Updated for 2026 · 57 signs
Road signs and their meanings
Recognize the picture. Understand the instruction. Know what to do next. Start with a category or choose a sign to see its meaning, safe response and look-alikes.
Find a road sign by its shape or color
Remember the shape or color but not the name? Start with a pictured question, then open its sign guide for the meaning and driver response.
Rules & restrictions
Stop, yield, lane directions and movements that are not allowed.
Stop sign
A STOP sign requires a complete stop on the approach it controls.
Meaning & safe responseYield sign
YIELD tells you to give priority to conflicting traffic.
Meaning & safe response
Do Not Enter sign
DO NOT ENTER prohibits entry into the road or ramp from the direction facing the sign.
Meaning & safe responseWrong Way sign
A WRONG WAY sign facing you signals a dangerous conflict with the permitted direction of traffic.
Meaning & safe response
Speed Limit sign
A SPEED LIMIT sign displays the maximum posted speed for the traffic to which it applies.
Meaning & safe response
No Left Turn sign
The crossed-out left arrow prohibits the left-turn movement at the location it controls.
Meaning & safe responseNo Right Turn sign
The red circle and slash prohibit the right turn shown by the arrow.
Meaning & safe responseNo U-Turn sign
A No U-Turn sign prohibits turning around to travel in the opposite direction at that location.
Meaning & safe responseNo Turns sign
NO TURNS prohibits turning movements from the approach it controls.
Meaning & safe response
Keep Right sign
KEEP RIGHT tells you to pass on the right side of the island, divider or obstruction shown by the symbol.
Meaning & safe responseLeft Turn Only sign
A left arrow with ONLY identifies a lane reserved for the left-turn movement at the intersection.
Meaning & safe responseThrough Only sign
The straight arrow and ONLY require traffic in the controlled lane to proceed straight through the intersection.
Meaning & safe responseStraight or Left Turn sign
The two arrowheads show that the controlled lane supports either a through movement or a left turn.
Meaning & safe response
One Way sign
A ONE WAY sign identifies the permitted direction of traffic along the signed roadway.
Meaning & safe response
Center Lane Left Turn Only sign
The opposing turn arrows identify a center lane shared by left-turning traffic from both directions.
Meaning & safe response
No Parking Any Time sign
NO PARKING ANY TIME prohibits parking throughout the period covered by the words 'any time.' Read the location limits and any accompanying signs; parking,…
Meaning & safe responseNo Bicycles sign
The crossed-out bicycle prohibits bicycle traffic on the signed roadway or facility.
Meaning & safe responseRoad warnings
Changes in the road, available space and driving conditions ahead.
Divided Highway Ahead Sign
The road ahead separates opposing traffic with a median or another physical barrier.
Meaning & safe responseDivided Highway Ends Sign
The physical separation between opposing traffic is ending ahead.
Meaning & safe response
Merge Sign (Merging Traffic)
Traffic from another roadway will join the main stream ahead.
Meaning & safe responseLane ends
The number of lanes carrying traffic in your direction will decrease ahead.
Meaning & safe responseAdded lane
Another roadway joins and becomes a separate additional lane.
Meaning & safe responseTwo-way traffic
Traffic travels in both directions on the roadway ahead or along the section being marked.
Meaning & safe response
Pedestrian crossing warning
People may enter, cross, or share the roadway in the area.
Meaning & safe response
Curve left
The road curves to the left ahead.
Meaning & safe responseSharp turn left
A sharp left turn in the road is ahead.
Meaning & safe responseWinding road
Several curves are close together ahead.
Meaning & safe responseChevron alignment
Chevrons show the direction of a turn or curve and add guidance along its outside edge.
Meaning & safe response
Stop ahead
A STOP sign controls traffic farther ahead.
Meaning & safe responseYield ahead
A YIELD sign is ahead.
Meaning & safe responseSignal ahead
A traffic signal is ahead.
Meaning & safe responseSlippery when wet
The road may become unexpectedly slippery, especially when wet.
Meaning & safe responseRoad narrows
The roadway becomes narrower ahead.
Meaning & safe responseNarrow bridge
The bridge ahead provides less side-to-side clearance than you may expect from the approach.
Meaning & safe responseOne lane bridge
The bridge ahead has only one usable traffic lane.
Meaning & safe responseLow clearance
An overhead obstruction ahead has the vertical clearance shown.
Meaning & safe responseBump
A sharp rise or raised irregularity is ahead in the road surface.
Meaning & safe responseDip
A depression in the roadway is ahead.
Meaning & safe responsePavement ends
The paved roadway changes to an unpaved surface such as gravel or earth ahead.
Meaning & safe responseSoft shoulder
The shoulder beside the traveled roadway is soft and may not support a vehicle like the main road surface.
Meaning & safe responseNo Passing Zone sign
The yellow pennant identifies the beginning of a no-passing zone.
Meaning & safe responseNo Outlet sign
NO OUTLET warns that the road or road network ahead has no other exit.
Meaning & safe responseAdvisory speed plaque
A yellow advisory-speed plaque supplements a warning sign with a speed recommendation for the condition ahead.
Meaning & safe responseWork zones
Temporary road work, workers and traffic directed by a flagger.
Flagger ahead
A person is controlling traffic farther ahead, usually where work changes the normal traffic flow.
Meaning & safe responseRoad work ahead
Road construction, maintenance, or related restrictions are ahead.
Meaning & safe responseWorkers ahead
Workers may be in or close to the roadway ahead.
Meaning & safe responseSchools & crossings
Recognize a school area and the location of a school crossing.
Railroad crossings
Tell the advance warning apart from the sign at the tracks.
Guide signs: routes & services
Find destinations, route numbers, exits and roadside services.
Interstate Route sign
The red, white and blue shield identifies a numbered route in the Interstate Highway System.
Meaning & safe response
U.S. Route sign
The black-and-white shield identifies a route in the U.S. numbered highway system.
Meaning & safe response
Hospital service sign
A white H on a blue sign identifies hospital service.
Meaning & safe responseGas service sign
The fuel-pump symbol on a blue sign points drivers toward gasoline service.
Meaning & safe response
Green destination guide sign
Green guide signs help you identify roads, destinations and exits.
Meaning & safe response
Recreation and cultural-interest sign
Brown guide signs identify recreational, scenic, historic or cultural destinations.
Meaning & safe response
Exit Only sign
An EXIT ONLY panel means the lane it controls leaves the highway as an exit ramp instead of continuing through the interchange.
Meaning & safe responsePractice road signs for your state
Common sign designs are shared across the country. Use your state’s practice and handbook for local driving rules, school-zone conditions and test requirements.
This guide covers common U.S. signs. On the road, read the whole sign, any added plaque and nearby traffic controls. Each sign guide includes its illustration credits.