MO Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Regulatory signs are white with black legends (or red where prohibited); they state a legal requirement, not a suggestion, and violating one is a citable offense.

A red octagon means STOP: come to a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or before entering the intersecting roadway, then yield to all traffic and pedestrians.

A red-and-white downward triangle means YIELD: slow, be ready to stop, and give the right-of-way to cross traffic; stop only if traffic requires it.

White rectangular speed limit signs show the maximum lawful speed in mph; a black-and-white 'SPEED LIMIT' plaque with a lower number in a work zone is enforceable only when workers are present if so posted.

Lane-use control signs: a white-on-black straight arrow means that lane must go straight; a curved arrow means that lane must turn; a red X or 'lane closed' means the lane is not available.

Turn prohibitions appear as a black curved arrow inside a red circle with a red slash; the arrow shows the prohibited movement, not a permitted one.

Parking control signs: red-on-white 'NO PARKING' bars prohibit standing; green-and-white signs designate permitted parking times; a red circle-slash over a P prohibits parking entirely.

One-way signs are black-on-white horizontal arrows; a white arrow on black means the direction of travel on that roadway.

A yellow-and-black 'NO PASSING ZONE' pennant on the left side of the road marks the start of a no-passing segment; passing restrictions end where the pennant's restriction ends or a 'PASS WITH CARE' sign appears.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black legends (except construction orange and some object markers); they alert to a condition ahead, so slow and increase following distance rather than stopping abruptly.

Curve warning: a black arrow curving right or left shows the direction of the bend; an advisory speed plaque (yellow, black number) below it gives the recommended maximum speed for the curve.

Intersection warning: a black cross or T symbol shows the configuration of the road ahead; a side-road symbol entering from the left or right shows where the cross traffic enters.

Road narrowing: two converging black lines show the roadway narrowing; a symbol narrower on one side indicates which side loses width.

Hill warning: a black triangle with a percent grade shows a steep downgrade; trucks and heavy vehicles should use a lower gear before descending.

Surface condition warnings: a car with wavy skid marks warns of a slippery when wet surface; a symbol of a car with spray warns of water on the road.

A yellow diamond with a pedestrian symbol warns of a pedestrian crossing ahead; a bicycle symbol warns of bicyclists sharing the roadway.

Chevron signs (black on yellow, large arrow-shaped) mark the outside of a sharp curve and indicate the direction of the turn; they supplement, not replace, the curve sign.

A yellow diamond with a black 'RR' or a crossbuck symbol warns of a railroad crossing ahead and should be treated as a prompt to slow and look.

Guide signs are green with white legends for destinations, distances, and exits; blue signs mark services (gas, food, lodging, hospital); brown signs mark recreation and cultural areas.

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

U.S. route markers are white shields with black numerals; state route markers vary by state and are usually a white shape on a colored background.

Exit signs on freeways show the exit number in the upper corner; a white-on-green exit tab above the sign gives the exit number, and the number often corresponds to the mile marker.

Mile markers are small green signs with white numbers placed at one-mile intervals along the right shoulder; they help identify location in an emergency.

Distance signs list destinations with mileage; destinations are listed in order of increasing distance from the sign location.

A green sign with a white arrow pointing down and to the right indicates an exit lane or a lane that becomes an exit-only lane.

Service signs on blue backgrounds list gas, food, lodging, and hospital with symbols and distances; a blue sign with a white 'H' marks a hospital.

Work zone signs are orange with black legends; orange is reserved for construction and maintenance, so an orange sign means a temporary condition ahead.

A flagger symbol sign (orange diamond with a person holding a flag) warns that a flagger controls traffic ahead; obey the flagger's signals over any sign or signal.

Channelizing devices include orange cones, drums, and vertical panels; they define the temporary path and must not be crossed.

A lane-shift sign (orange diamond with an arrow bending around a symbol) indicates the lane will shift; a 'lane ends' sign shows a lane merging.

A 'ROAD WORK AHEAD' sign is a warning, not a speed limit; the posted work-zone speed limit applies only where a speed limit sign is posted.

Temporary traffic signals in work zones may be portable; treat a red light as a full stop and a flashing red as a stop-then-proceed when clear.

A 'ONE LANE ROAD' sign warns that two-way traffic will share one lane; a 'YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC' plaque may accompany it.

Work-zone pavement markings may be temporary and may conflict with permanent markings; follow the temporary markings and the orange devices, which take precedence.

School zone signs are fluorescent yellow-green pentagons or diamonds with black legends; a pentagon shape is used for school advance warning signs.

A school speed limit sign shows a lower limit that applies during posted hours or when children are present; the plaque states the condition.

A crossing guard or school crossing symbol sign indicates a crossing where children may be present; slow and be prepared to stop.

Pedestrian crossing signs are yellow diamonds with a walking person symbol; a pedestrian signal with a white walking person means proceed, a flashing orange hand means do not start, and a solid orange hand means stop.

Bicycle signs: a yellow diamond with a bicycle symbol warns of bicyclists; a green bike-lane sign or a white bicycle symbol in a lane marks a bike lane.

A 'SHARE THE ROAD' sign with a bicycle symbol indicates that bicyclists use the roadway and drivers should allow space when passing.

A pedestrian crossing with a yellow diamond and a diagonal arrow indicates a crossing at a specific location; crosswalk markings are white parallel lines or a ladder pattern.

A school bus stop sign (red octagon on the bus) requires traffic in both directions to stop on undivided roads when the red lights flash, unless separated by a median.

A crossbuck (white X with 'RAILROAD CROSSING' letters) marks the crossing; yield to trains, and a crossbuck alone means the crossing has no active warning devices.

A yellow circular advance warning sign with an 'RR' and a diagonal line shows the number of tracks and the angle of the crossing; a plaque below gives the track count.

Flashing red lights at a crossing mean stop; a gate lowering means stop and do not go around it; never enter a crossing unless you can clear it completely.

A white 'X' painted on the pavement with 'RR' warns of a railroad crossing ahead; a stop line before the tracks marks where to stop.

Pavement markings before a crossing may include a solid white stop line and the letters 'RR'; do not stop on the tracks.

A crossing with only a stop sign requires a complete stop, then proceed only when no train is approaching and the way is clear.

Trains cannot stop quickly; a train may appear to be farther away than it is because of its size, and an approaching train's speed is hard to judge.

A 'EXEMPT' plaque or sign at a crossing means certain vehicles (such as buses carrying no passengers) are not required to stop; do not assume exemption applies to you.

Red means stop, yield, or prohibition; white means regulation; yellow means warning; orange means construction; green means guide; blue means services; brown means recreation; fluorescent yellow-green means school and pedestrian warning.

Octagon = stop; inverted triangle = yield; diamond = warning; rectangle = regulatory or guide; pentagon = school; circle = railroad advance warning; crossbuck = railroad crossing; pennant = no-passing zone.

A red circle with a diagonal slash means 'do not' and the symbol inside shows what is prohibited.

A black symbol on a yellow diamond is a warning; the same symbol in a red circle is a prohibition.

A white symbol on a blue background marks a service or a permitted facility; a white symbol on a green background marks a destination or route.

A black-on-white rectangular sign with words is regulatory; a black-on-yellow diamond with a symbol is warning; the shape and color together identify the category before you read the words.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow bending left or right is a curve warning; a yellow diamond with a black arrow pointing down and to the left is a lane-reduction warning.

A red-and-white striped barricade or a red-and-white vertical panel marks a closed road or a hazard; do not pass it.

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; a double solid yellow means no passing in either direction.

A broken white line separates lanes of same-direction traffic; a solid white line marks the edge of the roadway or a lane that should not be crossed.

A white diamond symbol painted in a lane marks a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane or a special-use lane; check the accompanying sign for eligibility.

A white arrow painted in a lane shows the required direction of travel from that lane.

