NC Road Signs Practice flashcards
NC Road Signs Practice · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Stop sign shape
- The STOP sign is the only octagon used on U.S. roads. Its eight sides and red background make it recognizable from behind and at an angle, so drivers can identify it even when the legend is obscured.
- Yield sign meaning
- An inverted red-and-white triangle. Drivers must slow and give right of way to traffic on the intersecting road and to pedestrians. A full stop is required only when traffic or safety demands it.
- Do Not Enter sign
- A red square with a white horizontal bar and the words DO NOT ENTER. It marks the wrong-way entrance to a one-way road or ramp, and entering past it is a violation.
- No turn on red
- A regulatory sign that overrides the general rule permitting a right turn after stopping at a red light. Where posted, the driver must wait for a green signal before turning.
- Advisory speed plaque
- A yellow rectangular plaque mounted below a warning sign showing a recommended safe speed for the hazard, such as a curve or exit ramp. It is advice, not the legal maximum.
- Yellow diamond sign
- The standard shape and color for warning signs. The black symbol on the yellow background identifies a hazard ahead, such as a curve, intersection, hill, or crossing.
- No passing zone pennant
- A yellow pennant-shaped sign with black text. It is the only pennant shape used and marks the beginning of a zone where passing is prohibited on two-lane roads.
- Reverse curve sign
- A yellow diamond showing a black S-shaped arrow. It warns of two successive curves in opposite directions, so drivers should reduce speed before the first curve.
- Interstate route shield
- A red, white, and blue shield marking an Interstate highway. The number identifies the route, and even numbers generally run east-west while odd numbers run north-south.
- Blue service signs
- Blue guide signs with white symbols identify motorist services at an upcoming exit, such as fuel, food, lodging, camping, and hospitals. They are informational, not regulatory.
- Brown guide signs
- Brown signs with white legends mark recreation and cultural areas, including parks, historic sites, and scenic byways. They guide drivers but impose no legal requirement.
- Mile marker purpose
- A small green sign showing the distance from the route origin or state line. Drivers use mile markers to report their exact location to emergency dispatchers.
- Orange work zone signs
- Orange with black legends, these signs mark construction and maintenance areas. They warn of changed conditions and remain enforceable even when workers are not visible.
- Flashing arrow panel
- A large panel of lights in a work zone that directs traffic to merge. A flashing arrow pointing right means move to the right lane; a pointing left arrow means move left.
- Flagger stop paddle
- A hand-held sign with STOP on one side and SLOW on the other. A flagger's direction overrides traffic signals and signs, and drivers must obey it immediately.
- Detour sign
- An orange sign with black text and an arrow that routes traffic around a closed section of road. Drivers follow the detour markers until the route rejoins the original road.
- School zone pentagon
- The five-sided fluorescent yellow-green sign marks a school advance or school crossing. The pentagon shape is reserved for school signs so drivers recognize them quickly.
- School speed limit sign
- A regulatory sign showing a reduced speed near a school. It applies only during posted hours or when a yellow beacon flashes, depending on how the sign is configured.
- Crosswalk pedestrian right of way
- Drivers must stop for a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk and remain stopped until the pedestrian has cleared the driver's lane and the adjacent lane.
- Crossing guard authority
- A guard's raised hand or STOP paddle has the force of a traffic signal. Drivers must stop and may not proceed until the guard lowers the paddle and signals them on.
- Round yellow RXR sign
- A circular yellow sign with a black X and two R letters. It is an advance warning that a highway-rail crossing is ahead, so drivers should slow and prepare to stop.
- Crossbuck sign
- A white X-shaped sign with black RAILROAD CROSSING text placed at the crossing itself. It has the same meaning as a yield sign: give way to approaching trains.
- Number of tracks plaque
- A small white plaque below the crossbuck showing a number such as 2 or 3. It indicates how many tracks cross the road, warning that a second train may follow.
- Emergency notification sign
- A blue sign with a white R and X and a phone number. It lets drivers report a stalled vehicle, a signal malfunction, or an emergency at the railroad crossing.
- Red sign color meaning
- Red on a sign means stop, yield, or prohibition. It appears on STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, and WRONG WAY signs, and on the slash of a prohibition symbol.
- Fluorescent yellow-green signs
- This color marks school, pedestrian, and bicycle warnings. Its high visibility in daylight and twilight helps drivers notice children and other vulnerable road users sooner.
- Vertical rectangle sign
- The vertical rectangle is the standard shape for regulatory signs such as speed limits, turn restrictions, and lane-use controls. Warning signs use the diamond instead.
- Red circle with slash
- A symbol showing a red circle with a diagonal slash over a black pictograph. It means the pictured action is prohibited, such as no left turn or no bicycles.
- Double solid yellow line
- Two solid yellow lines prohibit passing and crossing in both directions. Drivers may cross only to turn into or out of a driveway or side road where permitted.
- Broken yellow centerline
- A single broken yellow line separates opposing traffic and permits passing when the way is clear. The broken line is on the side of the driver allowed to pass.
- Stop line marking
- A solid white line across the lane at an intersection or crosswalk. Vehicles must stop behind it; if there is no stop line, they stop before the crosswalk or intersection.
- HOV lane diamond marking
- A white diamond painted in a lane, often paired with a yellow diamond sign, marks a high-occupancy vehicle lane. Occupancy and time restrictions are posted on nearby signs.