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.
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/crossing. 25 mph when children are present; higher fines.