Object markers: a black-on-yellow or yellow-on-black striped marker at the end of a barrier or island warns of a hazard; a type 3 object marker is a vertical rectangle with diagonal stripes.

A white or yellow raised pavement marker (reflector) marks lane lines; red reflectors mark the left edge of the roadway and white reflectors mark the right edge.

A painted white stop line marks where to stop at a stop sign or signal; a crosswalk is marked with white parallel lines or a ladder pattern.

A yellow diagonal-striped area (gore) marks a paved area that should not be driven on, such as the area between a through lane and an exit lane.

A 'DO NOT ENTER' sign is a red square with a white horizontal bar and the words 'DO NOT ENTER'; it marks a one-way roadway against your direction.

A 'WRONG WAY' sign is a red rectangle with white letters; if you see it, you are driving against traffic and should stop and turn around when safe.

A 'KEEP RIGHT' sign is a white rectangle with a black arrow; it directs traffic to pass to the right of a median or island.

A 'NO U-TURN' sign is a yellow or white sign with a U-shaped arrow inside a red circle and slash; it prohibits U-turns at that location.

A 'LEFT TURN ONLY' or 'RIGHT TURN ONLY' sign is a white rectangle with a black arrow; it requires that movement from that lane.

A 'NO TRUCKS' sign is a white rectangle with a black truck symbol inside a red circle and slash; it prohibits trucks from that route.

A 'STOP HERE ON RED' sign or a stop line marks where to stop at a signal; a 'NO TURN ON RED' plaque prohibits turning right on red at that intersection.

A 'YIELD' sign at a roundabout requires yielding to traffic already in the circle; do not stop inside the circle unless traffic requires it.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow curving right and a '25 MPH' advisory plaque means the curve should be taken at no more than 25 mph under ideal conditions.

A yellow diamond with a black cross symbol warns of a crossroad ahead; a T symbol warns of a T-intersection; a side-road symbol shows where the intersecting road enters.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a road narrowing on the right means the right lane or shoulder ends; merge left if needed.

A yellow diamond with a black truck on a downgrade and a percent grade warns of a steep hill; downshift before descending to avoid brake fade.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a car on a wavy surface warns of a slippery road; reduce speed and avoid sudden braking or steering.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a pedestrian or bicycle warns of crossings or shared roadway; slow and increase scanning.

A yellow diamond with a black 'RR' and a diagonal line warns of a railroad crossing ahead; a plaque below shows the number of tracks.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow pointing down and to the left, plus a 'LANE ENDS' plaque, warns that the left lane will merge into the right lane.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a flagger warns of a work zone with a flagger ahead; obey the flagger's directions.

A green sign with white letters reading 'EXIT 42' and a destination name indicates the exit number and the destination served by that exit.

A blue sign with a white 'H' marks a hospital; a blue sign with a gas pump symbol marks fuel; a blue sign with a fork and knife marks food.

A brown sign with white letters marks a park, historic site, or recreation area; brown is used for cultural and recreational guidance.

A white shield with black numerals is a U.S. route marker; a red, white, and blue shield is an Interstate route marker.

A green sign with a white arrow pointing down and to the right marks an exit-only lane; a white arrow pointing straight ahead marks a through lane.

A green sign listing two destinations with mileages lists the nearer destination first; distances are in miles from the sign location.

A small green sign with white numbers along the shoulder is a mile marker; it identifies the location along the route for emergencies.

A green sign with a white 'N', 'S', 'E', or 'W' indicates the compass direction of the route ahead.

An orange diamond with black letters reading 'ROAD WORK AHEAD' warns of construction; slow down and be prepared for lane changes or stops.

An orange diamond with a black flagger symbol warns of a flagger ahead; a flagger's signal overrides signs and signals, so stop when the flagger says stop.

An orange diamond with a black arrow bending around a symbol indicates a lane shift; follow the arrow and the orange devices.

Orange drums and cones channel traffic; do not cross them, and follow the temporary lane markings even if they conflict with permanent ones.

