Road Signs – Know the Basic Shapes

Nine Basic Shapes You Should Know

The basic shapes and colors of traffic signs are important.You should know signs by their appearances so when driving you can recognize them at a distance even when visibility is poor. If snow covers a sign, the shape can help you decide the most likely meaning of the sign.

In United States, road signs can have:

   10 different colors
   9 different shapes

Each shape and each color has an exact meaning. You should learn all of the shapes and colors for your DMV exam and for your future safety on the road.

In many states, you should expect one or two questions about shapes and colors on the knowledge test. Pay special attention to signs that have exclusive use, like the sign that warns of a railroad crossing ahead, the stop sign, and the yield sign.

  Octagon: Exclusively used for Stop.

---

  Equilateral Triangle (One point down): Exclusively used for Yield.

---

  Circle: Exclusively used for Grade Crossing Advance Warning. [ Read more ]

---

  Pennant Shape (Isosceles Triangle): Exclusively used for No Passing. [ Read more ]

---

  Pentagon (pointed up): Exclusively used for School Advance Warning Sign.

---

  Crossbuck (two rectangles in an X configuration): Exclusively used for Grade Crossing.

---

  Diamond: Warning signs.

---

  Rectangle (including square): Used for Regulatory signs (often vertical), Guide signs (often horizontal), and Warning signs.

---

  Trapezoid: Used for Recreational and Cultural Interest Area signs, and National Forest Route signs.

---

Route Signs

Route signs can also have different shapes.

The Interstate route sign is a cutout shield, with the route number in white letters on a blue background.

U.S. routes are marked with black and white shields (the left sign below).

State route sign are often square, but designs are established locally and the state signs may have different shapes. Even if questions about route signs rarely show up on a DMV test, make sure you can tell them apart.

Other route signs mark County routes and National Forest routes.

---

Check Your Knowledge