ND Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Regulatory signs are white rectangles with black legends and regulate actions; a red circle with a diagonal slash means the maneuver is prohibited.

SPEED LIMIT signs show the maximum legal speed in mph under normal conditions; slower speeds are required when conditions such as rain, fog, or ice make the limit unsafe.

A STOP sign requires a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or edge of the intersecting roadway, then yielding to all traffic and pedestrians before proceeding.

A YIELD sign requires slowing and stopping only if necessary; the driver must give right-of-way to cross traffic and pedestrians and may proceed only when clear.

Prohibition signs include NO RIGHT TURN, NO LEFT TURN, NO U-TURN, and DO NOT ENTER; DO NOT ENTER marks a one-way roadway entered from the wrong direction.

Lane-use control signs include ONE WAY, mandatory turn arrows, and LEFT TURN ONLY; a white arrow on black in a lane-use sign indicates the required direction for that lane.

WRONG WAY signs, often red rectangles, appear on one-way ramps and roads to warn that traffic is approaching from the opposite direction.

A red octagon is used exclusively for STOP; an inverted red-and-white triangle is used exclusively for YIELD; both shapes are recognized from the back.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black legends and symbols; they warn of conditions ahead and do not change the legal right-of-way or speed limit by themselves.

Curve warnings show a curved arrow: a plain curve sign indicates a bend, while a curve sign with a speed plate such as 35 MPH shows an advisory speed for the curve.

Intersection warnings use a cross, T, or Y symbol to show the layout of the approaching intersection; a side-road symbol shows a road entering from the right or left.

Pedestrian and school warnings include the walking-person symbol and the five-sided school zone sign; a school zone speed limit is in effect during posted hours or when children are present.

Road-condition warnings include SLIPPERY WHEN WET, deer crossing, falling rocks, and low-clearance signs; these indicate hazards requiring reduced speed or increased attention.

A hill sign (steep grade symbol with a percentage) warns of a downgrade; drivers should reduce speed and use a lower gear before descending to avoid brake fade.

Lane and roadway warnings include MERGE, lane-ends, divided-highway-begins, and two-way-traffic-ahead signs; they alert drivers to a change in the road configuration ahead.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow pointing in a U shape indicates a U-turn or hairpin curve ahead; slow to the advisory speed shown on the plate.

Guide signs are typically green with white legends for destinations and distances, blue for services, and brown for recreation and cultural areas.

Interstate route markers are red, white, and blue shields; even-numbered interstates generally run east-west, and odd-numbered interstates generally run north-south.

U.S. route markers are black-and-white shields; state route markers vary by state and are usually white with a black outline and number.

Exit signs on freeways show the exit number and destination; an exit number with a letter suffix indicates a split exit with separate ramps (for example, Exit 15A and 15B).

Blue service signs show gas, food, lodging, hospital, and phone symbols; they identify services available at or near the upcoming exit.

Brown signs identify parks, historic sites, and recreational areas; they are informational and do not indicate services such as fuel or lodging.

Mile markers are small green signs with white numbers placed along the shoulder; they give the driver's location for reporting emergencies and estimating distance.

A white rectangular sign with a black route shield and arrow may indicate a direction to a numbered route; guide signs never override regulatory or warning signs.

Orange is the color for temporary traffic control; orange diamond signs warn of work zones, and orange rectangular signs give directions or detours.

A flagger holding a paddle with STOP on one side and SLOW on the other controls traffic; drivers must obey the flagger's signals and stop when directed.

Channelizing devices include cones, drums, and barricades; they mark the path through a work zone, and drivers must not cross them.

A work zone speed limit sign, often white with black legend and an orange border, sets a reduced speed that is enforceable when workers are present.

Temporary traffic signals and one-lane, two-way operations may be used in work zones; drivers must wait for the signal or flagger before entering the open lane.

Detour signs are orange with black arrows and route markers; they direct traffic around a closed road and must be followed until the route rejoins the original road.

A worker symbol (person with shovel) on an orange diamond warns of workers ahead; drivers should slow down and be prepared for stopped or slow traffic.

Work zone signs may remain in place when no work is occurring; the posted temporary speed limit is still enforceable if the sign is displayed.

Red means stop, yield, or prohibition; white means regulatory or informational; yellow means warning; orange means construction; green means guide or destination information.

Blue indicates services such as fuel, food, and lodging; brown indicates recreation and cultural areas; fluorescent yellow-green marks school zones and pedestrian crossings.

The octagon is reserved for STOP, the inverted triangle for YIELD, the diamond for warning, the pentagon for school zones, and the circle for railroad advance warnings.

A horizontal rectangle is generally a regulatory or guide sign; a vertical rectangle often carries a regulatory message such as speed limit or lane use.

A red circle with a diagonal slash means prohibited; a green circle or arrow on a black background means permitted in lane-use signals.

Symbols are standardized: a walking person means pedestrian, a bicycle means bicycle crossing, a deer means animal crossing, and a curved arrow means a turn or curve.

A white X with the letters RR on a yellow circular sign is a railroad advance warning; a crossbuck at the crossing itself marks the actual tracks.

Fluorescent yellow-green is used for pedestrian, bicycle, and school warning signs because it is more visible than standard yellow in low light.

A round yellow sign with a black X and RR warns of a railroad crossing ahead; it is placed in advance of the crossing and requires slowing and looking.

A white X-shaped crossbuck marked RAILROAD CROSSING marks the crossing; drivers must yield to trains, and a crossbuck has the same effect as a yield sign.

Flashing red lights at a railroad crossing mean stop; a lowered gate means stop and remain stopped until the gate is fully raised and the lights stop flashing.

A yellow sign showing a train symbol warns of a crossing without gates or lights; drivers must stop, look, and listen before crossing the tracks.

School bus warning lights are yellow and mean the bus is preparing to stop; red flashing lights and an extended stop arm mean traffic must stop.

Drivers must stop for a school bus with red lights flashing on an undivided road; on a divided highway, traffic approaching from the opposite direction is not required to stop.

A school zone sign is a five-sided pentagon with a walking-children symbol; the posted school speed limit applies during the stated hours or when children are present.

Never pass a stopped school bus with red lights flashing; the stop arm and red lights are legal signals requiring a complete stop until they are withdrawn.

A solid yellow line separates traffic moving in opposite directions and prohibits passing; a broken yellow line permits passing when the way is clear.

A double solid yellow line prohibits passing in both directions; a solid yellow line on your side of a double line means passing is prohibited for your direction.

A solid white line separates lanes moving in the same direction and discourages lane changes; a broken white line permits lane changes when safe.

A stop line is a solid white bar across the lane; stop before it at a STOP sign or red signal, and stop before the crosswalk if no stop line exists.

A steady red signal means stop; a steady yellow signal means the light is changing to red and drivers should stop if they can do so safely.

A flashing red signal is treated as a STOP sign; a flashing yellow signal means proceed with caution and yield as required.

A green arrow means a protected turn in the direction of the arrow; a green circle means proceed when clear, yielding to oncoming traffic when turning left.

Crosswalk markings, including parallel white lines or a ladder pattern, mark pedestrian paths; drivers must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk when turning or proceeding.