Puerto Rico Road Signs Practice cheat sheet

Regulatory signs tell you what you must do or must not do; disobeying one is a traffic violation, not a suggestion.

Most regulatory signs are white rectangles with black legends and black borders; the exception family is red-and-white (STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, WRONG WAY).

A red circle with a diagonal slash means the maneuver or vehicle type shown is prohibited (no left turn, no U-turn, no trucks).

STOP requires a complete halt at the stop line, crosswalk, or edge of the intersecting roadway, whichever comes first; then yield to all cross traffic and pedestrians.

YIELD means slow down and give the right-of-way; stop only if traffic or pedestrians require it.

One-way signs are black-on-white horizontal arrows; a white arrow on black points the direction of travel.

Speed limit signs are white rectangles with black numerals; the posted number is the maximum under ideal conditions, not a target.

Regulatory signs stay in force until cancelled by another sign, a signal, or the end of the roadway segment.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black symbols or legends; they alert you to a condition ahead, not to a rule in force at the sign.

A yellow diamond with a black arrow curving right or left warns of a curve ahead; a plate below may show a recommended (advisory) speed in black on yellow.

Yellow diamond with a black 'X' plus a small 'RR' means railroad crossing ahead; a round yellow sign with 'RR' marks the crossing itself.

Winding-road, sharp-curve, and reverse-curve signs are distinguished by the arrow shape: single bend, sharp angle, or S-shaped pair.

Yellow diamond with a pedestrian or school-child symbol warns of people crossing ahead; reduce speed and scan both sides of the roadway.

Yellow diamond with a black arrow splitting around an island means divided highway begins; the reverse symbol (two arrows merging) means divided highway ends.

Advisory speed plates (black text on yellow) are recommended, not legal maximums; they reflect safe speed for the curve or ramp.

Warning signs are placed in advance of the condition; the distance to the hazard varies with road type, so slow down at the sign, not at the hazard.

Guide signs are typically green with white legends on expressways and freeways; they give directions, distances, exits, and destinations.

White-on-blue signs mark services (fuel, food, lodging, hospital, rest area) and are usually placed before an exit.

Brown signs with white legends identify recreational, cultural, or historic points of interest.

Exit signs on freeways are green with white text; exit numbers usually match the milepost of the interchange.

Interstate/freeway route markers are shield-shaped; the number and direction (north, south, east, west) appear on the shield.

A white rectangle with black legend and a diagonal arrow indicates a lane assignment or destination for that specific lane.

Informational signs do not impose a legal duty by themselves, but they may repeat or supplement a regulatory requirement (for example, a lane-use sign).

Missing or damaged route markers do not change right-of-way rules; guide signs describe, they do not regulate.

Orange is the color reserved for construction and maintenance zones; orange diamond warnings and orange rectangular work-zone signs both appear.

A black-on-orange 'ROAD WORK AHEAD' or worker symbol means reduce speed and expect lane shifts, flaggers, and loose gravel.

A flagger symbol (orange diamond with a person holding a flag) means a trained person controls traffic; obey the flagger over the sign or signal.

Channelizing devices (cones, drums, barricades) and temporary markings override the permanent pavement markings in the work zone.

School zone signs are fluorescent yellow-green pentagons or diamonds with a pedestrian/child symbol; posted school speed limits apply when children are present or when flashing beacons are active, per the sign's legend.

A pentagon shape (five sides, point up) is used only for school zone/school crossing signs; no other sign shares that shape.

Double fines and enhanced penalties commonly apply in work zones and school zones when workers or children are present; the sign legend states the condition.

When a work-zone sign conflicts with a permanent sign nearby, follow the temporary sign, and follow the flagger over both.

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

A solid yellow line on your side means no passing; a broken yellow line on your side permits passing when safe.

Double solid yellow lines prohibit passing in both directions; a single broken line beside a solid line allows passing only for the side with the broken line.

White dashes between lanes of the same direction permit lane changes; solid white lines discourage or prohibit them near intersections and ramps.

A steady red signal means stop at the stop line or crosswalk and remain stopped; a steady red arrow means stop for that movement only.

A flashing red signal is treated as a STOP sign (stop, then proceed when clear); a flashing yellow means slow down and proceed with caution.

A steady yellow means the signal is about to turn red; stop if you can do so safely, otherwise clear the intersection.

A green arrow is a protected movement; traffic turning on the arrow has the right-of-way over opposing traffic.

Octagon (eight sides) is used only for STOP; no other sign shares that shape, so it is recognizable from the back.

Inverted triangle (point down) is used only for YIELD.

Diamond (square rotated 45 degrees) is the standard shape for warning signs; yellow is the standard color, fluorescent yellow-green for school/pedestrian warnings.

Rectangle is the standard shape for regulatory (usually white, vertical) and guide (green, blue, brown) signs.

Pentagon (point up) marks school zones/school crossings; a round sign marks a railroad crossing (yellow with 'RR'), and a crossbuck (X-shaped) marks the crossing itself.

Red means stop, yield, or prohibition; yellow warns; orange indicates construction/maintenance; green gives guidance; blue gives services; brown gives recreation/culture.

A red circle with a slash, a red border on white, or a red X means the action shown is prohibited.

Symbols alone carry the message on many signs; learn the arrow, pedestrian, bicycle, railroad, and worker symbols so a missing legend does not confuse you.