Read a sign by its shape and color
You can often tell what a sign means before you can read it. Each shape and each color has a job. Learn these first, and the rest of the signs become much easier.
Shapes
| Shape | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Octagon (8 sides) | Stop. Used only for STOP signs. | STOP |
| Triangle pointing down | Yield. Used only for YIELD signs. | YIELD |
| Diamond | Warning: a hazard or change in the road ahead | Curve, merge, deer crossing |
| Pentagon (5 sides, point up) | School zone or school crossing | School sign |
| Pennant (sideways triangle) | Start of a no-passing zone; placed on the left side of the road | NO PASSING ZONE |
| Circle | Railroad crossing ahead | Round yellow RR sign |
| Crossbuck (X shape) | Railroad crossing; yield to trains | RAILROAD CROSSING |
| Rectangle or square | Rules, guide information and services | Speed limit, route signs |
Octagon: stop Triangle: yield Diamond: warning Pentagon: school Pennant: no-passing zone Circle: railroad ahead Crossbuck: railroad crossing Rectangle: a rule
Colors
| Color | Used for |
|---|---|
| Red | STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, WRONG WAY, and the circle and slash that ban an action |
| White with black | Regulatory signs: rules such as speed limits and turn rules |
| Yellow with black | General warnings |
| Fluorescent yellow-green | School, pedestrian and bicycle warnings |
| Orange | Work zones and other temporary traffic control |
| Green | Guide signs: directions, distances and exits |
| Blue | Services for drivers, such as hospitals, gas, food and lodging |
| Brown | Parks, recreation and cultural sites |
| Fluorescent pink | Traffic incidents, such as a crash scene |
Regulatory signs: rules you must obey
Regulatory signs tell you what the law requires. Most are white rectangles with black letters. If you ignore them, you can get a ticket.
Stop completely Yield the right-of-way Do not enter You are going the wrong way
At a STOP sign, stop completely at the stop line. If there is no line, stop before the crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk, stop before you enter the intersection. Then yield to pedestrians and traffic, and go when it is safe.
A YIELD sign means slow down and let vehicles and pedestrians go first. Stop if you need to. If the way is clear, you do not have to stop.
DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY signs are placed at freeway exit ramps and at the end of one-way streets. If they face you, you are driving against traffic. Pull over safely, turn around and leave the way you came.
Speed, turns and lanes
Maximum legal speed No left turn No right turn No U-turn Wait for green to turn One-way traffic Keep right of the island Left lane must turn left Shared center lane for left turns Carpool lane: 2 or more people
A red circle with a slash means the action shown is not allowed. The speed limit is the fastest you may drive in good conditions. In rain, fog, snow or heavy traffic, you must drive slower.
Lane-use signs tell you which lanes may turn, so move into the correct lane early. The shared center lane is only for slowing down and turning left; never use it to pass. HOV lanes are only for vehicles carrying at least the number of people shown, such as 2+.
Passing and parking
No passing here End of no-passing area No-passing zone begins Disability parking only
DO NOT PASS signs mark roads where passing is not allowed, and PASS WITH CARE marks the end of that area. The yellow pennant is on the left side of the road, where you look before you pass. Spaces with the wheelchair symbol are only for vehicles with a valid disability placard or plate.
Warning signs: hazards ahead
Warning signs are usually yellow diamonds with black symbols. They tell you about a change in the road or a possible danger. When you see one, slow down and get ready to react.
Curves and turns
Curve to the right Sharp turn to the right Reverse curve Winding road Advisory speed for the curve
Curve signs show which way the road bends. Slow down before the curve, not in it. A yellow speed plate under the sign gives the recommended speed for the curve in good conditions.
Intersections
Crossroad Side road T intersection Y intersection Roundabout ahead Stop sign ahead Yield sign ahead Traffic signal ahead
Intersection signs show the shape of the road ahead, seen from above, with your road at the bottom. Advance signs warn that a STOP sign, YIELD sign or traffic signal is coming, often because it is hard to see. At a roundabout, yield to traffic already in the circle and drive counterclockwise.
Lanes and traffic flow
Merging traffic Lane ends Added lane Divided highway begins Divided highway ends Two-way traffic
Merge and lane-ends signs mean traffic has to share space. Adjust your speed and leave gaps so vehicles can merge smoothly. An added-lane sign means the joining traffic gets its own lane. Two-way traffic and divided-highway-ends signs warn that oncoming cars will soon be on your road with no median between you.
Road conditions and slow vehicles
Slippery when wet Steep hill Narrow bridge Deer crossing Slow-moving vehicle
On wet roads, slow down and brake gently. Before a steep downgrade, slow down and use a lower gear. Deer are most active at dawn and dusk; if one appears, brake firmly and stay in your lane. The orange and red triangle on the back of farm machinery and other slow vehicles warns that they move much slower than traffic.
School, pedestrian and bicycle signs
These warnings often use fluorescent yellow-green, a bright color that stands out in daylight. Some places still use plain yellow.
School ahead School crosswalk Pedestrian crossing Bicycle crossing
The five-sided school sign warns that you are near a school. With a downward arrow below it, it marks the school crosswalk. Slow down, obey any school speed limit, and stop for children in the crosswalk. Always follow a crossing guard's signals.
At pedestrian and bicycle signs, watch the sides of the road. Yield to people in crosswalks and give cyclists plenty of room when you pass.
Work zone signs
Orange signs mean a work zone or another temporary change. Workers, equipment, lane shifts and lower speed limits may be ahead.
Road work ahead Flagger ahead Detour
Slow down, put away distractions and leave extra space. A flagger may stop you with a STOP/SLOW paddle or a flag; obey the flagger like a traffic signal. Follow DETOUR signs until you are back on your normal route.
Guide and service signs
Guide signs help you find your way. Green signs show directions, exits and distances in miles. Blue signs show services such as hospitals, gas and food. Brown signs point to parks and recreation areas.
Places and distances Interstate route US route Hospital
Route markers show the type of road. The red, white and blue shield marks an Interstate highway. The black and white shield marks a US route. Each state uses its own design for state routes.
Railroad crossings
Trains cannot stop quickly, and they always have the right-of-way. Railroad signs give you time to slow down and look.
Railroad crossing ahead Railroad crossing
The round yellow sign with an X and two letters R is placed before a crossing. The white crossbuck stands at the crossing. Treat the crossbuck like a yield sign: slow down, look and listen both ways, and stop if a train is coming. If lights are flashing or gates are down, stop and wait until the lights stop and the gates are fully up.
Never stop on the tracks. Start across only when there is room for your whole vehicle on the other side.
Sources
- Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), FHWA
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2A: General (sign shapes and colors)
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2B: Regulatory signs
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2C: Warning signs
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 7: School areas
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 8: Railroad and light rail crossings