Traffic Signs Flashcards
Octagon (Stop): This eight-sided shape always means stop. You must come to a complete stop at the sign, stop line, pedestrian crosswalk or curb. Wait for any
vehicle or pedestrian to clear the way. At some intersections you’ll find a sign beneath the stop sign that reads “All Way” or “4 Way.” At these intersections all vehicles on all roads leading into the intersection must stop. If you get to the intersection at the same time as other vehicles, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
Triangle (Yield): You must
slow down as you come to the
intersection. Be prepared to stop.
Let any vehicles, pedestrians or
bicyclists safely pass before you
proceed.
Rectangle (Regulatory or Guide):
Vertical signs generally give
instructions or tell you the law.
Horizontal signs may give directions
or information.
Diamond (Warning): These signs warn
you of special conditions or hazards ahead. Slow down and drive with caution. Be ready to stop.
Pentagon (School Zone/School Crossing):
This five-sided shape marks
school zones and warns you
about school crossings. Two
signs may be used together to
show the actual location of the
crosswalk.
Regulatory signs inform you of the law;
you must obey their instructions. Remember that a red circle with a slash means NO — the symbol inside the circle tells you what is prohibited.
Speed Limit: These signs tell you the maximum legal speed that you may drive on the road where the sign is posted when
weather conditions are good. Some roads
have electronic speed limit signs that change based on weather or traffic conditions. During rain, snow and ice, you may receive a ticket for driving too fast for the conditions even if you are driving at or less than the posted speed limit.
Do Not Enter – Wrong Way: These signs mean you cannot drive in that direction. If you drive past these signs you are going in the wrong direction and could get into a head-on crash with vehicles headed your way. Cautiously turn around.
One Way: Traffic flows only
in the direction of the arrow.
No Left Turn: Left turns are against the law. In Virginia, U-turns are considered as two left turns and are illegal if this sign is posted.
No Right Turn: Right turns are illegal. Do not make a right turn when you see this sign.
No U-Turn: U-turns are illegal. Do not make a U-turn when you see this sign.
No Turn on Red: You may not turn on the
red light. Wait for the signal to turn green.
Do Not Pass: This sign marks the beginning of a no passing zone. You may not pass cars ahead of you in your lane, even if the way is clear.
Left Turn Yield on Green: This sign is used
with a traffic signal. It tells you that the traffic turning left at a green light does not have the right-of-way and must yield to traffic coming from the other direction. Stop and look for oncoming traffic, then proceed with caution.
Keep Right: A traffic island, median or barrier is ahead. Keep to the side indicated by the arrow.
Lane Use Control: These
signs are used where turns are
required or where special turning
movements are permitted for
specific lanes. Traffic in the lane
must turn in the direction of
the arrow.
High Occupancy Vehicle: These signs
indicate lanes reserved for buses and
vehicles with a driver and one or more
passengers as specified on the sign.
Disabled Parking: Parking spaces marked
with these signs are reserved for people with disabled parking permits.
Advisory Speed: This sign indicates the
maximum safe speed for a highway exit.
Reduced Speed Limit Ahead: Prepare
to reduce your speed; the speed limit is
changing ahead.
Stop Ahead/Yield Ahead: A stop
sign or yield sign is ahead. Slow
down and be ready to stop.
Signal Ahead: Traffic signals are
ahead. Slow down and be ready to stop.
No Passing Zone: This sign marks the
beginning of a no passing zone. You may not pass cars ahead of you in your lane, even if the way is clear.
Merge: Two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction are about to become one. Drivers in both lanes are responsible for merging safely.
Lane Reduction: The right lane ends soon.
Drivers in the right lane must merge left when space opens up. Drivers in the left lane should allow other vehicles to merge smoothly.
Divided Highway Begins: The highway ahead is split into two separate roadways by a median or divider and each roadway is one-way. Keep right.
Divided Highway Ends: The highway ahead
no longer has a median or divider. Traffic goes in both directions. Keep right.
Slippery When Wet: When pavement is
wet, reduce your speed. Do not brake hard
or change direction suddenly. Increase the
distance between your car and the one ahead of you.
Low Clearance Sign: The overpass ahead has a low clearance. Do not proceed if your vehicle is taller than the height shown on the sign.
Hill: A steep grade is ahead. Check your
brakes.
Deer Crossing: Deer cross the roadway in
this area. Slow down, be alert and be ready to stop.
Horse-Drawn Buggies: Regularly travel in this area. Slow down and don’t use the horn. State law requires motorists to pass with at least three feet of clearance when the way is clear.