A 'LANE ENDS' or 'MERGE LEFT' sign in orange indicates a lane closure ahead; merge early and smoothly.

A portable traffic signal in a work zone may show red, yellow, and green; treat a red as a full stop and proceed only when the signal turns green.

A 'ONE LANE ROAD' sign with a 'YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC' plaque means two-way traffic shares one lane; yield to oncoming vehicles if your side has the yield condition.

A work-zone speed limit sign is enforceable when posted; the reduced limit applies where the sign is placed, not automatically at the first orange sign.

A fluorescent yellow-green pentagon with a black pedestrian symbol is a school advance warning sign; slow and watch for children.

A school speed limit sign shows a lower limit that applies during posted hours or when children are present; the plaque states the condition.

A yellow diamond with a black walking person symbol warns of a pedestrian crossing ahead; a pedestrian signal with a white walking person means proceed, and a flashing orange hand means do not start.

A yellow diamond with a black bicycle symbol warns of bicyclists; a 'SHARE THE ROAD' sign indicates bicyclists use the roadway.

A white bicycle symbol painted in a lane marks a bike lane; a green bike-lane sign marks a dedicated bicycle facility.

A school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign requires traffic in both directions to stop on an undivided road; traffic separated by a median need not stop.

A crossing guard's raised hand or whistle means stop; obey the guard even if no sign is present.

A pedestrian crossing with a yellow diamond and a diagonal arrow marks a crossing at a specific location; crosswalk markings are white parallel lines or a ladder pattern.

A white crossbuck with 'RAILROAD CROSSING' letters marks the crossing; yield to trains, and a crossbuck alone means no active warning devices are present.

A yellow circular advance warning sign with 'RR' and a diagonal line shows the crossing ahead; a plaque below gives the number of tracks.

Flashing red lights mean stop; a lowering gate means stop and do not go around it; never enter a crossing unless you can clear it completely.

A white 'X' painted on the pavement with 'RR' warns of a railroad crossing ahead; a stop line before the tracks marks where to stop.

A crossing with only a stop sign requires a complete stop, then proceed only when no train is approaching and the way is clear.

Trains cannot stop quickly; a train may appear farther away than it is because of its size, and its speed is hard to judge.

A 'EXEMPT' plaque at a crossing means certain vehicles are not required to stop; do not assume the exemption applies to you.

A crossing with a gate and flashing lights requires a stop when the lights flash or the gate lowers, regardless of whether a train is visible.

Red means stop, yield, or prohibition; white means regulation; yellow means warning; orange means construction; green means guide; blue means services; brown means recreation; fluorescent yellow-green means school and pedestrian warning.

Octagon = stop; inverted triangle = yield; diamond = warning; rectangle = regulatory or guide; pentagon = school; circle = railroad advance warning; crossbuck = railroad crossing; pennant = no-passing zone.

A red circle with a diagonal slash means 'do not' and the symbol inside shows what is prohibited.

A black symbol on a yellow diamond is a warning; the same symbol in a red circle is a prohibition.

A white symbol on a blue background marks a service or a permitted facility; a white symbol on a green background marks a destination or route.

A black-on-white rectangular sign with words is regulatory; a black-on-yellow diamond with a symbol is warning; shape and color identify the category before you read the words.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow bending left or right is a curve warning; a yellow diamond with a black arrow pointing down and to the left is a lane-reduction warning.

A red-and-white striped barricade or a red-and-white vertical panel marks a closed road or a hazard; do not pass it.

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; a double solid yellow means no passing in either direction.

A broken white line separates lanes of same-direction traffic; a solid white line marks the edge of the roadway or a lane that should not be crossed.

A white diamond symbol painted in a lane marks an HOV or special-use lane; check the accompanying sign for eligibility.

A white arrow painted in a lane shows the required direction of travel from that lane.

Object markers: a black-on-yellow or yellow-on-black striped marker at the end of a barrier or island warns of a hazard; a type 3 object marker is a vertical rectangle with diagonal stripes.

