Road signs/Signal Ahead Sign
Signal Ahead Sign: what it means and what to do
A signal ahead sign means a traffic signal is coming up that you may not see in time because of a curve or hill. Slow down and be prepared to stop.
What it looks like
A yellow diamond with a black traffic-light symbol, often with red, yellow and green circles.
What to do
- Slow down when you see it and look for the signal.
- Expect a line of vehicles stopped at a red light, or just starting after one that has turned green.
- Be ready to stop if the signal is red or turns yellow as you arrive.
On the permit test
Tests show the traffic-signal diamond and ask what lies ahead and how you should respond.
Where it shows up on state tests
8 questions across our state banks show this sign. Here is how many each bank has, and what each state's own test rules say about road signs.
| State | Questions showing it | What the state says about signs |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 1 | Two separate tests: road signs (20 questions) and road rules (20 questions). |
| North Carolina | 1 | Separate road-signs test: identify at least 9 of 12 signs. |
| New Jersey | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
| New York | 1 | 4 of the 20 questions are about road signs, and at least 2 of those 4 must be correct — even with 14 right overall. |
| Ohio | 1 | 40 multiple-choice questions on motor vehicle regulations and traffic signs. |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
| Virginia | 1 | Part one is 10 traffic-sign questions and you must answer all 10 correctly before part two opens. |
| Washington | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
How it differs from similar signs
| Sign | How to recognise it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Signal Ahead Sign | Yellow diamond warning sign with a traffic signal symbol | A signal ahead sign means a traffic signal is coming up that you may not see in time because of a curve or hill. |
| Stop Ahead Sign | Yellow diamond warning sign with a red stop sign symbol and an arrow | A 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 Sign | Yellow diamond warning sign with a red yield triangle symbol and an arrow | A yield ahead sign means a yield sign is coming up. |
| No Turn on Red Sign | White rectangular sign reading NO TURN ON RED | A no turn on red sign means you may not turn during the red light, in any direction the sign covers. |
See them side by side
Common questions
There is a traffic signal ahead. It is posted when the signal may be hard to see in time, so you can slow down and prepare to stop.
All road signs Practice your state’s permit test free
Sources, checked 2026-10-08: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 2: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings; Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (FHWA). Written in our own words; follow your state’s manual for the exact wording.