US road signs and their meanings

121 US road signs and markings: what each means, where you see it, common mistakes.

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Regulatory signs

Signs that tell you the law: what you must do or must not do. Most are rectangles in black and white; STOP, YIELD and the crossbuck have shapes of their own. All regulatory signs

Warning signs

Signs that warn of a hazard ahead. Most are yellow diamonds; school and pedestrian signs are often fluorescent yellow-green. All warning signs

Work zone signs

Orange signs for road work, detours and lane closures. Slow down and watch for workers. All work zone signs

Railroad crossing signs

Signs at and before railroad crossings. When the red lights flash, stop and wait. All railroad crossing signs

Guide and service signs

Signs that help you find your way and find services: green for directions and distances, blue for services such as hospitals. All guide and service signs

Pavement markings

Lines painted on the road. Yellow separates opposite directions; white separates lanes going the same way. All pavement markings

Try ten signs

Ten signs from the lists above. Pick the meaning to see if you are right, with the rule behind it. For more, take the road signs quiz.

Ten road signs

Question 1 of 10

  1. What does this sign mean?

    A red octagon with a white border and the word STOP in white
    • Every approach to the intersection has a STOP sign
    • A STOP sign is coming up
    • Slow down and let other traffic go first
    • Come to a full stop, then go when it is safe Right

    The right answer is D: Come to a full stop, then go when it is safe

    WhyStop sign. The stop sign means you must come to a complete stop and wait until it is safe to go. The octagon shape is used only for STOP signs.

    Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2B, Regulatory Signs, Barricades, and Gates: Section 2B.04, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2A, General (signs): Section 2A.05, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 3, Markings: Section 3B.19, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

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  2. What does this sign mean?

    A downward-pointing triangle with a wide red border, a white center and the word YIELD in red
    • Come to a full stop, then go when it is safe
    • Slow down and let other traffic go first Right
    • Traffic will merge into your lane
    • Every approach to the intersection has a STOP sign

    The right answer is B: Slow down and let other traffic go first

    WhyYield sign. The yield sign means you must let other traffic go first. Slow down, and stop when you need to, so you do not interfere with traffic that has the right-of-way.

    Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2B, Regulatory Signs, Barricades, and Gates: Sections 2B.05, 2B.10, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2A, General (signs): Section 2A.05, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 3, Markings: Section 3B.19, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

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  3. What does this sign mean?

    A red circle on a white square, with a white bar across the middle and the words DO NOT ENTER in white
    • Pass to the right of the island or obstacle
    • All traffic moves in the arrow’s direction
    • Traffic comes toward you here; do not go in Right
    • You are going against traffic: turn around safely

    The right answer is C: Traffic comes toward you here; do not go in

    WhyDo not enter sign. The DO NOT ENTER sign means you must not drive into the road or ramp beyond it, because traffic there comes toward you, such as at the wrong end of a one-way road.

    Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2B, Regulatory Signs, Barricades, and Gates: Section 2B.46, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

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  4. What does this sign mean?

    A white vertical rectangle with the words SPEED LIMIT and the number 25 in black
    • The road can be slippery when wet
    • The road curves ahead
    • The maximum speed allowed on this road Right
    • A school area, zone or crossing is near

    The right answer is C: The maximum speed allowed on this road

    WhySpeed limit sign. The SPEED LIMIT sign shows the maximum speed allowed on that road, in miles per hour. It is a maximum, not a target.

    Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2B, Regulatory Signs, Barricades, and Gates: Section 2B.21, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 1, General: Section 1D.05, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 7, Traffic Control for School Areas: Section 7B.05, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

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  5. What does this sign mean?

    A white vertical rectangle with a black island shape and a black arrow curving up around its right side
    • Traffic comes toward you here; do not go in
    • A median will split the two directions
    • Pass to the right of the island or obstacle Right
    • All traffic moves in the arrow’s direction

    The right answer is C: Pass to the right of the island or obstacle

    WhyKeep right sign. The Keep Right sign means you must pass to the right of the island, median or obstruction it stands on.

    Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2B, Regulatory Signs, Barricades, and Gates: Section 2B.39, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

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  6. What does this sign mean?

    A yellow diamond with a black arrow curving to the right
    • Another road crosses yours ahead
    • The road can be slippery when wet
    • Passing is not allowed from here
    • The road curves ahead Right

    The right answer is D: The road curves ahead

    WhyCurve ahead sign. The curve sign warns that the road curves ahead in the direction of the arrow. Slow down before the curve.

    Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2C, Warning Signs and Object Markers: Sections 2C.02, 2C.07, 2C.59, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

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  7. What does this sign mean?

    A yellow diamond with a traffic light showing red, yellow and green
    • Traffic lights are ahead Right
    • A STOP sign is coming up
    • Another road crosses yours ahead
    • Wait for the green before turning

    The right answer is A: Traffic lights are ahead

    WhySignal ahead sign. The Signal Ahead sign warns of a traffic signal ahead that may be hard to see in time. Be ready to stop.

    Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2C, Warning Signs and Object Markers: Section 2C.35, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

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  8. What does this sign mean?

    A yellow diamond showing two lanes where the right-hand lane narrows and ends
    • Pass to the right of the island or obstacle
    • Traffic will merge into your lane
    • One lane ends; move over in good time Right
    • White lines separate lanes going the same way

    The right answer is C: One lane ends; move over in good time

    WhyLane ends sign. The Lane Ends sign warns that the number of lanes in your direction is about to drop. If your lane is the one ending, find a safe gap and move over.

    Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2C, Warning Signs and Object Markers: Sections 2C.47, 2C.45, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

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  9. What does this sign mean?

    A fluorescent yellow-green five-sided sign shaped like a house, with two black children walking
    • The maximum speed allowed on this road
    • People may be crossing ahead
    • A school area, zone or crossing is near Right
    • Where to stop, and where people cross

    The right answer is C: A school area, zone or crossing is near

    WhySchool sign. The five-sided School sign warns that you are near a school area, a school zone or a crossing used by schoolchildren. Slow down and watch for children.

    Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 7, Traffic Control for School Areas: Section 7B.02, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2C, Warning Signs and Object Markers: Section 2C.02, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2A, General (signs): Section 2A.05, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

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  10. What do these markings mean?

    On a two-lane road, double solid yellow lines, then a solid line beside a broken line, then a single broken yellow line
    • A center lane for left turns from both directions
    • Yellow lines separate opposite directions Right
    • White lines separate lanes going the same way
    • Passing is not allowed here

    The right answer is B: Yellow lines separate opposite directions

    WhyYellow center lines. Yellow center lines separate traffic going in opposite directions. A broken line on your side means you may pass with care; a solid line on your side means you may not.

    Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 3, Markings: Sections 3A.03, 3B.01, 3B.03, FHWA, MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

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How to learn them

US road signs follow the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the national standard published by the Federal Highway Administration. States adopt it directly, with a state supplement, or as a state version that must be in substantial conformance with it. Each page below explains one sign or marking with the MUTCD section it comes from. The traffic laws behind the signs are state laws, so your state’s driver handbook has the final word. New to signs? Start with the guide to sign shapes and colors.

Sources

(4)
  1. MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA. FHWA lists the current version as the 11th Edition with Revision 1, dated December 2025
  2. State MUTCD information, FHWA
  3. MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 1, General: Section 1D.05, FHWA
  4. MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2A, General (signs): Section 2A.05, FHWA

Sign pictures are our own simplified drawings of the MUTCD designs, which are in the public domain (MUTCD Section 1D.06). Sources and image credits.

This text was written with AI help, checked against the MUTCD and approved by Fri Vei AS. The questions on this page are written by the editorial team at Fri Vei AS, with AI help. Last updated .