Signs, signals, and pavement markings
Signs, signals, and pavement markings
Learn the shape and color before the wording. On the exam—and when visibility is poor—those are your fastest clues.
Sign families
Red: stop, yield, prohibition, or wrong way. An octagonal red sign means STOP; an inverted red-and-white triangle means YIELD.
Yellow: warning: curve, merge, crossing, changing conditions. Slow and prepare.
Blue: services or motorist information.
Green: direction, route, distance, or permitted movement.
White/black: regulatory rules, including speed limits and lane-use controls.
Signal essentials
- Steady red: stop. Turn right only after a complete stop if permitted, the way is clear, and no sign prohibits it.
- Flashing red: treat as a stop sign.
- Flashing yellow: slow down and proceed with caution.
- Yellow arrow/light: the protected movement is ending; stop if you can do so safely. It does not mean “speed up.”
Lines tell a story
A broken white line separates same-direction lanes and may be crossed when safe. A solid yellow line marks the left edge of traffic traveling in your direction; do not use the opposing side as a passing lane. Double solid yellow generally means no passing in either direction.
An upside-down red-and-white triangle means:
A flashing red traffic signal should be treated as: