New Hampshire Road Signs Practice key terms

A sign that gives a traffic law, rule, or requirement drivers must obey, such as a speed limit, stop, or turn restriction. Most are white with black or red markings and use rectangles or specific shapes.

A white rectangular regulatory sign with black numerals stating the maximum lawful speed in miles per hour on that road under normal conditions. It is not a suggestion and applies unless conditions require slower driving.

A red octagon with white letters reading STOP. A driver must come to a complete halt at the stop line or crosswalk, yield to traffic and pedestrians, then proceed only when safe.

A red-and-white downward-pointing triangle meaning a driver must slow down and give the right of way to traffic on the intersecting road, stopping only if necessary to avoid conflict.

An intersection where every approach has a stop sign, usually with a small plaque reading ALL WAY or 4-WAY. Vehicles proceed in the order they arrived, with ties resolved by yielding to the right.

A regulatory sign that assigns a lane to a specific movement or vehicle type, such as left-turn-only, right-turn-only, straight-only, or bus-only. Drivers must follow the sign or change lanes legally before the intersection.

A regulatory sign prohibiting parking in a stated area, often with time limits or exceptions. Drivers may usually stop briefly to load or unload passengers, but may not leave the vehicle unattended.

A regulatory sign stricter than no parking: a driver may stop only momentarily to pick up or drop off a passenger, but may not wait or leave the vehicle. It typically appears in busy curbside zones.

The most restrictive curbside regulatory sign: a vehicle may not halt at all except to obey a traffic control device or avoid conflict. It is often used near fire hydrants and transit stops.

A yellow diamond sign that alerts drivers to a change in road conditions ahead, such as a curve, hill, intersection, or narrowing. It does not state a law; it tells drivers to slow or prepare.

A small yellow rectangular sign mounted below a warning sign giving a recommended safe speed for the hazard, such as 25 MPH for a sharp curve. It is advice, not an enforceable posted limit, but exceeding it may be unsafe.

A yellow rectangular sign with a black chevron arrow marking a sharp change in road alignment, placed to guide drivers through a curve. Drivers should follow the direction indicated and reduce speed.

A yellow diamond warning sign showing a bend arrow, indicating a curve ahead. A variant shows a winding road symbol for two or more curves in succession. Slow before entering the curve.

A yellow diamond sign showing a crossroad or side-road symbol, telling drivers that an intersection is ahead and that entering or crossing traffic may appear unexpectedly, especially on rural roads.

A yellow diamond sign showing lines that converge, indicating the road ahead loses a lane or shoulder. Drivers should merge or adjust position before reaching the narrow point.

A yellow diamond warning sign showing a steep downgrade or upgrade, often paired with a percentage grade plaque. Drivers should check brakes and shift to a lower gear before a long descent.

A yellow diamond sign showing a car with skid marks, warning that the pavement loses traction when wet. Drivers should slow down, increase following distance, and avoid sudden braking or steering.

A yellow pentagon or diamond sign marking an area where children cross or walk to school. Drivers must slow to the posted school speed limit when flashing lights or signs indicate it is in effect.

A fluorescent yellow-green pentagon sign showing pedestrians walking, marking a school crossing location. Its distinctive five-sided shape helps drivers recognize it quickly from either direction.

A yellow diamond sign showing a walking person, warning of a marked or unmarked pedestrian crossing ahead. Drivers must be prepared to stop for people in the roadway.

A sign that gives directions, destinations, distances, route numbers, or services rather than rules. Guide signs are usually green, blue, or brown and include highway shields and exit direction panels.

A guide sign shield or shape identifying a numbered highway, such as the red-white-and-blue Interstate shield, the white US route shield, or a state route marker. It helps drivers follow a chosen route.

The red, white, and blue shield-shaped marker identifying an Interstate highway. Even numbers generally run east-west and odd numbers north-south, with three-digit numbers indicating loops or spurs.

A blue guide sign showing available services such as gas, food, lodging, or hospital at an upcoming exit. These signs help travelers plan stops and are common on Interstate highways.

A small green guide sign showing the distance in miles from a reference point along a highway. Mile markers help drivers report their location in emergencies and estimate remaining distance.

An orange diamond or rectangular sign warning of construction, maintenance, or a temporary traffic pattern ahead. Orange signals a temporary condition, and drivers should slow and expect changes.

Trained workers who control traffic through a work zone using a stop/slow paddle or flag. Drivers must obey their signals, which take precedence over other signs in the zone.

An orange or black-on-white guide sign directing traffic around a closed road or work zone along an alternate route. Drivers should follow the detour markers rather than improvising a route.

The system of signs, cones, barricades, and flaggers used to guide traffic safely through or around a work zone. It may override normal markings and rules until the work is finished.

Painted lines, arrows, and symbols on the road surface that guide and regulate traffic. Yellow lines separate opposing directions; white lines separate lanes moving the same way or mark edges.

A painted line separating travel lanes. A broken line may be crossed when safe; a solid line discourages or prohibits crossing; a double solid yellow line means no passing in either direction.

A solid white or yellow line marking the right or left edge of the travel lane. A white edge line marks the right boundary; a yellow edge line marks the left edge of divided highways.

A marked path for pedestrians across a roadway, shown by parallel white lines or a ladder pattern. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked.

A solid white line painted across a lane at an intersection or crosswalk. Drivers must stop before this line at a stop sign or red light, not beyond it into the crosswalk.

White or yellow arrows painted in a lane showing the permitted direction of travel, such as left turn only or straight ahead. They reinforce overhead or roadside lane-use signs.

An electrically operated device using red, yellow, and green lights to control traffic at intersections. Red means stop, green means proceed when clear, and yellow warns that the light is changing.

A signal warning that the green phase is ending and red will follow. Drivers should stop if they can do so safely; entering on yellow when stopping is possible is a common violation.

A signal authorizing movement in the direction of the arrow only, typically a protected left turn. Traffic turning on the arrow has the right of way over opposing traffic during that phase.

A signal permitting a turn after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. It is not protected, so drivers must judge the gap and wait for a safe opening before turning.

A signal meaning the same as a stop sign: come to a full stop, then proceed when safe. At a flashing red in all directions, treat the intersection as an all-way stop.

The standard meaning assigned to sign background colors: red for prohibitions, yellow for warnings, orange for work zones, green for guidance, blue for services, brown for recreation, and white for regulations.

The standard meaning assigned to sign outlines: octagon for stop, triangle for yield, diamond for warning, pentagon for school zones, round for railroad advance warning, and vertical rectangle for regulations.

The legal priority to proceed first in a traffic situation. It is given by signs, signals, markings, or rules, and must be yielded when another driver, cyclist, or pedestrian is entitled to it.