Oklahoma Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Regulatory signs are white rectangles with black legends (or red/black on white for prohibition); they state the law and violations are enforceable - unlike warning signs, which only advise.

STOP: red octagon with white letters. Come to a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or before entering the intersection; then yield to all traffic and pedestrians before proceeding.

YIELD: red-and-white downward-pointing triangle. Slow down and give the right-of-way; stop only if necessary. A yield sign on an entrance ramp means merge only when clear.

Speed limits are white rectangles with black numerals reading SPEED LIMIT. Posted limits are maximums in ideal conditions; in rain, fog, or on curves, driving below the limit is required by the basic speed law.

Prohibition signs: red circle with a diagonal slash over a black symbol (e.g., no U-turn, no left turn, no parking). The slash means the maneuver is prohibited at that location.

Mandatory direction signs are white with black arrows (e.g., LEFT TURN ONLY, straight-ahead arrow). You must travel in the direction shown; a lane marked with a turn arrow requires that turn.

ONE WAY signs are black rectangles with white arrows. A white arrow pointing left with a red slash on a black background means DO NOT ENTER - you are facing opposing traffic.

KEEP RIGHT and DO NOT PASS are regulatory: keep right of the median or dividing line, and do not pass where the sign or a solid yellow line forbids it.

A red slash through a parking symbol (or NO PARKING text) prohibits stopping and leaving the vehicle; a sign with a time limit or arrow restricts parking to the stated hours or direction.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black symbols or legends; they alert to a condition ahead, so reduce speed and increase following distance rather than stopping abruptly.

Curve warnings: a curved arrow indicates a turn ahead; an arrow with a recommended speed plaque (e.g., 35 MPH) sets a safe advisory speed for that curve, not a legal limit.

Reverse curve (S-curve) signs show two opposing curves; winding road signs show a squiggle. Both mean successive curves - do not pass and slow before the first curve.

Intersection warnings: a cross (+) symbol means a four-way intersection ahead; a T symbol means a T-intersection; a side-road symbol means traffic entering from the right or left.

Lane transition warnings: MERGE signs, lane-ends signs (right or left lane ends), and added-lane signs tell you which lane disappears; adjust position early and yield to through traffic when merging.

Road condition warnings: slippery-when-wet, loose gravel, icy bridge, and pavement-ends signs. Slow before the hazard - braking on gravel or ice reduces traction further.

Hill and grade signs: a steep-grade symbol with a percentage (e.g., 6%) tells truck and heavy-vehicle drivers to use lower gears; downgrade signs warn of long descents ahead.

Object and clearance warnings: low-clearance signs show a height in feet/inches; narrow-bridge and divided-highway-ends signs warn of reduced width or a split roadway.

Pedestrian, bicycle, and animal warning signs (yellow diamonds) mean people, cyclists, or deer may cross; scan the shoulders and reduce speed, especially at dawn and dusk.

Guide signs are green (or blue/brown) rectangles with white legends; they give directions, distances, and destinations and are not regulatory - they do not impose legal duties.

Green signs mark destinations, exits, and distances (e.g., EXIT 21, 2 MILES). Exit numbers on interstates generally correspond to mileposts, increasing from south to north and west to east.

Interstate route markers are red, white, and blue shields; even-numbered interstates run east-west, odd-numbered run north-south, and three-digit numbers are spurs or loops off a parent route.

U.S. route markers are white shields with black numerals; state route markers vary by state but are typically a white shape with black numerals and the state name.

Blue signs indicate motorist services: gas, food, lodging, hospital, camping, and rest areas. Brown signs indicate recreation, parks, historic sites, and scenic areas.

Mileposts are small green markers on the right shoulder; they identify your location for emergencies and match exit numbers on most interstates.

Directional guide signs may include arrows, lane-use panels, and distance plaques; read them early and change lanes well before the exit, since exit-only lanes may separate.

Guide signs for weigh stations, inspection stations, and toll facilities are regulatory in effect - trucks must stop when the sign is accompanied by mandatory-stop wording.

Orange is the color of temporary traffic control: orange diamond warning signs, orange rectangular work-zone signs, and orange-and-white striped barricades mark construction and maintenance areas.

A flagger holding a sign or paddle controls traffic; obey the flagger's signals exactly as you would a signal light. A SLOW paddle means proceed with caution; a STOP paddle means stop and wait.

Channelizing devices - cones, drums, tubular markers, and barricades - define the travel path; do not cross them or drive into closed lanes.

Work-zone speed limits are posted on white or orange signs and are enforceable; fines are commonly doubled when workers are present, and the reduced limit applies even when no workers are visible in many states.

Temporary traffic signals in work zones may be portable or one-lane alternating; treat them as legal signals and stop on red even if the delay is long.

Lane-shift and lane-closure signs (arrow boards, RIGHT LANE CLOSED, FLAGGER AHEAD) require merging early; arrow boards direct traffic to the open lane.

Pilot cars and escort vehicles lead traffic through one-lane work zones; follow at the instructed distance and do not pass the pilot car.

