Arrow curving right around an obstruction
Pass to the RIGHT of the divider/obstruction ahead
This sign directs you to:
KEEP RIGHT (R4-7): a median or obstruction is ahead; keep to its right.
26 federal road signs · Real images · Free
Road sign glossary with real images
These are the federal road signs used in every state's practice test, gathered here as a browsable reference. Each entry has the real sign image, its meaning, and a short explanation, outside of quiz mode.
Road sign flashcards
Flip through the signs one at a time. See the sign, guess what it means, then reveal the answer. Mark each one "Got it" to drop it from the round, or "Review again" to send it to the back of the deck. Your progress is saved on this device so you can pick up where you left off.
Tap the card or press Space to reveal the meaning.
Want to practice with these in a quiz? Go back to the DMV practice test hub.
Black ONE WAY sign with arrow
The whole street runs ONE WAY in the arrow's direction
This sign tells you:
ONE WAY (R6-1): all traffic flows in the arrow's direction.
Left-turn arrow crossed by red slash
LEFT turns
This sign prohibits:
NO LEFT TURN (R3-2). A red circle-and-slash always bans the pictured movement.
Red octagon STOP sign
Come to a COMPLETE stop at the line, yield, then go
What must you do at this sign?
STOP (R1-1): full stop at the line or crosswalk even when empty; yield, then proceed.
Red rectangular WRONG WAY sign
You are going the WRONG WAY; pull over safely and turn around
Seeing this sign facing you while driving means:
WRONG WAY (R5-1a): you have entered opposing traffic. Pull over safely and turn around when possible.
Red-bordered inverted triangle YIELD sign
Slow down and yield to traffic and pedestrians; stop if needed
What does this sign require?
YIELD (R1-2): give up the right-of-way; slow and be ready to stop.
Right-turn arrow crossed by red slash
RIGHT turns
This sign prohibits:
NO RIGHT TURN (R3-1): no right turns, including on red. Going straight is still fine since the sign only bans the right-turn movement; parking is unrelated to this sign.
Round yellow RXR sign
A railroad crossing AHEAD; prepare to slow down
This round yellow sign warns of:
Advance warning (W10-1): tracks ahead. Slow down, look, and listen.
Square sign with red circle reading DO NOT ENTER
DO NOT ENTER, typically a one-way street or ramp exit
What does this sign mean?
DO NOT ENTER (R5-1): entry prohibited; common at freeway off-ramps and one-way streets.
U-shaped arrow crossed by red slash
U-turns
This sign prohibits:
NO U-TURN (R3-4): no U-turns at this location. This is not a no-left-turn sign (a different arrow shape) or a no-passing sign (a different shape and color entirely).
White SPEED LIMIT 50 sign
REGULATORY: the legal maximum in ideal conditions
This white sign with black text is what kind of sign?
White/black = regulatory. Speed Limit is the legal max in ideal conditions; drive slower when conditions are bad (Basic Speed Law).
White X-shaped RAILROAD CROSSING crossbuck
AT the railroad crossing itself; treat it like a YIELD sign for trains
Where does this X-shaped sign stand, and what does it require?
The crossbuck (R15-1) stands at the tracks and legally works like a YIELD sign: slow, look both ways, be ready to stop.
Yellow curved-arrow sign
A CURVE ahead; slow down before entering
This curved-arrow sign means:
Curve (W1-2): slow BEFORE the curve; do not brake in the middle of it.
Yellow merge arrow sign
Traffic will MERGE into your lane; adjust speed
This sign means:
Merge (W4-1): traffic joins ahead. Adjust speed and position to let them in safely.
Yellow pennant NO PASSING ZONE sign
The start of a NO PASSING zone
This pennant-shaped sign marks:
NO PASSING ZONE (W14-3): unique pennant shape, posted on the LEFT side, marks where passing becomes illegal.
Yellow plus-shaped crossroad sign
A 4-way CROSSROAD ahead; watch for crossing traffic
The yellow plus-sign warns of:
Crossroad (W2-1): an intersection ahead with traffic entering from both sides. Hospital signs are blue with an H.
Yellow right-angle arrow sign
A SHARP turn, often with a very low advisory speed
Unlike a curve sign, this RIGHT-ANGLE arrow warns of:
Turn (W1-1): sharper than a curve; slow down hard, follow the advisory plaque.
Yellow sign showing a small STOP sign and arrow
A STOP sign ahead is hidden; prepare to stop
This sign warns:
Stop ahead (W3-1): a stop sign is coming (often obscured); start slowing now.
Yellow sign showing right lane narrowing
Your LANE ENDS; merge into the remaining lane
This sign tells you:
Lane ends (W4-2): merge early; zipper-merge when traffic is heavy.
Yellow sign with arrows splitting around a median
A DIVIDED highway begins; keep right of the median
This sign announces:
Divided highway begins (W6-1): directions separate around a median; always keep right of it.
Yellow sign with skidding car
SLIPPERY when wet: slow down, avoid hard braking
The skidding-car sign warns:
Slippery when wet (W8-5): slickest in fresh rain. Slow down, keep distance, steer smoothly.
Yellow sign with traffic signal symbol
TRAFFIC SIGNAL ahead; prepare to obey it
This sign signals:
Signal ahead (W3-3): an intersection signal is coming, useful when it hides behind a curve.
Yellow sign with two opposing arrows
TWO-WAY traffic begins; the one-way road is ending
The two opposing arrows mean:
Two-way traffic (W6-3): you are leaving a one-way road; keep right.
Yellow sign with walking person
A PEDESTRIAN crossing ahead; be ready to yield
This sign warns of:
Pedestrian crossing (W11-2): crossing ahead; slow and be ready to stop.
Yellow winding-arrow sign
A WINDING road: a series of curves ahead
The winding-arrow sign means:
Winding road (W1-5): consecutive curves; hold a steady lower speed throughout.
Yellow-green pentagon with two walking figures
SCHOOL zone or school crossing: slow down and watch closely
This five-sided sign means:
School (S1-1): school zone or crossing. Slow down and watch for children; obey the posted reduced school-zone speed limit, which varies by state.