A white or yellow raised pavement marker (reflector) marks lane lines; red reflectors mark the left edge of the roadway and white reflectors mark the right edge.

A painted white stop line marks where to stop at a stop sign or signal; a crosswalk is marked with white parallel lines or a ladder pattern.

A yellow diagonal-striped area (gore) marks a paved area that should not be driven on, such as the area between a through lane and an exit lane.

A 'DO NOT ENTER' sign is a red square with a white horizontal bar and the words 'DO NOT ENTER'; it marks a one-way roadway against your direction.

A 'WRONG WAY' sign is a red rectangle with white letters; if you see it, you are driving against traffic and should stop and turn around when safe.

A 'KEEP RIGHT' sign is a white rectangle with a black arrow; it directs traffic to pass to the right of a median or island.

A 'NO U-TURN' sign is a white sign with a U-shaped arrow inside a red circle and slash; it prohibits U-turns at that location.

A 'LEFT TURN ONLY' or 'RIGHT TURN ONLY' sign is a white rectangle with a black arrow; it requires that movement from that lane.

A 'NO TRUCKS' sign is a white rectangle with a black truck symbol inside a red circle and slash; it prohibits trucks from that route.

A 'NO TURN ON RED' plaque prohibits turning right on red at that intersection; a stop line marks where to stop.

A 'YIELD' sign at a roundabout requires yielding to traffic already in the circle; do not stop inside the circle unless traffic requires it.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow curving right and a '25 MPH' advisory plaque means the curve should be taken at no more than 25 mph under ideal conditions.

A yellow diamond with a black cross symbol warns of a crossroad ahead; a T symbol warns of a T-intersection; a side-road symbol shows where the intersecting road enters.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a road narrowing on the right means the right lane or shoulder ends; merge left if needed.

A yellow diamond with a black truck on a downgrade and a percent grade warns of a steep hill; downshift before descending to avoid brake fade.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a car on a wavy surface warns of a slippery road; reduce speed and avoid sudden braking or steering.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a pedestrian or bicycle warns of crossings or shared roadway; slow and increase scanning.

A yellow diamond with a black 'RR' and a diagonal line warns of a railroad crossing ahead; a plaque below shows the number of tracks.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow pointing down and to the left, plus a 'LANE ENDS' plaque, warns that the left lane will merge into the right lane.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a flagger warns of a work zone with a flagger ahead; obey the flagger's directions.

A green sign with white letters reading 'EXIT 42' and a destination name indicates the exit number and the destination served by that exit.

A blue sign with a white 'H' marks a hospital; a blue sign with a gas pump symbol marks fuel; a blue sign with a fork and knife marks food.

A brown sign with white letters marks a park, historic site, or recreation area; brown is used for cultural and recreational guidance.

A white shield with black numerals is a U.S. route marker; a red, white, and blue shield is an Interstate route marker.

A green sign with a white arrow pointing down and to the right marks an exit-only lane; a white arrow pointing straight ahead marks a through lane.

A green sign listing two destinations with mileages lists the nearer destination first; distances are in miles from the sign location.

A small green sign with white numbers along the shoulder is a mile marker; it identifies the location along the route for emergencies.

A green sign with a white 'N', 'S', 'E', or 'W' indicates the compass direction of the route ahead.

An orange diamond with black letters reading 'ROAD WORK AHEAD' warns of construction; slow down and be prepared for lane changes or stops.

An orange diamond with a black flagger symbol warns of a flagger ahead; a flagger's signal overrides signs and signals, so stop when the flagger says stop.

An orange diamond with a black arrow bending around a symbol indicates a lane shift; follow the arrow and the orange devices.

Orange drums and cones channel traffic; do not cross them, and follow the temporary lane markings even if they conflict with permanent ones.

A 'LANE ENDS' or 'MERGE LEFT' sign in orange indicates a lane closure ahead; merge early and smoothly.

A portable traffic signal in a work zone may show red, yellow, and green; treat a red as a full stop and proceed only when the signal turns green.

