Massachusetts Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Regulatory signs are white rectangles with black legends (some use red or green accents) and state a legal requirement, not a suggestion; violation is a citable offense.

MUTCD speed limit signs are white with black numerals; statutory limits apply even where unposted, so a missing sign does not mean an unlimited road.

Massachusetts statutory default limits: 30 mph in thickly settled or business districts, 20 mph in school zones during posted hours, and 40 mph on rural undivided roads unless otherwise posted.

A STOP sign requires a full stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or edge of the intersecting roadway - whichever comes first - and right-of-way yielded before proceeding.

A YIELD sign (red-and-white inverted triangle) requires slowing and stopping only if necessary; the driver must still yield to cross traffic and pedestrians.

Lane-use control signs: a red X over a lane means the lane is closed to your direction; a green arrow means the lane is open; a yellow X means the lane is about to close or is reserved for turns.

Turn-control signs restrict movement (NO LEFT TURN, NO U-TURN, mandatory turn lane); a left-turn-on-red is permitted only from a one-way street onto another one-way street unless a sign prohibits it.

Parking restriction signs control by time, day, permit, and purpose; a sign applies from the sign to the next sign or intersection, and curb markings (yellow = commercial, red = fire lane, blue = handicap) reinforce the rule.

Directional arrow signs (ONE WAY, DO NOT ENTER) are regulatory: DO NOT ENTER is a red circle with a white horizontal bar, and entering against it is a serious violation.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black symbols or legends; they alert to a condition ahead and call for a speed or path adjustment, not a legal stop.

Curve warning: a single arrow indicates a curve; a curve sign with a speed plaque (e.g., 25 MPH) shows an advisory speed for the curve, not a legal limit.

Winding road (S-shaped arrow) and hairpin/chevron signs mark successive curves; chevron alignment signs (black on yellow) mark the outside of a sharp curve.

Intersection warnings: a crossroad symbol, side-road symbol, T-intersection, or Y-intersection sign shows the geometry of the upcoming junction; a STOP AHEAD or YIELD AHEAD plaque means a regulatory control is coming.

Pedestrian and school warnings: a yellow diamond with a walking figure marks a pedestrian crossing; a five-sided yellow school sign marks a school zone, and a crossing guard or flashing beacon may accompany it.

Road condition warnings include slippery when wet, loose gravel, falling rocks, deer crossing, and low-clearance or narrow-bridge signs; reduce speed and increase following distance when posted.

A hill/downgrade sign with a percentage (e.g., 6%) shows grade steepness; trucks should use a lower gear, and a runaway truck ramp sign marks an escape lane.

Railroad advance warning (round yellow sign with X and R R) plus pavement markings and a crossbuck at the crossing; a stop line or gate means stop when activated.

A yellow diamond with a divided-highway symbol or two-way traffic symbol warns of a change in traffic pattern; a merge sign warns that lanes are joining.

Guide signs are green with white legends for destinations and distances; they are informational and do not impose a legal requirement.

Interstate route markers are the red-and-blue shield; U.S. route markers are the white shield; Massachusetts state routes use a white rectangular marker with a black numeral.

A green guide sign with an exit number and arrow indicates the lane and direction for the exit; exit-only lanes are marked with an EXIT ONLY panel.

Service signs are blue with white symbols (gas, food, lodging, hospital, rest area); they indicate available services, often with a distance or exit number.

Recreation and cultural interest signs are brown with white legends (parks, historic sites, campgrounds).

A white rectangular sign with black text and an arrow gives specific destination or lane guidance; a yellow or orange sign in the same position signals a warning or work zone instead.

Mile markers are small green signs with white numbers; they locate a position on the route and are used for reporting emergencies.

A sign reading 'BEGIN' or 'END' with a route marker marks the start or end of a designated route or restriction zone.

Guide signs may include a lane-designation arrow panel; the arrow shows which lane serves the destination, and changing lanes after the sign may be too late.

Work zone signs are orange diamonds with black legends or symbols; they warn of construction, maintenance, or a temporary traffic pattern.

Orange signs with a flagger symbol, a 'FLAGGER AHEAD' plaque, or a 'ROAD WORK AHEAD' legend mean workers may be on the road; posted work-zone speed limits are enforceable.

Temporary traffic signals and flaggers override permanent signals and signs; follow the flagger's direction even if it conflicts with a signal.

