Road signs and their meanings

177 US road signs explained: what each means, its shape and color, and what to do. Road signs are the same in every state, set by the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, so these apply wherever you take your test.

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Shapes and colors

A sign's shape and color tell you its type even before you can read it. An octagon always means stop; a downward triangle means yield; a diamond warns of a hazard; a pentagon marks a school zone or crossing; a round sign warns of a railroad crossing ahead. Red means stop, yield or a prohibition; yellow is a general warning; orange is road work; green gives directions; blue marks services; brown marks recreation and cultural sites; fluorescent yellow-green marks school, pedestrian and bicycle crossings.

Regulatory signs

Tell you what you must or must not do: stop, yield, speed limits, turns and lane rules. Breaking them is a traffic offense.

Warning signs

Warn you of hazards or changes ahead: curves, intersections, merging traffic, pedestrians and animals. Usually yellow diamonds.

School signs

Mark school zones and crossings, where children may be near the road. Fluorescent yellow-green.

Work zone signs

Warn of road work ahead. Usually orange; fines are often higher in work zones.

Railroad crossing signs

Mark railroad crossings, where trains always have the right of way.

Guide signs

Show routes, directions, distances and destinations.

Route markers

Identify Interstate, US and state highways.

Service and recreation signs

Point to services such as hospitals, gas, food and rest areas.

Sign designs: Federal Highway Administration, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th edition (2023), public domain. Sign images from Wikimedia Commons, public domain.