Tractors and Farm Equipment: Regularly
travel in this area. Be ready to slow down or stop. Only pass when the way is clear.
Pedestrian Crossing: Watch for
people entering a crosswalk or
crossing your path. Slow down
and be prepared to stop. A
second sign with an arrow may
show the actual location of the
crosswalk.
Bicycle Crossing/Bike Path:
Bicycles regularly cross or ride
beside traffic in this area. Drive
with caution. A second sign with
an arrow may show the actual
location of the bike crossing.
School Zone/School Crossing:
Watch out for children crossing
the street or playing. Be ready
to slow down or stop. Obey
speed limits and signals from any
crossing guards. A second sign with
an arrow may show the actual
location of the sidewalk.
Open Joints: Slow down. Open joints on
bridges or ramps could cause a motorcyclist to lose control of the motorcycle.
Expansion Joints: This sign is used when a
joint across lanes creates a bump or is wide enough to cause loss of traction in
wet weather.
Intersections: An intersection
is ahead. Be alert for vehicles
entering the road on which you
are traveling.
Y Intersection: You must bear
either right or left ahead.
T Intersection: The roadway you are traveling on ends ahead at a stop sign. You must turn right or left after yielding to oncoming traffic
and pedestrians.
Roundabout: These signs indicate a circular intersection with an island in the center is ahead. Also called traffic circles, these intersections may have one or more lanes. Entering traffic must yield the right-of-way to traffic already in the circle and travel in a counter clockwise direction.
Right Curve – Side Road: The road ahead
curves right and a side road joins from the
left within the curve. Be alert for vehicles
entering the roadway you are traveling on.
Sharp Right Turn: Slow down and be
prepared for a sharp right turn in the
road ahead.
Sharp Right and Left Turns: Slow down
and be prepared for the road ahead to
turn sharply right, then left.
Right and Left Curves: The road ahead
curves right, then left. Slow down.
Right Curve with Safe Speed Indicator:
The road ahead curves right. Slow down
to the safe speed indicated.
Winding Road: The road ahead winds with
a series of turns or curves. On all curves, slow down for better control.
Low Ground Railroad Crossing: A steep
slope where the railroad tracks cross the road may cause the bottom of low vehicles to get caught or drag on the tracks.
Railroad Crossing: Advance warning signs
are placed before a railroad crossing. These signs warn you to look, listen, slow down and be prepared to stop for trains or any vehicles using the rails.
Railroad Crossbuck: This sign is a warning of a railroad crossing. Look, listen, slow down and be prepared to stop for trains or any vehicles using the rails. Trains may be approaching from either direction. If there is more than one track, trains may be approaching from either direction on either track.
Crossbuck, Flashing Lights and Gate: Gates
are used with flashing light signals at some
crossings. Stop when the lights begin to flash and before the gate lowers. Remain stopped until the gates are raised and the lights stop flashing. Do not attempt to drive around the lowered gate.
Rough Road, Bump, or Uneven Lanes: These signs are used when certain road conditions, such as loose gravel or road construction, affect the roadway
surface and create potentially difficult
conditions for motorists, especially
motorcyclists.
Road Construction Ahead – Detour: These
signs indicate a change in the traffic pattern or route ahead. Slow down. Unusual or potentially dangerous conditions are ahead.
Flashing Arrow Boards: Large flashing arrow boards or flashing message signs in work zones direct drivers to proceed into different traffic lanes and inform them that part of the road ahead is closed.
Flaggers: Flaggers are highway workers
who normally wear orange or yellow
vests, or yellow-green shirts or jackets.
They use STOP/SLOW paddles or red
flags to stop or direct traffic through the
work zone, and to let other workers or
construction vehicles cross the road.
Photo Speed Enforcement: This sign
indicates that automated photo enforcement is in place for speeding in a work zone. Always obey the posted speed limit in a work zone.
Traffic Control Devices:
Barricades, vertical signs, concrete
barriers, drums and cones are the most
common devices used to guide drivers
safely through work zones. When driving
near the devices, keep your vehicle in the
middle of the lane and obey the posted
speed limit. As you leave the work zone,
stay in your lane and maintain your speed.
Don’t change lanes until you are completely clear of the work zone.
Rumble Strips Ahead signs warn motorists of black or orange strips placed across the travel lanes in advance of work zones, including a flagger or lane closure. Rumble strips should be slowly driven over, not swerved around.
Slow Moving Vehicles traveling at 25 MPH or less, such as farm equipment, horse drawn vehicles or highway work vehicles, must display these signs when using a public highway. Be prepared to adjust your speed or position when you see
a vehicle with one of these signs.
