Road sign shapes and colors

Key points

1. Even when you cannot read a sign, its shape and color still tell you what to look for or do.

   Source: Handbook p. 95

   “The shapes and color of signs have meaning. If fading light, fog, rain, snow or darkness makes it difficult to see the letters, you should still know what to look for or what to do.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 95

2. Regulatory signs tell you what to do, and you must always obey them.

   Source: Handbook p. 95

   “Regulatory signs These signs tell you what to do. You must always obey them.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 95

3. The octagon, with 8 sides, is reserved for stop signs.

   Source: Handbook p. 95

   “Octagon (eight sides) This shape is reserved for stop signs. You must come to a complete stop.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 95

4. A triangle pointing down means yield to cross or merging traffic.

   Source: Handbook p. 95

   “Triangle pointing down This shape requires that you yield the right of way to cross traffic or to merging traffic.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 95

5. Warning signs are usually diamond shaped; most are yellow, but construction and maintenance warnings are orange.

   Source: Handbook p. 95

   “They are usually diamond shaped and warn you about road hazards, construction sites, schools or other situations which require your special attention. While most warning signs are yellow, construction and maintenance warning signs are orange.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 95

6. A pentagon marks a school zone or crossing, where the limit is 20 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 96

   “Pentagon This sign warns of a school zone ahead or marks a school crossing. The absolute speed limit in a school zone is 20 mph.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 96

7. A pennant marks the start of a no passing zone.

   Source: Handbook p. 96

   “Pennant-shaped signs are located at the beginning of a no-passing zone.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 96

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

   Source: Handbook p. 96

   “A round sign warns of a railroad crossing ahead.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 96

9. Railroad crossbuck signs are yield signs.

   Source: Handbook p. 66

   “Railroad Crossbuck signs are yield signs.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 66

10. The ENS sign is for emergencies that require stopping trains, like an obstruction or broken gates.

    Source: Handbook p. 96

    “The ENS (Emergency Notification Sign) is for those emergencies that would require stopping train traffic due to an obstruction on the tracks, or any other problem at the crossing like if the lights or gates are not working properly.”
    Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 96

Numbers to know

Recognize these signs

3 questions from the Wyoming practice test

1. 1. What does an octagonal road sign tell the driver?

   1. The road is entering a school zone
   2. Yielding is optional when traffic is light
   3. A railroad crossing is ahead
   4. A complete stop is required
   Show answer

   A complete stop is required. The eight-sided octagon is reserved for stop signs, and the driver must come to a complete stop. This shape is intentionally distinctive so it can be recognized even when the words are hard to see. The downward triangle is the yield shape, the round sign warns of a railroad crossing, and the pentagon identifies a school zone or crossing. A light traffic condition does not make stopping optional. At a stop sign, stop before the crosswalk or stop line, then check the intersection before proceeding.

2. 2. What does a downward pointing triangle traffic sign require?

   1. Stop completely before entering every intersection
   2. Yield the right of way to cross traffic or merging traffic
   3. Increase speed to merge ahead of cross traffic
   4. Follow the road only in the direction of a white arrow
   Show answer

   Yield the right of way to cross traffic or merging traffic. The downward pointing triangle is reserved for a yield instruction. The driver must give the right of way to cross traffic or merging traffic, slowing or stopping as needed to prevent a conflict. It is not the octagonal stop sign, so a complete stop is not automatically required when the path is clear. Never accelerate to force a merge. Check the approach, identify traffic with priority, and enter only after yielding safely.

3. 3. What does the round railroad advance warning sign tell a driver to prepare for?

   
   1. A roundabout that requires entering counterclockwise
   2. A highway-rail intersection ahead, where the driver should slow, look, and listen
   3. A bicycle route with priority over motor vehicles
   4. A no-passing zone that ends immediately at the sign
   Show answer

   A highway-rail intersection ahead, where the driver should slow, look, and listen. The round railroad warning sign marks an approaching highway-rail intersection. It gives the driver time to slow, look, listen, and be ready to stop if a train is approaching. The roundabout, bicycle, and no-passing interpretations assign unrelated meanings to the symbol. Advance warning is not permission to cross casually: never enter until there is room to clear the tracks, and expect a train at every highway-rail intersection even when no train is visible yet.

Source: the Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Traffic Signs, Signals and Road Markings. 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.