Mississippi Road Signs Practice key terms

A white rectangular regulatory sign with black numerals showing the maximum legal speed in miles per hour under normal conditions. Driving faster is unlawful regardless of whether a lower speed would still be unsafe.

A sign that states a law, rule, or requirement drivers must obey, such as stop, yield, speed limit, or turn restrictions. Most are white rectangles with black or red markings, and violating one is a traffic offense.

An eight-sided red sign with white letters requiring a complete halt at the stop line, crosswalk, or edge of the intersecting roadway. The vehicle must remain stopped until the way is clear and the driver yields as required.

An inverted triangle sign, red and white, telling drivers to slow down and give the right of way to traffic on the crossing road. A stop is required only when necessary to avoid conflict.

An intersection where traffic from all approaches must stop. Vehicles proceed in the order they arrived, and a driver arriving at the same time as another yields to the vehicle on the right.

A regulatory sign that forbids an action, commonly shown by a red circle with a diagonal slash over a black symbol, such as no left turn or no U-turn. The restriction applies at that location and time shown.

A regulatory sign that requires a specific movement, such as a white arrow on black directing traffic to turn left or keep right. Unlike a prohibition, it commands what a driver must do rather than what is banned.

A black rectangular sign with a white arrow indicating traffic on that roadway moves only in the arrow's direction. Entering against the arrow is illegal and often leads to head-on crashes.

A red rectangular sign reading DO NOT ENTER or WRONG WAY placed to stop drivers from entering a one-way road or exit ramp against traffic. Seeing one means the driver is heading into opposing traffic.

A square red sign with a white horizontal bar and the words DO NOT ENTER, marking a roadway a driver may not drive into. It often appears at one-way street exits and freeway off-ramps.

A regulatory sign restricting where a vehicle may be left standing, sometimes limited to certain hours or days shown on the sign or a supplemental plaque. Parking there can result in a citation or towing.

A yellow diamond sign alerting drivers to a hazard or change ahead, such as a curve, intersection, or slippery pavement. It does not state a law but tells the driver to slow down or prepare to react.

A yellow rectangular sign placed below a warning sign showing a recommended speed for a curve, ramp, or other hazard. The speed is a safe suggestion for good conditions, not an enforceable legal limit.

A yellow rectangular sign with a black arrow pointing in the direction of a sharp curve, placed along the outside of the bend. A series of chevrons guides drivers through the turn, especially at night.

A yellow diamond warning sign showing a road bending left or right, sometimes with a suggested speed plaque. Drivers should reduce speed before entering the curve rather than braking hard within it.

A yellow diamond warning sign depicting intersecting roads ahead, alerting drivers to watch for crossing and entering traffic. It is often paired with a plaque naming the road or noting a traffic signal ahead.

A yellow diamond warning sign showing a walking figure, placed where pedestrians commonly cross. Drivers must slow down and yield to people in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

A yellow-green diamond sign marking an area where children travel to and from school. Drivers must slow to the posted school speed limit when children are present or when flashing beacons are active.

A yellow diamond warning sign with a silhouette of a deer or other animal, indicating wildlife may enter the roadway. Drivers should slow down and scan the shoulders, particularly at dawn and dusk.

A yellow diamond warning sign showing a car with skid marks, placed where pavement loses traction in rain or ice. Drivers should reduce speed and avoid sudden braking or steering on the wet surface.

A yellow diamond warning sign showing an arrow joining a through lane, telling drivers that traffic from a ramp or side road will enter. Drivers should adjust speed and leave space for merging vehicles.

A sign giving direction, distance, destination, or route information rather than a rule or hazard warning. Guide signs are usually green, blue, or brown rectangles with white lettering and symbols.

A sign identifying a numbered highway, such as a shield for an interstate or a rectangle for a state route. Its shape and color vary by road system so drivers can recognize the route type quickly.

The red, white, and blue shield-shaped marker identifying an interstate highway, with the route number in white. Even numbers generally run east-west and odd numbers north-south across the system.

A small green sign along a highway showing the distance in miles from a starting point, used to report locations in emergencies. Numbers usually increase from south to north or west to east.

A blue sign with white symbols showing nearby facilities such as gas, food, lodging, or a hospital. These signs help drivers plan stops and locate emergency assistance on long trips.

A blue guide sign indicating a public stopping place ahead with parking, restrooms, and sometimes picnic tables. Drivers should use these to manage fatigue rather than continuing while drowsy.

An orange diamond or rectangular sign warning of road work, lane shifts, or workers ahead. Orange color signals temporary conditions, and fines for speeding are often doubled in these areas.

An orange sign showing a worker holding a stop paddle, warning that a person is controlling traffic ahead. Drivers must slow down and obey the flagger's signals, which override posted signs.

An orange or white regulatory sign posting a reduced speed limit through a construction area. The lower limit applies only where posted and is enforceable even when workers are not visible.

A cone, drum, or barricade used to guide traffic and separate it from work areas. Drivers must stay within the marked path and should not cross these devices, even to change lanes.

A yellow circular sign with a black X and two R's, warning that tracks cross the road ahead. Drivers should slow down, look and listen, and never stop on the tracks.

A white X-shaped sign with black letters reading RAILROAD CROSSING, placed at the crossing itself. It means the same as a yield sign: the driver must give way to trains.

A device with flashing red lights, a bell, and sometimes a gate arm that activates when a train approaches. Drivers must stop when the lights flash or the gate lowers, and never drive around a lowered gate.

A signal with one or more flashing lights, often yellow at intersections or red in school zones, that warns drivers of a condition requiring caution. A flashing red beacon requires a full stop.

The outline of a sign that conveys meaning before any word is read, such as octagon for stop and diamond for warning. Recognizing shapes helps drivers react quickly at a distance or in poor visibility.

The background hue of a sign that signals its purpose: red for prohibitions, yellow for warnings, orange for work zones, green for guidance, blue for services, and brown for recreation. Color lets drivers sort information at a glance.

The square rotated 45 degrees used for warning signs, usually yellow with black symbols. Its distinctive outline tells drivers to expect a hazard before they can read the message.

Paint or raised material on the road surface showing lanes, edges, crosswalks, and stop points. White lines separate traffic moving the same way, while yellow lines separate opposing traffic or mark road edges.

A solid white line painted across a lane at an intersection or crosswalk where vehicles must stop for a stop sign or signal. Stopping beyond it can block pedestrians or intrude into the crossing road.

A path across a roadway marked by white lines or formed by the extension of sidewalks at an intersection. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked.

An electric light controlling traffic with red, yellow, and green indications. A steady red means stop, a flashing red means stop and proceed when clear, and a flashing yellow means slow down and use caution.

The legal priority to proceed first when paths would otherwise conflict, set by signs, signals, and rules such as yielding to the vehicle on the right. It must be given, never taken aggressively.

A small supplemental sign mounted below a main sign that adds detail such as hours, distances, or conditions. Drivers must read the plaque, because it can change when or how the main sign applies.