stop or yield may be required.

Warning signs for traffic signals ahead, stop ahead, and yield ahead use symbol or word legends on yellow diamonds.

Advisory plaques (yellow rectangles with black numerals) give a recommended speed, not a legal maximum.

Guide signs direct drivers to destinations, routes, and services; they are not regulatory and do not by themselves impose a legal duty.

Green guide signs mark conventional highway routes and destinations; large green overhead signs show lane assignments and exits.

Blue signs mark motorist services such as gas, food, lodging, and hospitals; a blue sign with an H indicates a hospital.

Brown signs mark recreational, cultural, and scenic attractions.

White rectangular signs with black legend give general information or regulations, such as weight limits or parking rules.

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

Exit signs typically show the exit number in a small panel at the top corner and the destination or route in the main panel.

Mile markers are small green signs with white numerals and are used to report locations in emergencies.

A yellow rectangular sign with black legend may give a warning message or temporary information; a changeable message sign (CMS) displays dynamic text.

Work zone signs use an orange background with black legend or symbols; orange is reserved for construction and maintenance activity.

A diamond-shaped orange sign with a black worker symbol warns of workers on or near the roadway.

A rectangular orange sign with black legend reading ROAD WORK AHEAD or similar text gives advance notice of construction.

Channelizing devices include cones, drums, barricades, and tubular markers; their color and reflector pattern identify the work zone.

A flagger symbol sign (orange diamond with a person holding a flag) warns that a flagger controls traffic ahead.

Temporary traffic control may include a reduced speed limit posted on an orange or white sign; the posted work-zone speed is enforceable.

Lane shifts and lane closures in work zones are marked with orange signs, arrow boards, and channelizing devices, not with permanent white markings alone.

A detour sign is typically orange or black on white with an arrow and the word DETOUR, directing traffic around a closure.

End road work signs mark the end of the work zone; normal speed limits and lane configurations resume after the sign.

School zone signs use fluorescent yellow-green (yellow-green) backgrounds to increase conspicuity.

A pentagon-shaped sign with a pedestrian symbol marks a school crossing; the pentagon shape is unique to school crossings and school zones.

School speed limit signs show a reduced limit that applies during posted hours or when beacons flash; outside those times the normal limit applies.

A school crossing sign may be accompanied by a downward diagonal arrow plaque pointing to the crossing location.

Crosswalk signs and markings alert drivers to pedestrian crossings; drivers must yield to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk.

A pedestrian crossing sign is a yellow diamond with a walking-person symbol; it warns of a crossing ahead, not necessarily a school.

Flashing beacons on school signs mean the reduced speed limit is in effect; a dark beacon means the normal limit applies unless otherwise posted.

Stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm; proceed only after the lights stop and the arm retracts, unless separated by a divided highway.

The round yellow railroad advance warning sign (RXR) has a black X and two R's and means a railroad crossing is ahead.

A white X-shaped crossbuck sign with black legend reading RAILROAD CROSSING marks the crossing itself; yield to trains.

Flashing red lights at a crossing require a stop; a gate that is down or lowering requires a stop and no crossing until it is fully raised.

A railroad crossing with multiple tracks is marked by a plaque reading 2 TRACKS or similar, warning of a second train.

Never drive around a lowered gate or past flashing lights; a train can arrive on a second track after the first passes.

Crossbuck signs are yield signs by law; a driver must yield to an approaching train and may not proceed until it is safe.

A yellow diamond with a train symbol or the word EXEMPT may indicate an exempt crossing where certain vehicles need not stop.

Light rail and trolley crossings use similar crossbucks and signals; treat them as railroad crossings.

At a passive crossing with only a crossbuck, stop, look, and listen before proceeding; do not rely on the absence of lights or gates.

Red means stop, yield, do not enter, or prohibition; red is used on STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, and WRONG WAY signs.

Yellow means warning; yellow diamonds carry most warning messages.

Fluorescent yellow-green marks school zones, school crossings, and pedestrian/bicycle warnings.

Orange marks construction and maintenance work zones.

Green marks guide and directional information, including route and destination signs.

Blue marks motorist services and information such as gas, food, and hospitals.

Brown marks recreational and cultural area guidance.

White backgrounds with black legend mark regulatory signs; white is also used for some guide and information signs.

Shape rules: octagon = STOP; inverted triangle = YIELD; diamond = warning; pentagon = school crossing; round = railroad advance warning; crossbuck = railroad crossing; shield = route marker.

A solid yellow line marks the left edge of traffic lanes on a divided highway or the centerline separating opposite directions.

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

Double solid yellow lines mean no passing in either direction; a solid plus broken yellow line means passing is allowed only on the side with the broken line.

White lines separate traffic moving in the same direction; a broken white line allows lane changes when safe, and a solid white line discourages or prohibits them.

A solid white line at the right edge marks the right edge of the roadway; a wide white line may mark a crosswalk or stop line.

Crosswalk markings are white parallel bars or a ladder pattern; drivers must yield to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk.

Stop lines are wide white bars placed before an intersection or crosswalk; stop at the line, not past it.

Object markers: a Type 1 marker is a vertical rectangle with yellow reflectors, a Type 2 marker is a vertical rectangle with black and yellow diagonal stripes, and a Type 3 marker is a horizontal rectangle with diagonal stripes.

Object markers mark obstructions such as bridge piers, islands, and culverts; yellow reflectors face traffic on the right and white may be used on the left.