Warning, regulation and guidance signs

Key points

1. Warning signs prepare drivers for upcoming road conditions and hazards.

   Source: Handbook p. 29

   “Warning signs prepare drivers for upcoming road conditions and hazards.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 29

2. Orange construction signs warn you to be careful approaching work zones.

   Source: Handbook p. 30

   “Orange highway construction traffic signs warn drivers to be careful when approaching construction zones.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 30

3. The slow moving vehicle emblem marks a vehicle that cannot exceed 25 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 30

   “indicates a slow-moving vehicle which cannot exceed 25 miles per hour.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 30

4. Speed advisory signs may accompany some warning signs.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “Speed advisory signs may accompany some warning signs.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 31

5. Traffic regulation signs regulate speed and movement and show rules you must obey.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “Traffic regulation signs regulate traffic speed as well as movement and display rules which drivers must obey.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 31

6. Plaques under stop signs tell you which directions must stop.

   Source: Handbook p. 32

   “Supplemental plaques are sometimes added to the bottom of stop signs to indicate directions in which the intersection must stop.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 32

7. Guidance signs show the type of road, highway entrances and exits, and distances.

   Source: Handbook p. 32

   “Traffic guidance signs provide drivers with information about the type of road they are traveling on, upcoming highway entrances and exits, and distances to various destinations.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 32

8. Driver services and recreation signs show nearby amenities, parks and recreation areas.

   Source: Handbook p. 33

   “Driver services and recreation signs provide drivers with information about nearby amenities, parks and recreational areas.”
   Indiana Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 33

Numbers to know

Recognize these signs

3 questions from the Indiana practice test

1. 1. What does the slow-moving vehicle emblem indicate?

   1. A vehicle carrying an oversized load over four feet high
   2. A vehicle that cannot exceed 25 miles per hour
   3. A vehicle that must stop at every railroad crossing
   4. A vehicle traveling at least 45 miles per hour
   Show answer

   A vehicle that cannot exceed 25 miles per hour. The slow-moving vehicle emblem identifies a vehicle that cannot exceed 25 miles per hour. Its orange fluorescent center and red reflective borders are meant to be recognized from a distance, giving following drivers time to close the speed gap safely. It does not describe a load dimension, guarantee a railroad stop, or indicate a minimum speed. When the emblem appears ahead, ease off the accelerator early, avoid passing without a legal and safe opportunity, and expect the vehicle to travel substantially below ordinary highway speed.

2. 2. What must a driver do when a regulatory sign says DO NOT ENTER?

   
   1. Stay out of the roadway or ramp marked by the sign
   2. Use the lane only to make a U-turn
   3. Proceed after stopping and yielding to pedestrians
   4. Enter slowly if no vehicle is approaching
   Show answer

   Stay out of the roadway or ramp marked by the sign. DO NOT ENTER is a traffic regulation that prohibits entering the marked roadway or ramp. An empty lane does not make entry legal, and stopping first does not convert the sign into a yield instruction. The sign is commonly associated with an opposing direction or an exit ramp, so entering can place a driver into conflict with oncoming traffic. If you see it facing you, stop before the prohibited area, reassess the route, and use a lawful entrance or turnaround. Never rely on the absence of another vehicle as permission.

3. 3. What does a yellow pennant-shaped traffic sign warn drivers about?

   1. A nearby fuel station
   2. A railroad crossing
   3. A no passing zone
   4. A school entrance
   Show answer

   A no passing zone. The pennant shape is used on the left-hand side of a two-way road to warn that drivers should not pass other vehicles on the left. A fuel service sign is an information sign, a railroad crossing uses a circular warning shape, and a school area uses a five-sided shape. Read both the shape and placement together. The left-side pennant is a strong visual cue that the roadway is entering a no passing zone.

Source: the Indiana Driver's Manual, Chapter 6: Traffic Signs and Signals. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.