Montana Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Regulatory signs tell drivers what they must do or must not do; they are enforceable and are normally white on red (prohibitory) or black on white (permissive/mandatory).

STOP is the only octagon; the legend is white on red and the sign means a full stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or edge of the intersecting roadway.

YIELD (triangle) requires slowing and stopping only if necessary to let cross traffic and pedestrians clear; a rolling merge without yielding is a violation.

Speed limit signs are white rectangles with black legends reading SPEED LIMIT and the number; statutory limits apply where no sign is posted.

Regulatory prohibitions use a red circle with a red slash over a black symbol (no left turn, no U-turn, no parking); the slash runs from upper left to lower right.

Lane-use control signs (white on black for mandatory movements, white on red for prohibitions) assign each lane a required or forbidden movement at the intersection.

One-way signs are black arrows on white rectangles; a red circle-slash version means DO NOT ENTER and marks the wrong-way approach to a one-way street.

Weight, height, and width limit signs are regulatory; exceeding the posted limit is a violation regardless of whether the route looks passable.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black legends or symbols, placed in advance of the condition; they advise rather than command.

Curve warning signs show a black arrow bending left or right; an advisory speed plaque (yellow, black text) under the sign gives the recommended curve speed.

Intersection warning signs show a black cross or side-road symbol; a supplemental plaque may indicate a T-intersection or a crossroad ahead.

Winding road, hill, and downgrade signs warn of alignment changes; downgrade signs may include a percentage grade and a truck escape ramp note.

Yellow pennant (no passing zone) and yellow diamond merge, lane-ends, and added-lane signs warn of geometry changes that require speed or position adjustment.

Object and clearance warnings include low clearance (yellow with black height), narrow bridge, and divided highway begins/ends signs.

Pedestrian, bicycle, animal, and farm-equipment warning signs are yellow diamonds; they require reduced speed and increased scanning, not a legal stop.

Advisory plaques are yellow with black text and never override a posted regulatory speed limit; they indicate a safe speed for the warned condition.

Guide signs are typically green with white legends on conventional highways and interstates; they give route, destination, distance, and service information.

Interstate route markers are red, white, and blue shields; the number's parity and the word EAST/WEST or NORTH/SOUTH indicate the route direction.

Exit direction signs are green with white text; exit number plaques sit at the top of the sign and may include a mile-based number and a letter suffix for split exits.

Service signs are blue with white symbols (gas, food, lodging, hospital, phone); recreation and cultural interest signs are brown with white legends.

Mile markers are small green rectangles with white numerals; they support location reporting to emergency dispatchers.

Weigh station, rest area, and scenic overlook signs are guide signs; they inform but do not themselves impose a mandatory action.

A white rectangle with black text and an arrow can be a guide or regulatory sign depending on legend; the legend, not the color alone, determines the obligation.

Work zone signs are orange diamonds with black legends or symbols; they warn of construction, maintenance, or utility activity ahead.

Channelizing devices include cones, drums, barricades, and tubular markers; orange and white stripes on barricades indicate the direction traffic should pass.

Flagger signs (orange diamond with a flagger symbol) plus a STOP/SLOW paddle give the flagger authority to stop and release traffic.

Temporary traffic signals and one-lane, two-way operations may be used in work zones; obey the signal or flagger over any conflicting permanent sign.

Reduced speed and lane-shift signs in work zones are enforceable; fines may be doubled when workers are present, per posted plaques.

A detour sign is typically orange or black on white with a DETOUR legend and an arrow; follow the marked route rather than the blocked road.

Work zone taper and lane-closure signs progress from warning to the actual closure; merge early where the arrow board or signs direct.

Pilot cars and temporary rumble strips may be used in long work zones; follow the pilot car and do not pass it.

Octagon = STOP only; inverted triangle = YIELD only; these two shapes are reserved and are recognizable from the back.

Diamond = warning; rectangle (vertical) = regulatory; rectangle (horizontal) = guide; pennant = no-passing zone; circle = railroad advance warning.

Red means stop, yield, prohibition, or wrong way; white means regulatory legend background; yellow means warning; orange means work zone.

Green means guide and permitted movement; blue means services and information; brown means recreation and cultural interest; fluorescent yellow-green marks school and pedestrian areas.

Black legends on white or yellow backgrounds are the standard for regulatory and warning text; white legends on red, green, blue, or brown are standard for guide and prohibitory signs.

The X-shaped crossbuck is white with black letters and marks the railroad crossing itself; the round yellow sign with an RXR symbol is the advance warning.

Symbols replace words where possible (arrow, pedestrian, bicycle, deer); a red circle with a slash always means the depicted action is prohibited.

A black-on-white rectangular sign with a diagonal arrow may indicate a mandatory turn or a lane assignment; read the legend and arrow direction together.

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 on your side permits passing when safe; double solid yellow prohibits passing both ways.

Broken white lines separate same-direction lanes; solid white lines mark the right edge and should not be crossed except to enter a shoulder or turn lane.

Crosswalks are marked with white transverse lines or a ladder pattern; a stop line is a solid white bar before the crosswalk.

Object markers: a Type 1 marker is a yellow or black-and-yellow vertical rectangle at an obstacle; Type 3 uses diagonal stripes pointing down toward the side traffic should pass.

A yellow object marker with black diagonal stripes indicates an obstacle; the stripes slope downward toward the side on which traffic should pass.

