US warning signs and their meanings

MUTCD Section 2C.02: warning signs are diamond-shaped, with a black legend and border on a yellow background, unless the manual says otherwise. Signs about pedestrians, bicyclists and playgrounds may be yellow or fluorescent yellow-green, and school signs are always fluorescent yellow-green.

Two warning signs have shapes of their own: the round railroad crossing advance warning sign and the pennant-shaped NO PASSING ZONE sign (Section 2A.05).

US warning signs

• Curve ahead signThe road curves ahead.
• Cross road signAnother road crosses yours ahead.
• Stop ahead signA STOP sign is coming up.
• Signal ahead signTraffic lights are ahead.
• Merge signTraffic will merge into your lane.
• Lane ends signOne lane ends; move over in good time.
• Divided highway signA median will split the two directions.
• Slippery when wet signThe road can be slippery when wet.
• Deer crossing signDeer may be on or crossing the road.
• Pedestrian crossing signPeople may be crossing ahead.
• School signA school area, zone or crossing is near.
• No passing zone signPassing is not allowed from here.
• Railroad crossing ahead signA railroad crossing is ahead.
• Sharp turn signA sharp turn ahead, slow down.
• Chevron alignment signFollow the bend in the direction shown.
• Side road signA side road joins from the side shown.
• Yield ahead signA YIELD sign is coming up.
• Road narrows signThe road gets narrower ahead.
• Divided highway ends signThe divided highway ends; two-way traffic ahead.
• Bump signA sharp rise in the road ahead.
• Dip signA sharp dip in the road ahead.
• Right lane ends signThe right lane ends; merge left.
• Bicycle crossing signWatch for bicycles entering or crossing.
• Playground signA children’s playground is next to the road.
• Advisory speed plaqueThe speed advised for the hazard.
• School bus stop ahead signA school bus stops ahead, out of view.
• Dead end signThe road ends with no way through.
• Reverse turn signTwo sharp turns in opposite directions ahead.
• Reverse curve signTwo curves in opposite directions ahead.
• Winding road signThree or more curves ahead.
• Large arrow signThe road turns sharply in the arrow’s direction.
• Two-direction large arrow signThe road ends at a T: turn left or right.
• T intersection signYour road ends at a T ahead.
• Y intersection signThe road splits into two ahead.
• Be prepared to stop signTraffic may be stopped ahead.
• Reduced speed limit ahead signA lower speed limit starts ahead.
• Two-way traffic signTraffic comes both ways ahead.
• Narrow bridge signThe bridge ahead is narrower than the road.
• One lane bridge signTraffic both ways shares one lane on the bridge.
• No outlet signNo way out at the far end.
• Pavement ends signThe paved surface ends ahead.
• Soft shoulder signThe shoulder is soft and may not hold a vehicle.
• Low shoulder signThe shoulder is lower than the road.
• Bridge ices before road signThe bridge may be icy before the road is.
• Loose gravel signLoose gravel on the road ahead.
• Fallen rocks signRocks may be on the road ahead.
• Low clearance signLow overhead clearance ahead.
• Double arrow signTraffic may pass on either side.
• Hill blocks view signA hill ahead limits your view of the road.
• Freeway ends signThe freeway ends ahead.
• Truck escape ramp signA ramp for runaway trucks is here.

Test yourself

Every sign page has its own quick question. Then see what to expect on the permit test.

More signs and markings

• Regulatory signs
• Work zone signs
• Railroad crossing signs
• Guide and service signs
• Pavement markings
• All road signs

Sources

(3)

1. MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2A, General (signs): Section 2A.05, FHWA
2. MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2C, Warning Signs and Object Markers: Section 2C.02, FHWA
3. MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA. FHWA lists the current version as the 11th Edition with Revision 1, dated December 2025

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.