Maryland Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Regulatory signs are generally white rectangles with black legends and tell drivers what they must do or must not do; they carry legal force, unlike warning signs.

STOP is the only octagon on the road; a full stop is required at the sign, stop line, or crosswalk edge, whichever comes first.

YIELD (inverted triangle, red border) requires slowing and giving right-of-way; stop only if traffic, pedestrians, or a safe gap demands it.

Speed limit signs give the maximum lawful speed in ideal conditions; driving below that maximum can still violate the basic speed rule if conditions are hazardous.

Red circles with a diagonal slash mean the action is prohibited (No U-Turn, No Left Turn); the symbol inside shows what is banned.

Black-and-white rectangular signs such as ONE WAY, DO NOT ENTER (red and white), and KEEP RIGHT control direction and entry.

A red-and-white DO NOT ENTER sign means traffic may not proceed past it; a WRONG WAY sign is posted on the reverse face of the same restriction.

Lane-use control signs (left-turn-only, straight-only) mean you must be in that lane to make that movement; the arrow does not merely suggest it.

Warning signs are typically yellow diamonds with black symbols and alert drivers to upcoming conditions rather than imposing a legal requirement.

The advisory speed plaque (black on yellow) is the recommended maximum for that specific curve or condition, often below the posted limit.

Curve signs show a right or left arrow; a reverse curve sign (S-shape) warns of two successive curves in opposite directions.

Winding road, hill, and downgrade signs warn of alignment changes; downgrade percentages indicate steepness for gear selection and braking.

Crossroad, side road, T-intersection, and Y-intersection signs each show the exact geometry of the approaching junction.

Merging traffic, lane ends, and added lane signs describe how lanes change; lane ends means you must merge, added lane means a new lane joins without merging.

Object markers and type 3 barricades (diagonal stripes) mark hazards; stripes slant down toward the side traffic should pass on.

Pedestrian, bicycle, deer, and animal warning signs indicate a possible crossing ahead; reduce speed and scan the shoulders.

Guide signs are green, blue, or brown rectangles that give directions, distances, services, and points of interest; they do not command or warn.

Green signs carry destinations, route numbers, exit numbers, and distances; exit direction signs with an arrow indicate the correct ramp.

Blue signs mark traveler services such as gas, food, lodging, hospitals, and rest areas.

Brown signs identify recreational, cultural, and historic sites; they are used for parks, and scenic or tourist destinations.

White-on-green mile markers and exit numbers help locate your position; in Maryland exit numbers generally correspond to mileposts.

Interstate route shields are red, white, and blue; U.S. route shields are black and white; Maryland state route markers are the black-and-white outlined shape.

A sign reading LAST EXIT BEFORE TOLL or similar warns that no services or exits follow for a stated distance.

Changeable message signs on highways display real-time information such as closures, delays, or crash alerts; the message is advisory, not optional to read.

Orange diamonds are used exclusively for construction and maintenance warnings; black-on-orange is the standard work zone color scheme.

A flagger sign (symbol of a person with a flag) means a trained flagger controls traffic ahead; obey the flagger's signals over the sign.

Work zone speed limits are posted on white regulatory signs within orange warning areas and are enforceable when workers are present or as posted.

Channelizing devices (cones, drums, barricades) define the travel path; hitting them or crossing them is a violation.

A sign reading ROAD WORK AHEAD may be followed by lane shift, lane closure, or shoulder work signs; expect narrowed lanes and reduced shoulders.

Temporary traffic signals in work zones control alternating one-lane traffic; treat them as fully enforceable signals.

Fines are doubled in posted Maryland work zones when workers are present, and the doubled fine applies to the entire posted zone.

Pilot cars and follow-me vehicles lead traffic through short single-lane work zones; maintain the gap the pilot car sets.

Pentagon-shaped signs (yellow-green) mark school zones and school crossings; the pentagon shape is reserved for school-related warnings.

School zone speed limits apply during posted hours or when children are present; the flashing beacon, if present, defines the enforceable period.

A crossing guard's signals override signs and signals; drivers must stop and remain stopped until the guard clears the roadway.

A stop sign with a school bus symbol means school buses are stopping in the area; be alert for children crossing.

Pedestrian crossing signs (yellow diamond with walking figure) warn of a crosswalk ahead; a white regulatory sign with a walking figure marks the crosswalk itself.

Maryland law requires drivers to stop for a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk and to yield to a pedestrian crossing in an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

Passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights and extended stop arm is illegal in both directions on undivided roads, except on a divided highway where oncoming traffic is separated by a median.

No-passing zones near schools and crosswalks are marked by solid yellow lines; passing is prohibited where the solid line is on your side.

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

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

Double solid yellow lines prohibit passing in both directions; a solid and broken pair allows passing only for the side with the broken line.

A solid white edge line marks the right edge of the roadway; a dashed white line separates lanes of same-direction traffic.

Steady red means stop and remain stopped until green; a steady red arrow means stop for that movement only.

A flashing red signal is treated as a stop sign; a flashing yellow signal means proceed with caution after yielding.

A steady yellow signal means the light is changing to red; stop if you can do so safely, otherwise clear the intersection.

A green arrow gives a protected right-of-way for that movement; oncoming traffic has a red light during the protected phase.

A red X over a lane means the lane is closed to your direction; a green arrow over a lane means the lane is open.

A round yellow sign with a black X and RR marks a railroad crossing ahead; it is the advance warning sign.

A white crossbuck (X-shaped) sign marks the crossing itself and means yield to trains; trains always have the right-of-way.

Flashing red lights at a crossing mean stop; the gates, when present, lower after the lights begin flashing, so never drive around a lowered gate.

A sign reading 2 TRACKS or 3 TRACKS means more than one train may pass; a second train can follow the first in either direction.

A sign reading EXEMPT means certain vehicles (such as school buses or hazmat) are not required to stop at that crossing, not that drivers may ignore the crossing.

A blue sign with a white H or a white cross marks a hospital; a white-on-blue sign with an emergency symbol marks an emergency facility.

A yellow diamond with a black cross and the word CROSSING warns of a non-rail crossing, such as a trail or path crossing the road.

A sign reading BRIDGE ICES BEFORE ROAD warns of ice forming first on bridge decks in cold weather; slow down and avoid sudden braking.

A black-on-yellow sign reading SOFT SHOULDER warns that the shoulder surface is unstable; do not drive or park on it.