Road signs fall into three groups: regulatory signs (rules you must obey), warning signs (hazards ahead) and guide signs (directions). The shape and colour tell you which one before you can read it.
Sign shapes and colours
- Stop signs onlyOctagon (8 sides) · Red
- Yield signsTriangle (3 sides, pointing down) · Red and white
- No-passing warningPennant (sideways triangle) · Yellow
- Roadway hazard and general warningsDiamond (4 sides) · Yellow
- Construction and maintenance warningsDiamond (4 sides) · Orange
- School zones and crossingsPentagon (5 sides) · Yellow
- Railroad crossing advance warningRound · Yellow
- Railroad crossingX-shaped crossbuck · White
- Regulations such as speed limitsVertical rectangle or square · White and black
- Direction and guidanceRectangle · Green
- Motorist services and informationRectangle or square · Blue
- Public recreation and scenic guidanceRectangle · Brown
Shapes and colours as a table
| Shape | Colour | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Octagon (8 sides) | Red | Stop signs only |
| Triangle (3 sides, pointing down) | Red and white | Yield signs |
| Pennant (sideways triangle) | Yellow | No-passing warning |
| Diamond (4 sides) | Yellow | Roadway hazard and general warnings |
| Diamond (4 sides) | Orange | Construction and maintenance warnings |
| Pentagon (5 sides) | Yellow | School zones and crossings |
| Round | Yellow | Railroad crossing advance warning |
| X-shaped crossbuck | White | Railroad crossing |
| Vertical rectangle or square | White and black | Regulations such as speed limits |
| Rectangle | Green | Direction and guidance |
| Rectangle or square | Blue | Motorist services and information |
| Rectangle | Brown | Public recreation and scenic guidance |
Regulatory signs
They tell you what you must or must not do. Breaking them is breaking the law.
- Stop SignA stop sign means come to a complete stop at the stop line (or the crosswalk, or the edge of the intersection if there is no line), then go only when the way is clear.
- All-Way Stop SignAn all-way stop (a stop sign with an ALL WAY plaque, often called a four-way stop) means traffic from every direction must stop.
- Yield SignA yield sign means slow down and give the right of way to pedestrians and to traffic on the road you are entering.
- Do Not Enter SignA do not enter sign means you must not drive onto that road or ramp in the direction you are heading.
- Wrong Way SignA wrong way sign facing you means you are driving against the flow of traffic on a one-way street, ramp or divided road.
- One Way SignA one way sign means traffic may move only in the direction the arrow points.
- Do Not Pass SignA do not pass sign means you may not pass other vehicles travelling in your direction on that stretch of road.
- No Turn on Red SignA no turn on red sign means you may not turn during the red light, in any direction the sign covers.
- No U-Turn SignA no U-turn sign means you may not make a complete turn to go back the way you came.
- No Left Turn SignA no left turn sign means left turns are prohibited at this intersection.
- No Right Turn SignA no right turn sign means right turns are prohibited at this intersection.
- Speed Limit SignA speed limit sign shows the maximum legal speed for that stretch of road under ideal conditions.
Warning signs
They tell you about a hazard or a change in the road ahead, early enough to slow down.
- Stop Ahead SignA stop ahead sign means a stop sign is coming up that you may not be able to see yet, because of a curve, a hill or something blocking the view.
- Yield Ahead SignA yield ahead sign means a yield sign is coming up.
- Signal Ahead SignA signal ahead sign means a traffic signal is coming up that you may not see in time because of a curve or hill.
- Curve Right SignA curve right sign means the road bends to the right ahead.
- Curve Left SignA curve left sign means the road bends to the left ahead.
- Sharp Right Turn SignA sharp right turn sign means the road turns sharply to the right ahead.
- Winding Road SignA winding road sign means there are three or more curves in a row ahead.
- Crossroad SignA crossroad sign means another road crosses yours ahead, so traffic may enter from both sides.
- Side Road SignA side road sign means a smaller road joins yours ahead, on the side shown on the sign.
- T Intersection SignA T intersection sign means your road ends ahead at a T: it does not continue straight through, and you will have to turn left or right.
- Y Intersection SignA Y intersection sign means the road ahead forks into two roads, or another road joins at an angle.
- Merge SignA merge sign means traffic from another road or ramp may merge into your lane ahead.
- Two-Way Traffic SignA two-way traffic sign means a one-way street or roadway ends ahead and you will then share the road with oncoming traffic.
- Dead End SignA dead end sign means the road ahead has no through route.
- No Passing Zone SignA no passing zone sign marks the start of a stretch where passing is prohibited, because you cannot see far enough ahead to pass safely.
Railroad signs
They mark where a road crosses train tracks.
Construction and slow-vehicle signs
Orange signs for work zones, and the emblem slow farm and work vehicles must display.
Practice
Quiz me on these signs
Every sign page shows real permit-test questions that use it. Take a full free practice test for your state to see them in context.
Common questions
Regulatory signs, warning signs and guide signs. Regulatory signs say what you must or must not do, warning signs tell you about hazards or changes in the road ahead, and guide signs give directions and information.
An octagon: eight sides, red with white letters. It is the only eight-sided sign on the road, so drivers can recognise it even from behind.
A triangle pointing down, red and white. It is the only three-sided regulatory sign.
A warning. Yellow signs, usually diamond-shaped with black symbols or words, tell you about a hazard or a change in the road ahead so you have time to slow down.
Construction and maintenance. Orange diamonds warn you about work zones and road work ahead.
Whatever is drawn inside the circle is prohibited. The same symbol is used for no left turn, no right turn and no U-turn signs.
The yellow railroad crossing advance warning sign, with a black X and the letters RR. It is the only round warning sign.
Practice your state’s permit test free
Checked 2026-10-08 against the Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual, the New Jersey Driver Manual (rev. 09/25) and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (FHWA). Shapes and colours follow the New Jersey manual’s table. Signs not drawn here, such as green guide signs, are covered in your state’s manual.