Pedestrian Warning sign
Pedestrians may be crossing or walking in the road. With a diagonal arrow plaque below it, it marks the crossing location itself.
What to do
Slow down, watch for pedestrians and yield to them in crosswalks.
Slow down and scan both sides of the road; if the arrow plaque is below it, be ready to stop for anyone in or entering the crosswalk.
May use fluorescent yellow-green background.
Where it's used
Section 2C.55 allows the Pedestrian Warning (W11-2) sign before places where pedestrians may unexpectedly enter or walk in the road; in advance of a crossing it should carry an AHEAD or XX FEET plaque, and when post-mounted at the crossing itself it must have a diagonal downward arrow (W16-7P) plaque. It is a diamond with a black walking-person symbol on yellow or fluorescent yellow-green, and one background colour should be used throughout an area. It generally must not be used on approaches controlled by STOP or YIELD signs, with exceptions for crosswalks well before a roundabout or channelized right turn yield point.
Don't confuse it with
- Diagonal Downward Arrow plaque: The downward arrow plaque is not a sign by itself; under this sign it marks the exact crossing spot.
- School Crossing assembly: The school crossing assembly uses the five-sided School sign with two children, not the diamond with one walker.
- Playground: The Playground sign warns of children playing nearby, not of a pedestrian crossing.
- Type
- Warning signs
- Shape
- Diamond
- Colors
- yellow, black
- MUTCD code
- W11-2
- MUTCD section
- 2C.55
On state permit tests
Our questions for 6 states ask about this sign, including Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma and Oregon.
Test yourself
What does a yellow sign with a pedestrian symbol near a crosswalk mean? (Alabama practice test)
- Hiking trail
- A location where people on foot often cross; slow down and watch both sides
- Pedestrians prohibited
- Bus stop
Show answer
A location where people on foot often cross; slow down and watch both sides. It marks a place where pedestrians often cross, not always at an intersection. Slow down, watch both sides, and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
A sign shows a person walking inside a fluorescent yellow-green diamond. What should you do? (Florida practice test)
- Watch for people crossing and slow down or stop to yield to pedestrians
- Sound your horn to warn pedestrians
- Speed up to clear the area
- Stop only if a crossing guard is present
Show answer
Watch for people crossing and slow down or stop to yield to pedestrians. The pedestrian crossing sign means watch for people crossing the street and slow down or stop to yield.
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.55. Sign image: public domain, source.