A 'ONE LANE ROAD' sign with a 'YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC' plaque means two-way traffic shares one lane; yield to oncoming vehicles if your side has the yield condition.

A work-zone speed limit sign is enforceable when posted; the reduced limit applies where the sign is placed, not automatically at the first orange sign.

A fluorescent yellow-green pentagon with a black pedestrian symbol is a school advance warning sign; slow and watch for children.

A school speed limit sign shows a lower limit that applies during posted hours or when children are present; the plaque states the condition.

A yellow diamond with a black walking person symbol warns of a pedestrian crossing ahead; a pedestrian signal with a white walking person means proceed, and a flashing orange hand means do not start.

A yellow diamond with a black bicycle symbol warns of bicyclists; a 'SHARE THE ROAD' sign indicates bicyclists use the roadway.

A white bicycle symbol painted in a lane marks a bike lane; a green bike-lane sign marks a dedicated bicycle facility.

A school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign requires traffic in both directions to stop on an undivided road; traffic separated by a median need not stop.

A crossing guard's raised hand or whistle means stop; obey the guard even if no sign is present.

A pedestrian crossing with a yellow diamond and a diagonal arrow marks a crossing at a specific location; crosswalk markings are white parallel lines or a ladder pattern.

A white crossbuck with 'RAILROAD CROSSING' letters marks the crossing; yield to trains, and a crossbuck alone means no active warning devices are present.

A yellow circular advance warning sign with 'RR' and a diagonal line shows the crossing ahead; a plaque below gives the number of tracks.

Flashing red lights mean stop; a lowering gate means stop and do not go around it; never enter a crossing unless you can clear it completely.

A white 'X' painted on the pavement with 'RR' warns of a railroad crossing ahead; a stop line before the tracks marks where to stop.

A crossing with only a stop sign requires a complete stop, then proceed only when no train is approaching and the way is clear.

Trains cannot stop quickly; a train may appear farther away than it is because of its size, and its speed is hard to judge.

A 'EXEMPT' plaque at a crossing means certain vehicles are not required to stop; do not assume the exemption applies to you.

A crossing with a gate and flashing lights requires a stop when the lights flash or the gate lowers, regardless of whether a train is visible.

Red means stop, yield, or prohibition; white means regulation; yellow means warning; orange means construction; green means guide; blue means services; brown means recreation; fluorescent yellow-green means school and pedestrian warning.

Octagon = stop; inverted triangle = yield; diamond = warning; rectangle = regulatory or guide; pentagon = school; circle = railroad advance warning; crossbuck = railroad crossing; pennant = no-passing zone.

A red circle with a diagonal slash means 'do not' and the symbol inside shows what is prohibited.

A black symbol on a yellow diamond is a warning; the same symbol in a red circle is a prohibition.

A white symbol on a blue background marks a service or a permitted facility; a white symbol on a green background marks a destination or route.

A black-on-white rectangular sign with words is regulatory; a black-on-yellow diamond with a symbol is warning; shape and color identify the category before you read the words.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow bending left or right is a curve warning; a yellow diamond with a black arrow pointing down and to the left is a lane-reduction warning.

A red-and-white striped barricade or a red-and-white vertical panel marks a closed road or a hazard; do not pass it.

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; a double solid yellow means no passing in either direction.

A broken white line separates lanes of same-direction traffic; a solid white line marks the edge of the roadway or a lane that should not be crossed.

A white diamond symbol painted in a lane marks an HOV or special-use lane; check the accompanying sign for eligibility.

A white arrow painted in a lane shows the required direction of travel from that lane.

Object markers: a black-on-yellow or yellow-on-black striped marker at the end of a barrier or island warns of a hazard; a type 3 object marker is a vertical rectangle with diagonal stripes.

A white or yellow raised pavement marker (reflector) marks lane lines; red reflectors mark the left edge of the roadway and white reflectors mark the right edge.