Channelizing devices (cones, drums, barricades) define the temporary path; a barricade with diagonal stripes means the road is closed, and a barricade with an arrow panel directs traffic to the open lane.

A 'LANE CLOSED AHEAD' or 'RIGHT LANE ENDS' sign requires an early merge; a merging taper is marked by cones or drums, and late merging into the taper is unsafe.

Detour signs are orange or black-on-white with a 'DETOUR' legend and arrows; they route traffic around a closure and must be followed until the route rejoins the normal path.

Work zone speed limits are posted on orange signs and are typically lower than the normal limit; the limit applies from the sign until an 'END ROAD WORK' sign.

Pilot cars and 'FOLLOW ME' signs may lead traffic through a one-lane work zone; keep a safe distance and do not pass the pilot car.

Flashing arrow panels (arrow boards) indicate which lane is open or closed; a flashing arrow points toward the open lane, and a flashing X means the lane is closed.

Red means stop, yield, or prohibition (STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, wrong-way); red is also used on some regulatory legends and on Interstate shields.

Yellow means warning (diamonds) or, on some signs, a change is ahead; yellow is the standard warning color for curves, intersections, and road conditions.

Orange means construction or maintenance work zones; orange signs are temporary and take precedence over permanent signs in the same location.

Green means guide or directional information (destinations, distances, exits); blue means services (gas, food, lodging, hospital).

Brown means recreation or cultural interest; white means regulatory or informational text, and black is used for legends and symbols on light backgrounds.

Shape rules: octagon = STOP; inverted triangle = YIELD; diamond = warning; vertical rectangle = regulatory; horizontal rectangle = guide; pennant = no-passing zone; circle = railroad advance warning; crossbuck = railroad crossing; five-sided = school zone.

A red circle with a diagonal slash means 'prohibited' (no U-turn, no parking, no pedestrians); the symbol inside shows what is forbidden.

A red X or red arrow over a lane is a lane-use control signal; a green arrow means the lane is open, and a yellow X means the lane is changing.

Fluorescent yellow-green is used for pedestrian, bicycle, and school warnings to increase conspicuity; it retains the warning-sign meaning.

Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions; white lines separate traffic moving in the same direction or mark the right edge of the roadway.

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.

A broken white line separates lanes in the same direction and may be crossed to change lanes; a solid white line discourages lane changes and marks the edge line.

A stop line is a solid white bar across the lane; stop behind it at a STOP sign or signal, and a crosswalk is marked by parallel white bars or a ladder pattern.

Traffic signals: steady red = stop; steady yellow = the signal is about to turn red, stop if you can do so safely; steady green = proceed when clear; a green arrow = protected movement in the arrow direction.

A flashing red signal is treated as a STOP sign; a flashing yellow signal means proceed with caution and yield as required.

A red arrow means no movement in that direction; a yellow arrow means the protected movement is ending; a green arrow means the movement is protected from conflicting traffic.

Pavement messages such as 'STOP AHEAD', 'SCHOOL', or 'ONLY' supplement signs; a lane marked 'ONLY' with an arrow requires that movement from that lane.

Other clues: rumble strips warn of a lane departure, raised pavement markers (Botts' dots) mark lanes, and a solid line of reflectors or a change in pavement texture may mark a shoulder or gore area.

Red means stop, yield, or prohibition (STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, wrong-way); red is also used on some regulatory legends and on Interstate shields.

Yellow means warning (diamonds) or, on some signs, a change is ahead; yellow is the standard warning color for curves, intersections, and road conditions.

Orange means construction or maintenance work zones; orange signs are temporary and take precedence over permanent signs in the same location.

Green means guide or directional information (destinations, distances, exits); blue means services (gas, food, lodging, hospital).

Brown means recreation or cultural interest; white means regulatory or informational text, and black is used for legends and symbols on light backgrounds.

Shape rules: octagon = STOP; inverted triangle = YIELD; diamond = warning; vertical rectangle = regulatory; horizontal rectangle = guide; pennant = no-passing zone; circle = railroad advance warning; crossbuck = railroad crossing; five-sided = school zone.

A red circle with a diagonal slash means 'prohibited' (no U-turn, no parking, no pedestrians); the symbol inside shows what is forbidden.

A red X or red arrow over a lane is a lane-use control signal; a green arrow means the lane is open, and a yellow X means the lane is changing.

Fluorescent yellow-green is used for pedestrian, bicycle, and school warnings to increase conspicuity; it retains the warning-sign meaning.