Road signs/Stop Ahead Sign
Stop Ahead Sign: what it means and what to do
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. Slow down and be ready to stop.
What it looks like
A yellow diamond with a red stop-sign symbol. The symbol is a small drawing of the sign you are about to meet.
What to do
- Ease off the accelerator as soon as you see it.
- Look ahead for the stop sign and for a line of vehicles that may already be stopped there.
- Be ready to stop completely at the stop line when you reach it.
On the permit test
Tests show the diamond and ask what is ahead and what to do; the answer is a stop sign and slowing down.
Where it shows up on state tests
3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 1 | A separate road sign test is part of the driver exam and comes before the driving test. |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Stop Sign | Red octagonal STOP sign | A 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
See them side by side
Common questions
A stop sign is up ahead. It warns you early because the stop sign itself may be hidden by a curve or a hill.
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.