Road Signs Test: Free Practice Quiz & Sign Meanings

Road sign shapes and what they mean

The shape tells you the type of sign before you're close enough to read it. These are the shapes used in the United States.

OctagonSTOP

Used only for STOP. Come to a complete stop at the line, then go when it's clear.

Downward triangleYIELD

Slow down and give way to traffic and pedestrians. Stop if you need to.

DiamondWarning

A hazard or change ahead: curves, merges, signals, slippery road or animals.

Vertical rectangleRegulatory

A rule you must obey, such as a speed limit, lane use or no turns.

PentagonSchool

A school zone or school crossing. Slow down and watch for children.

CircleRailroad ahead

Advance warning of a railroad crossing. Slow down, look and listen.

PennantNo passing zone

Posted on the left side of the road where a no passing zone begins.

Crossbuck (X)Railroad crossing

Marks the crossing itself. Treat it like a yield sign and be ready to stop.

Horizontal rectangleGuide

Directions, street names, distances and route information.

Road sign colors

US road sign colors and their meanings
Color	Meaning
Red	Stop, yield and prohibited actions, such as Do Not Enter and Wrong Way.
Yellow	General warnings about the road ahead.
White	Regulatory signs: rules such as speed limits and turn restrictions.
Orange	Construction and work zones.
Green	Guide signs: directions, distances and destinations.
Blue	Motorist services, such as gas, food, lodging and hospitals.
Brown	Recreation and cultural sites, such as parks and historic areas.
Fluorescent yellow-green	Pedestrian, bicycle and school warnings.

How to study for the road signs test

Start with shape and color. They tell you whether a sign is a rule, a warning or a guide before you can read the words.
Study by category. Regulatory, warning, guide, work zone and school signs each follow their own pattern.
Use your state's driver handbook. It shows the exact signs your permit test draws from.
See signs in context. On the road, signs come at speed, with traffic around you. Learner Lane's 3D drives put several signs on each drive and ask what you'd do.
Quiz yourself a little every day. Short daily sessions beat one long cram the night before. Learner Lane gives you 15 free questions a day.

Road signs outside the US

Signs look different in the UK, Canada, Australia and Europe. For example, warning signs in the UK and most of Europe are red-bordered triangles, and many rule signs are circles. Learner Lane draws the real sign designs for each of its 24 countries, so you learn the signs you'll actually see on your test.

Road signs test FAQ

Is there a separate road signs test?

It depends on your state. Road sign questions are part of the written permit test everywhere in the US, and some states, such as North Carolina, also give a separate sign recognition test where you identify signs by shape and color. Check your state's driver handbook.

What is the fastest way to learn road signs?

Learn the shapes and colors first, because they tell you the sign's category before you can read it. Then study each category from your driver handbook, and practice reading signs in context, at speed, with other traffic around you.

Which road sign shape is used only for STOP?

The octagon. Its eight sides are reserved for STOP signs, so drivers can recognize it from any angle, even from behind or when it's covered in snow.

What do yellow and orange signs mean?

Yellow signs warn about general hazards or changes ahead. Orange signs mark construction and work zones, where you should expect workers, lane shifts and lower speed limits.

Does Learner Lane show the road signs for my country?

Yes. Learner Lane is set up for 24 countries, and sign artwork, wording and rules follow the country you choose. The quiz includes 15 free questions a day, and the Road signs chapter of 3D levels is free.

Road signs test: know every sign by shape and color