Divided Highway sign
The road ahead becomes a divided highway, with opposing traffic separated by a median or barrier.
What to do
Keep to the right of the median.
Keep to the right of the median, and remember that turning left later may mean using a median opening.
Where it's used
Section 2C.20 says a Divided Highway (W6-1) sign should be used on approaches to a section of highway, not an intersection, where opposing traffic is separated by a median or barrier. It is a black-on-yellow diamond showing the road splitting around a median. It must not be used instead of a Keep Right (R4-7) sign at the nose of a median island.
Don't confuse it with
- Divided Highway Ends: Divided Highway Ends shows the two roadways coming back together, warning that two-way traffic is about to share one road.
- Keep Right: The white Keep Right sign is the regulatory sign at the start of a median; the yellow diamond is only an advance warning.
- Divided Highway Crossing: The Divided Highway Crossing sign is a regulatory sign at an intersection with a divided road, not a warning on the road itself.
- Type
- Warning signs
- Shape
- Diamond
- Colors
- yellow, black
- MUTCD code
- W6-1
- MUTCD section
- 2C.20
On state permit tests
Our questions for 11 states ask about this sign, including California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland and Montana.
Test yourself
A sign shows a large divided road splitting around a median ahead. What does it warn? (California practice test)
- A divided highway ends ahead
- Two-way traffic ahead
- Road narrows
- A divided highway begins ahead
Show answer
A divided highway begins ahead. The Divided Highway sign warns that the road ahead becomes divided by a median or barrier.
What does a DIVIDED HIGHWAY BEGINS sign tell you to do? (Connecticut practice test)
- Keep right
- Keep left
- Stop
- Prepare to merge
Show answer
Keep right. The highway ahead splits into two one-way roadways separated by a median; keep right.
More warning signs
Turn
Curve
Reverse Turn
Reverse Curve
Winding Road
One-Direction Large Arrow
Two-Direction Large Arrow
Chevron AlignmentFrom the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th edition, section 2C.20. Sign image: public domain, source.