Work zones can change daily; the posted temporary signs and markings override the permanent ones, so follow the orange devices and painted temporary lines rather than old lane lines.

School zone signs are fluorescent yellow-green pentagons (school crossing) or diamonds (school zone ahead); a posted speed limit (often 20 mph) applies during the stated hours or when children are present.

A school crossing guard or a crossing guard with a stop paddle has the authority of a traffic signal; stop when the guard signals and remain stopped until all children clear the roadway.

Crosswalk markings: two parallel white lines (transverse) or a series of thick white bars (continental/ladder). Stop behind the stop line or the crosswalk edge - never on the crosswalk.

Pedestrian signals: a walking-person symbol means pedestrians may cross; a raised hand (or countdown) means do not start crossing. A flashing hand means finish crossing, not start.

At an intersection with no marked crosswalk, pedestrians still have the right-of-way in the crosswalk at the intersection; yield when a pedestrian is in your half of the roadway.

Bicycle signs: a bicycle symbol in a yellow diamond warns of cyclists crossing or sharing the road; a white bicycle lane sign marks a lane reserved for bicycles - do not drive or park in it.

SHARE THE ROAD signs and sharrow pavement markings indicate bicycles use the full lane; pass with at least three feet of clearance (more where state law requires).

Pedestrian crossing warning signs are yellow diamonds with a walking figure; they often accompany a marked crosswalk and require scanning both directions and reducing speed.

The round yellow railroad advance-warning sign (an R X R symbol) means a railroad crossing is ahead; slow down, look both ways, and be prepared to stop.

The crossbuck (white X with RAILROAD CROSSING in black) marks the actual crossing and has the same legal effect as a yield sign - yield to trains.

Flashing red lights at a crossing mean STOP. A gate that is down or lowering means stop and remain stopped until the gate rises fully and the lights stop flashing; never drive around a gate.

A train cannot stop quickly: a freight train at 55 mph can take a mile or more to stop. Never attempt to beat a train, and never stop on the tracks - wait until you can clear the entire crossing.

A number plaque below the crossbuck shows how many tracks there are (e.g., 2 TRACKS); after one train passes, look for a second train on another track before proceeding.

Light rail and streetcar crossings may use the same flashing red lights and gates but often lack them at station areas; watch for the tracks, overhead wires, and platform edges.

EXEMPT signs on some vehicles (buses, emergency vehicles) mean those vehicles are not required to stop at the crossing; do not assume they will stop.

A white rectangular sign with a black X and the letters RR on a crossbuck post, plus a stop line, means stop before the tracks when required; a STOP sign at a crossing is a full legal stop.

Red: stop, yield, do not enter, and prohibition. Red always means a legal requirement or danger - act immediately.

Yellow: general warning. Yellow diamond signs alert to conditions ahead; fluorescent yellow-green is reserved for school, pedestrian, and bicycle warnings.

Orange: construction and maintenance work zones. White: regulatory signs and route markers. Green: guide/destination signs. Blue: motorist services. Brown: recreation and cultural points of interest.

Octagon = STOP; inverted triangle = YIELD; diamond = warning; pentagon = school zone/crossing; round = railroad advance warning; crossbuck (X) = railroad crossing; rectangle = regulatory or guide.

A red circle with a slash means prohibited; a green circle means permitted; a red slash over a symbol means the action is not allowed at that location.

Symbols: a curved arrow means a turn ahead; a pedestrian figure means people crossing; a bicycle means cyclists; a deer means animals; a truck on a downgrade means steep hill.

Route markers: interstate shield (red/white/blue), U.S. shield (white with black numerals), state route (varies), and county route (usually a blue pentagon or white square).

Sign shape and color are readable at a distance before the legend is legible; use shape (octagon, triangle, diamond) and color to anticipate the required action.

Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions; white lines separate traffic moving in the same direction or mark the right edge of the roadway.

A solid yellow line on your side means do not pass; a broken yellow line means passing is permitted when safe. Two solid yellow lines mean no passing in either direction.

A solid white line marks a lane line you should not cross; a broken white line may be crossed to change lanes. Double solid white lines mean no lane changes.

Stop lines are solid white bars across the lane; stop behind the line at a stop sign or signal. Crosswalks are marked with parallel lines or ladder bars.

Red signal = stop; yellow = the light is about to turn red, stop if you can do so safely; green = proceed when the intersection is clear. A green arrow means a protected turn in that direction.

A flashing red signal means stop, then proceed when clear (like a stop sign); a flashing yellow signal means proceed with caution and yield.

Right turn on red is permitted after a complete stop and yielding, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign prohibits it. Left turn on red is permitted only from a one-way street onto a one-way street where allowed.

Pavement arrows in a lane match the overhead or roadside sign; if a sign and marking conflict, the sign controls, but both indicate the lane's required direction.

A white stop line plus a sign at a railroad crossing or intersection means stop behind the line; a painted crosswalk without a sign still gives pedestrians the right-of-way.