Road sign questions are some of the easiest points on the permit test, once you know the system. Signs in the United States follow a national standard, so shapes and colors mean the same thing in every state. Your state manual shows the signs; this guide explains the logic behind them.
Why shape matters
In fog, heavy rain or at night, you may be able to make out a sign's shape before you can read it. Several shapes are reserved for a single meaning.
Related: What to Expect on Your State’s Driver’s Permit Knowledge Test
Shapes
- Octagon (8 sides): STOP, and only STOP. Come to a complete stop.
- Triangle, pointing down: YIELD. Slow down and give the right-of-way to cross or merging traffic.
- Pennant (sideways triangle): NO PASSING ZONE. It is the only pennant-shaped sign and sits on the left side of the road.
- Pentagon (5 sides): school zone or school crossing. It is the only five-sided sign.
- Round: railroad crossing ahead. Start looking and listening for a train.
- Crossbuck (X shape): the railroad crossing itself. Treat it like a yield sign.
- Diamond: warning of a possible hazard ahead, such as a curve, a merge or a crossroad.
- Vertical rectangle: usually a regulatory sign, such as a speed limit.
- Horizontal rectangle: usually a guide sign giving directions or information.
Colors
- Red: stop, yield, or a prohibition, like DO NOT ENTER or WRONG WAY.
- White with black: regulatory signs, such as speed limits.
- Yellow: general warning.
- Fluorescent yellow-green: warnings about pedestrians, bicycles and school zones, in states that use it.
- Orange: work zones and temporary traffic control.
- Green: guide signs, such as highway exits and directions.
- Blue: motorist services, such as gas, food and lodging.
- Brown: recreational and cultural sites, like parks and historic sites.
A bonus: Interstate numbers
Interstate route numbers follow a pattern. Even numbers generally run east-west (increasing from south to north); odd numbers generally run north-south (increasing from west to east). A three-digit interstate starting with an even number usually loops around a city, connecting to interstates at both ends; one starting with an odd number is usually a spur into a city.
How the test asks about signs
Expect a picture of a sign with no words, or a question like "What shape is a no passing zone sign?" If you're stuck, work from shape first, then color. A yellow diamond is always a warning; an orange diamond is a work zone warning.