Regulatory Signs
Regulatory signs are the "must" and "must not" signs of the road. The exam tests whether you can identify them by color and shape, know what action each requires, and apply the exceptions that appear at real intersections.
Core rules
- Most regulatory signs are white rectangles with a black legend and border: speed limits, keep right, no parking, one way, and turn restrictions.
- Red means prohibition or stop. The octagon STOP, inverted triangle YIELD, DO NOT ENTER (red circle with white horizontal bar), and WRONG WAY signs are the exceptions to the white-rectangle pattern.
- A STOP sign requires a full stop at the stop bar, then the crosswalk, then the edge of the intersecting roadway. If none are marked, stop before entering the intersection.
- YIELD requires slowing and stopping only if traffic is close enough to conflict. Do not stop unnecessarily when the way is clear.
- Lane-use signs (turn-only, straight-only, HOV) and pavement arrows work together; obey the sign even if the arrow is faded.
- A red circle with a diagonal slash means "prohibited." The no-parking symbol uses a black "P" with a red slash.
Worked example
You reach a four-way intersection with a STOP sign and a wide white stop bar, but no crosswalk. A pedestrian is stepping off the far curb, and a car is approaching from the left. Stop at the bar first; the bar is the legal stop line. Then yield to the pedestrian in the crosswalk area and to the car if it arrived first or is on your right at an all-way stop. Do not roll past the bar to "get a better look."
Traps
- Confusing NO PARKING, NO STANDING, and NO STOPPING: parking is longest, stopping is briefest.
- Treating YIELD as a mandatory stop.
- Missing "NO TURN ON RED" plaques under a signal.
- Assuming a stop sign at a two-way intersection gives you the right of way; it does not.