A painted white stop line marks where to stop at a stop sign or signal; a crosswalk is marked with white parallel lines or a ladder pattern.

A yellow diagonal-striped area (gore) marks a paved area that should not be driven on, such as the area between a through lane and an exit lane.

A 'DO NOT ENTER' sign is a red square with a white horizontal bar and the words 'DO NOT ENTER'; it marks a one-way roadway against your direction.

A 'WRONG WAY' sign is a red rectangle with white letters; if you see it, you are driving against traffic and should stop and turn around when safe.

A 'KEEP RIGHT' sign is a white rectangle with a black arrow; it directs traffic to pass to the right of a median or island.

A 'NO U-TURN' sign is a white sign with a U-shaped arrow inside a red circle and slash; it prohibits U-turns at that location.

A 'LEFT TURN ONLY' or 'RIGHT TURN ONLY' sign is a white rectangle with a black arrow; it requires that movement from that lane.

A 'NO TRUCKS' sign is a white rectangle with a black truck symbol inside a red circle and slash; it prohibits trucks from that route.

A 'NO TURN ON RED' plaque prohibits turning right on red at that intersection; a stop line marks where to stop.

A 'YIELD' sign at a roundabout requires yielding to traffic already in the circle; do not stop inside the circle unless traffic requires it.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow curving right and a '25 MPH' advisory plaque means the curve should be taken at no more than 25 mph under ideal conditions.

A yellow diamond with a black cross symbol warns of a crossroad ahead; a T symbol warns of a T-intersection; a side-road symbol shows where the intersecting road enters.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a road narrowing on the right means the right lane or shoulder ends; merge left if needed.

A yellow diamond with a black truck on a downgrade and a percent grade warns of a steep hill; downshift before descending to avoid brake fade.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a car on a wavy surface warns of a slippery road; reduce speed and avoid sudden braking or steering.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a pedestrian or bicycle warns of crossings or shared roadway; slow and increase scanning.

A yellow diamond with a black 'RR' and a diagonal line warns of a railroad crossing ahead; a plaque below shows the number of tracks.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow pointing down and to the left, plus a 'LANE ENDS' plaque, warns that the left lane will merge into the right lane.

A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a flagger warns of a work zone with a flagger ahead; obey the flagger's directions.

A green sign with white letters reading 'EXIT 42' and a destination name indicates the exit number and the destination served by that exit.

A blue sign with a white 'H' marks a hospital; a blue sign with a gas pump symbol marks fuel; a blue sign with a fork and knife marks food.

A brown sign with white letters marks a park, historic site, or recreation area; brown is used for cultural and recreational guidance.

A white shield with black numerals is a U.S. route marker; a red, white, and blue shield is an Interstate route marker.

A green sign with a white arrow pointing down and to the right marks an exit-only lane; a white arrow pointing straight ahead marks a through lane.

A green sign listing two destinations with mileages lists the nearer destination first; distances are in miles from the sign location.

A small green sign with white numbers along the shoulder is a mile marker; it identifies the location along the route for emergencies.

A green sign with a white 'N', 'S', 'E', or 'W' indicates the compass direction of the route ahead.

An orange diamond with black letters reading 'ROAD WORK AHEAD' warns of construction; slow down and be prepared for lane changes or stops.

An orange diamond with a black flagger symbol warns of a flagger ahead; a flagger's signal overrides signs and signals, so stop when the flagger says stop.

An orange diamond with a black arrow bending around a symbol indicates a lane shift; follow the arrow and the orange devices.

Orange drums and cones channel traffic; do not cross them, and follow the temporary lane markings even if they conflict with permanent ones.

A 'LANE ENDS' or 'MERGE LEFT' sign in orange indicates a lane closure ahead; merge early and smoothly.

A portable traffic signal in a work zone may show red, yellow, and green; treat a red as a full stop and proceed only when the signal turns green.

A 'ONE LANE ROAD' sign with a 'YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC' plaque means two-way traffic shares one lane; yield to oncoming vehicles if your side has the yield condition.