Raised pavement markers (Botts' dots) supplement or replace paint; yellow reflectors mark the left edge or centerline, white reflectors mark lane lines.

Blue paint marks accessible parking spaces; red curb paint means no stopping, standing, or parking; yellow curb paint means a loading zone.

The round yellow advance railroad warning sign carries a black X and two R's (RXR); it is placed in advance of the crossing, not at it.

The crossbuck at the crossing is white with black letters reading RAILROAD CROSSING; it has the same force as a YIELD sign.

A white X-shaped sign with the legend 3 TRACKS or a number plaque indicates multiple tracks; expect a second train after the first passes.

Flashing red lights at a crossing require a stop; a lowered gate requires a stop and no proceeding until the gate is fully raised and the tracks are clear.

A school zone sign is a fluorescent yellow-green pentagon (or diamond) with a pedestrian symbol; it warns of a school crossing ahead.

School speed limit signs are regulatory and enforceable during posted hours or when beacons flash; the limit applies only in the designated zone.

School crossing guards and crossing guards with STOP paddles have authority to stop traffic; obey their signals over other signs.

A school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm requires traffic in both directions to stop on an undivided roadway; divided highways exempt opposing traffic.

Regulatory signs are enforceable; a violation carries the same weight as disobeying an officer's direction.

A DO NOT ENTER sign (white square, red circle, white bar) marks the exit ramp or one-way street entrance; entering is a serious violation.

A WRONG WAY sign is red with white letters and is placed behind a DO NOT ENTER sign to reinforce the prohibition.

A NO PARKING sign prohibits parking but may allow stopping to load or unload passengers; a NO STOPPING sign prohibits both.

A left-turn-on-green-arrow sign or a NO TURN ON RED plaque modifies the default right-turn-on-red rule at that intersection.

A KEEP RIGHT sign (white rectangle, black arrow) directs traffic to the right of a median or island; it is mandatory, not advisory.

A YIELD sign requires yielding to cross traffic and pedestrians; failure to yield is a common cause of intersection collisions.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds placed in advance of the hazard; they do not impose a legal stop.

A pedestrian crossing warning sign is a yellow diamond with a walking figure; a school version uses fluorescent yellow-green.

A deer crossing sign warns of animal activity; reduce speed and scan the shoulders, especially at dawn and dusk.

A slippery-when-wet sign warns of reduced traction; it is yellow with a skidding-car symbol.

A divided highway begins sign shows a median symbol; a divided highway ends sign shows the median ending with an arrow.

A two-way traffic sign warns that a one-way road is becoming two-way; keep right and expect oncoming vehicles.

A low clearance sign gives the maximum safe height in feet and inches; a truck route sign may direct tall vehicles around the obstacle.

Green guide signs give destinations, distances, and route numbers; they are the primary navigation signs on highways.

Blue service signs show gas, food, lodging, hospital, and phone symbols; they are informational, not regulatory.

Brown signs mark parks, historical sites, and recreation areas; they are guide signs with white legends.

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

Exit number plaques sit above exit direction signs; they show the mile-based exit number and a letter for split exits.

Mile markers are small green signs with white numbers; they help drivers report their location in an emergency.

A rest area sign is a blue guide sign; it does not require a stop and does not close the highway.

Orange diamonds warn of work zones; orange is reserved for temporary traffic control.

A flagger sign (orange diamond with a flagger symbol) warns that a person is controlling traffic ahead.

A STOP/SLOW paddle gives the flagger legal authority to stop and release traffic.

A detour sign directs traffic around a closure; follow the marked route rather than the blocked road.

Channelizing devices such as cones, drums, and barricades guide traffic through a work zone.

A lane-closure sign with an arrow board directs traffic to merge early; do not wait until the last cone.

Work zone speed limits are enforceable; fines may be doubled when workers are present.

Octagon = STOP; inverted triangle = YIELD; these shapes are unique and recognizable from the back.

Diamond = warning; vertical rectangle = regulatory; horizontal rectangle = guide.

Red = stop, yield, prohibition, or wrong way; yellow = warning; orange = work zone.

Green = guide and permitted movement; blue = services; brown = recreation; fluorescent yellow-green = school and pedestrian.

The crossbuck is white with black letters and marks the railroad crossing itself.

A red circle with a slash means the depicted action is prohibited.

A black arrow on a white rectangle indicates a mandatory direction of travel.

Yellow lines separate opposite-direction traffic; white lines separate same-direction traffic or mark the right edge.

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

Double solid yellow lines prohibit passing in both directions.

A solid white line marks the right edge and should not be crossed except to enter a shoulder or turn lane.

A stop line is a solid white bar before a crosswalk or intersection.

A yellow object marker with black diagonal stripes indicates an obstacle; the stripes slope down toward the side traffic should pass.

Blue paint marks accessible parking; red curb paint means no stopping, standing, or parking.

The round yellow advance railroad warning sign carries a black X and two R's (RXR) and is placed before the crossing.

The crossbuck at the crossing is white with black letters and has the force of a YIELD sign.

A number plaque on the crossbuck indicates multiple tracks; expect a second train after the first passes.

Flashing red lights require a stop; a lowered gate requires a stop until the gate is fully raised and the tracks are clear.

A school zone sign is fluorescent yellow-green with a pedestrian symbol and warns of a school crossing ahead.

School speed limit signs are enforceable during posted hours or when beacons flash.

A school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm requires traffic in both directions to stop on an undivided roadway.