Sign Shapes and Colors

Key points

1. Green means directional guidance and permitted movement; yellow is a general warning.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “GREEN: Directional guidance and permitted movement. HORIZONTAL RECTANGLE: Usually for guide signs. YELLOW: General warning.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 18

2. Red means stop or prohibition, and the octagon is used only for stop signs.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “RED: Stop or prohibition. If you see red on a traffic device, STOP. OCTAGON: Exclusively for STOP signs.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 18

3. The equilateral triangle is used only for yield signs.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE: Exclusively for YIELD signs.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 18

4. A diamond warns only of existing or possible hazards.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “DIAMOND: Exclusively to warn of existing or possible hazard on or adjacent to roadway.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 18

5. A pentagon marks school crossings and school zones ahead.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “PENTAGON: School crossing signs and warning of school zones ahead.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 18

6. A round sign warns of a railroad crossing ahead.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “ROUND: Warning of railroad crossing ahead.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 18

7. A pennant warns of a no passing zone ahead; blue means motorist services.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “PENNANT: Warning of NO PASSING ZONE ahead. BLUE: Motorist services guidance.”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 18

8. A vertical rectangle is usually a regulatory sign such as a speed limit.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “VERTICAL RECTANGLE: Usually used for regulatory signs (such as speed limits).”
   Mississippi Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 18

Numbers to know

Recognize these signs

3 questions from the Mississippi practice test

1. 1. What does red on a Mississippi traffic device generally indicate?

   1. Directional guidance and permitted movement
   2. Motorist services guidance
   3. Construction or maintenance warning
   4. Stop or prohibition
   Show answer

   Stop or prohibition. Red is used for stopping or prohibition on Mississippi traffic devices. That signal can require a driver to stop or warn that a movement is forbidden, depending on the device and its message. Blue points toward motorist services, orange identifies construction or maintenance warnings, and green provides directional guidance or indicates permitted movement. Treat red as an immediate instruction to look for the associated control and obey it before proceeding. The useful cue is the color itself, but read the symbol or words too, since the exact command comes from the complete traffic device.

2. 2. What do Mississippi traffic signs use a yellow color to communicate?

   1. Motorist services
   2. General warning
   3. Directional guidance
   4. Regulation only
   Show answer

   General warning. Yellow is used for a general warning. It alerts the driver to a condition that may require extra attention, such as a curve, crossing, or other roadway hazard. Blue is associated with motorist services, green provides directional guidance and permitted movement, and white or black commonly communicates regulation. Color gives an early cue, but the sign shape, symbol, and wording provide the specific message. When yellow appears, scan farther ahead and adjust speed or lane position before reaching the condition being announced.

3. 3. What kind of guidance does a blue traffic sign generally provide?

   1. General warnings
   2. Motorist services
   3. Construction restrictions
   4. Public recreation areas
   Show answer

   Motorist services. Blue is the color used for motorist services guidance. It is different from brown, which identifies public recreation and scenic guidance, and from yellow, which gives a general warning. Orange is associated with construction and maintenance warnings. Use the color as an early clue, then read the sign for the particular service it describes. A blue sign is not itself a warning of a roadway hazard.

Source: the Mississippi Driver's Manual, 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.