A work-zone speed limit sign is enforceable when posted; the reduced limit applies where the sign is placed, not automatically at the first orange sign.

A fluorescent yellow-green pentagon with a black pedestrian symbol is a school advance warning sign; slow and watch for children.

A school speed limit sign shows a lower limit that applies during posted hours or when children are present; the plaque states the condition.

A yellow diamond with a black walking person symbol warns of a pedestrian crossing ahead; a pedestrian signal with a white walking person means proceed, and a flashing orange hand means do not start.

A yellow diamond with a black bicycle symbol warns of bicyclists; a 'SHARE THE ROAD' sign indicates bicyclists use the roadway.

A white bicycle symbol painted in a lane marks a bike lane; a green bike-lane sign marks a dedicated bicycle facility.

A school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign requires traffic in both directions to stop on an undivided road; traffic separated by a median need not stop.

A crossing guard's raised hand or whistle means stop; obey the guard even if no sign is present.

A pedestrian crossing with a yellow diamond and a diagonal arrow marks a crossing at a specific location; crosswalk markings are white parallel lines or a ladder pattern.

A white crossbuck with 'RAILROAD CROSSING' letters marks the crossing; yield to trains, and a crossbuck alone means no active warning devices are present.

A yellow circular advance warning sign with 'RR' and a diagonal line shows the crossing ahead; a plaque below gives the number of tracks.

Flashing red lights mean stop; a lowering gate means stop and do not go around it; never enter a crossing unless you can clear it completely.

A white 'X' painted on the pavement with 'RR' warns of a railroad crossing ahead; a stop line before the tracks marks where to stop.

A crossing with only a stop sign requires a complete stop, then proceed only when no train is approaching and the way is clear.

Trains cannot stop quickly; a train may appear farther away than it is because of its size, and its speed is hard to judge.

A 'EXEMPT' plaque at a crossing means certain vehicles are not required to stop; do not assume the exemption applies to you.

A crossing with a gate and flashing lights requires a stop when the lights flash or the gate lowers, regardless of whether a train is visible.

Red means stop, yield, or prohibition; white means regulation; yellow means warning; orange means construction; green means guide; blue means services; brown means recreation; fluorescent yellow-green means school and pedestrian warning.

Octagon = stop; inverted triangle = yield; diamond = warning; rectangle = regulatory or guide; pentagon = school; circle = railroad advance warning; crossbuck = railroad crossing; pennant = no-passing zone.

A red circle with a diagonal slash means 'do not' and the symbol inside shows what is prohibited.

A black symbol on a yellow diamond is a warning; the same symbol in a red circle is a prohibition.

A white symbol on a blue background marks a service or a permitted facility; a white symbol on a green background marks a destination or route.

A black-on-white rectangular sign with words is regulatory; a black-on-yellow diamond with a symbol is warning; shape and color identify the category before you read the words.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow bending left or right is a curve warning; a yellow diamond with a black arrow pointing down and to the left is a lane-reduction warning.

A red-and-white striped barricade or a red-and-white vertical panel marks a closed road or a hazard; do not pass it.

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; a double solid yellow means no passing in either direction.

A broken white line separates lanes of same-direction traffic; a solid white line marks the edge of the roadway or a lane that should not be crossed.

A white diamond symbol painted in a lane marks an HOV or special-use lane; check the accompanying sign for eligibility.

A white arrow painted in a lane shows the required direction of travel from that lane.

Object markers: a black-on-yellow or yellow-on-black striped marker at the end of a barrier or island warns of a hazard; a type 3 object marker is a vertical rectangle with diagonal stripes.

A white or yellow raised pavement marker (reflector) marks lane lines; red reflectors mark the left edge of the roadway and white reflectors mark the right edge.

A painted white stop line marks where to stop at a stop sign or signal; a crosswalk is marked with white parallel lines or a ladder pattern.

A yellow diagonal-striped area (gore) marks a paved area that should not be driven on, such as the area between a through lane and an exit lane.