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US road signs and their meanings

64 common signs from the federal MUTCD, which every state follows: shape and color tell you the kind of sign before you can read it — red for stop and prohibition, yellow for warnings, orange for work zones, fluorescent yellow-green for schools, pedestrians and bicycles.

Signs practice test 1 (25 signs) · Signs practice test 2 (25 signs) · Signs practice test 3 (14 signs)

Regulatory signs

Rules you must obey: stop, yield, speed limits, turns and parking.

• Stop
  Come to a complete stop, then go when it is safe.
• Yield
  Slow down and let traffic and pedestrians with the right-of-way go first.
• Do not enter
  You may not enter this road from here.
• Wrong way
  You are going against traffic; turn around safely.
• One way
  Traffic moves only in the direction of the arrow.
• No U-turn
  U-turns are not allowed here.
• No left turn
  Left turns are not allowed here.
• Speed limit
  The maximum legal speed in good conditions.
• Keep right
  Keep to the right of the island or obstruction.
• No right turn
  Right turns are not allowed here.
• No turns
  Turning left or right is not allowed here.
• Do not pass
  Passing other vehicles is not allowed here.
• Slower traffic keep right
  Drive in the right lane unless you are passing.
• No trucks
  Trucks may not use this road.
• No bicycles
  Bicycles may not use this road.
• No parking
  Parking is not allowed here.
• Do not block intersection
  Do not enter the intersection unless you can clear it.
• No turn on red
  Do not turn while the signal is red; wait for the green light.
• Stop here on red
  When the light is red, stop at the line this sign points to.
• Railroad crossing (crossbuck)
  Yield to trains: slow down, look and listen, and stop if a train is coming.
• No pedestrian crossing
  People on foot may not cross the road here.

Warning signs

Yellow signs that warn of curves, crossings and road conditions ahead.

• Sharp turn to the right ahead
  Slow down before the turn.
• Curve to the right ahead
  Slow down before the curve.
• Reverse curve ahead (right, then left)
  Slow down for two curves in opposite directions.
• Winding road ahead
  A series of curves is ahead; slow down.
• Stop sign ahead
  Prepare to stop.
• Yield sign ahead
  Prepare to slow down and yield.
• Traffic signal ahead
  Be ready to stop at the signal.
• Deer crossing
  Deer may cross the road here; watch for animals.
• Merging traffic from the right
  Watch for vehicles merging into your lane.
• Right lane ends
  Move over and merge safely.
• Divided highway begins
  The road splits with a median ahead; keep right.
• Two-way traffic ahead
  Traffic will be coming toward you.
• Slippery when wet
  Slow down in wet weather.
• Pedestrian crossing
  Watch for people crossing the road.
• No passing zone
  You may not pass other vehicles here.
• Steep hill ahead
  Check your speed and be ready to shift or brake.
• Low clearance
  Tall vehicles may not fit under the structure ahead.
• Railroad crossing ahead
  Slow down, look and listen for trains.
• Crossroad ahead
  Another road crosses yours ahead.
• Side road ahead on the right
  Watch for vehicles entering from the right.
• Reverse turn ahead (right, then left)
  Slow down for two sharp turns in opposite directions.
• Chevron alignment
  A sharp curve: follow the direction of the chevrons and slow down.
• T intersection ahead
  The road ends ahead; be ready to turn left or right.
• Y intersection ahead
  The road splits in two directions ahead.
• Be prepared to stop
  Traffic ahead may be stopped; be ready to stop.
• Road narrows
  The road gets narrower ahead.
• Narrow bridge
  The bridge ahead is narrower than the road.
• Divided highway ends
  The median ends ahead; traffic in both directions will share the road.
• Bump
  There is a bump in the road ahead; slow down.
• Dip
  There is a dip in the road ahead; slow down.
• Pavement ends
  The paved road surface ends ahead.
• Bicycle crossing
  Watch for bicycles crossing or sharing the road.
• Cattle crossing
  Livestock may be on the road ahead.
• Fire station
  Fire trucks may enter the road ahead.
• Truck crossing
  Trucks may enter or cross the road ahead.
• Speed hump
  A raised speed hump is ahead; slow down.
• Double arrow
  Traffic may pass on either side of the obstruction ahead.
• Reduced speed limit ahead
  The speed limit drops ahead; start slowing down.

Work zone signs

Orange signs for road work, flaggers and workers.

• Road work ahead
  A work zone is ahead: slow down and watch for workers and equipment.

School signs

School zones, school crossings and school bus stops.

• School zone or school crossing
  Slow down and watch for children.
• School bus stop ahead
  A school bus may stop ahead to load or unload children; be ready to stop.

Guide and route signs

Services and route markers.

• Hospital
  A hospital is nearby.
• U.S. route marker
  Shows that you are on a U.S. numbered highway.

Sign images: MUTCD, U.S. Federal Highway Administration (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.