Do not enter
This roadway is closed to entering traffic.
What to do: Do not drive into this roadway; find another route.
Shape: circle · Color: red
Handbook p. 44 ↗Alaska road signs
Alaska road signs and meanings.
Explore 62 signs and driving illustrations from this course’s handbook edition. Each entry pairs the image with its meaning and a practical action. Use your browser’s Find command to look up a name or a word from a meaning.
Look, recognize, act
Notice the shape and color before reading a sign’s words or symbol. Then connect its meaning with what you should do: stop, yield, adjust your speed, choose a lane, or prepare for a hazard. Signals, markings, and diagrams are included where the handbook uses them to explain a driving rule.
Use the source page link for the surrounding rule. Some illustrations show a complete road situation rather than a standalone roadside sign.
Your handbook sign library
62 entries. Sign images and page references belong to the handbook edition used for the Alaska course.
Lane-use control sign (left, straight, right only)
Shows which turns each lane must make ahead.
What to do: Get into the lane matching the turn or direction you want.
Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: white
Lane-use control sign (left turn only, through lanes)
Shows which turns each lane must make ahead.
What to do: Get into the lane matching the turn or direction you want.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white
No bicycles
Bicycles are not allowed on this roadway.
What to do: Do not ride a bicycle here; use an alternate route.
Shape: square · Color: white
No drinking and driving
Warns against driving after drinking alcohol.
What to do: Never drive after drinking; arrange another way home.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white
No passing zone
Passing other vehicles is not allowed in this zone.
What to do: Stay behind slower traffic; do not pass until the zone ends.
Shape: pennant · Color: yellow
Speed limit
Shows the maximum legal speed for the road.
What to do: Do not drive faster than the posted speed limit.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white
Handbook p. 43 ↗
Stop
Come to a complete stop.
What to do: Stop fully at the line, crosswalk or intersection edge; go only when safe.
Shape: octagon · Color: red
Handbook p. 43 ↗
Yield
Slow down and let other traffic or pedestrians go first.
What to do: Slow or stop if needed and let crossing traffic or pedestrians clear before proceeding.
Shape: triangle · Color: red
Handbook p. 43 ↗
Added lane
An additional lane begins ahead without merging.
What to do: Continue in your lane; no need to merge for the new lane.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Animal crossing (bison)
Warns that bison or other large animals may cross the road ahead.
What to do: Slow down and watch for large animals crossing; be ready to stop.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 72 ↗
Curve right
Road curves to the right ahead.
What to do: Slow down and steer smoothly through the right curve.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Deer crossing
Deer may cross the road in this area.
What to do: Slow down and watch for deer, especially at dawn or dusk.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Divided highway begins
Road ahead splits into a divided highway with a median.
What to do: Keep right of the median and stay alert for the lane split ahead.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Flood area (Turn Around Don't Drown)
Warns that the road ahead may flood; do not drive into flood water.
What to do: Turn around and take another route if the road is flooded.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: orange
Left lane ends
The left lane ends ahead and traffic must merge.
What to do: Merge right safely before your lane ends.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Merge
A lane from the side joins your road ahead.
What to do: Adjust speed and merge safely; yield to traffic already in your lane.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Moose crossing
Warns that moose may cross the road ahead.
What to do: Slow down, scan the roadsides, and be ready to stop, especially at dawn or dusk.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 72 ↗
Playground
A playground area is near the road ahead.
What to do: Slow down and watch for children playing near the road.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Reverse curve
Road curves right then left ahead.
What to do: Slow down and steer carefully through both curves.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Reverse turn
The road makes a sharp turn one way then the other.
What to do: Slow down and steer carefully through both turns.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Roundabout ahead
A roundabout is ahead where traffic circles counterclockwise.
What to do: Slow down and yield to traffic already in the roundabout.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Signal ahead
A traffic signal is ahead at the intersection.
What to do: Slow down and be ready to stop for the signal.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Slippery when wet
Road may be slick from rain, ice or oil.
What to do: Slow down, avoid sudden braking or sharp turns, and increase following distance.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Slow-moving vehicle emblem
Marks a vehicle that travels slower than 25 mph.
What to do: Slow down early and pass with care when you see this emblem on a vehicle ahead.
Shape: triangle · Color: orange
Handbook p. 54 ↗
Snowmobile crossing
Warns that snowmobiles may cross the road ahead.
What to do: Slow down and watch for snowmobiles crossing or entering the roadway.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 44 ↗
Watch for ice
Warns that the road surface ahead may be icy.
What to do: Slow down and increase following distance; avoid sudden braking or steering.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 71 ↗
Water over roadway
Warns that water may be covering the road ahead.
What to do: Slow down and be prepared to stop or turn back if the road is flooded.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 71 ↗
Winding road
The road has several curves ahead.
What to do: Slow down and drive carefully through the series of curves.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Y intersection
The road ahead forks into a Y-shaped intersection.
What to do: Slow down and choose the correct branch of the fork.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
School speed limit when flashing
Shows the reduced school-zone speed limit when the beacon flashes.
What to do: Slow to the posted speed only while the beacon is flashing.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: yellow
School zone
You are approaching a school area or crossing.
What to do: Slow down, watch for children, and be ready to stop.
Shape: pentagon · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 44 ↗
Arrow panel
An electronic sign that directs traffic to merge or shift lanes.
What to do: Merge in the direction the arrow indicates well before the work zone.
Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: black
Handbook p. 47 ↗
Barricade (Type 3)
Marks a closed road or the edge of a work zone.
What to do: Do not drive past the barricade; find an alternate route.
Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: red
Handbook p. 47 ↗
Channelizing tubular marker
Guides traffic along a safe path through a work zone.
What to do: Stay within the path marked by the tubular markers.
Shape: other · Color: red
Handbook p. 47 ↗
Detour
A detour ahead sends traffic onto a marked alternate route.
What to do: Watch for detour signs and follow the marked alternate route around the closure.
Shape: diamond · Color: orange
Handbook p. 44 ↗
Flagger ahead
A worker will direct traffic ahead.
What to do: Slow down and be ready to stop or follow the flagger's directions.
Shape: diamond · Color: orange
Road work ahead
Construction or maintenance work is ahead on the road.
What to do: Slow down and watch for workers, equipment and lane changes.
Shape: diamond · Color: orange
Traffic cone
Guides traffic along a safe path through a work zone.
What to do: Stay within the path marked by the traffic cones.
Shape: other · Color: orange
Handbook p. 47 ↗
Workers ahead
Road workers are working near or in the roadway.
What to do: Slow down and watch for workers and equipment.
Shape: diamond · Color: orange
Destination and distance
Shows directions and distances to nearby towns.
What to do: Use the sign to plan your route toward the listed destinations.
Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: green
Handbook p. 44 ↗
Accessible facility
Marks a facility or space accessible to people with disabilities.
What to do: Use as directed; reserve marked accessible spaces for permit holders.
Shape: square · Color: blue
Boat launch (boat ramp)
Indicates a boat launching ramp is available.
What to do: Follow signage if you need to launch a boat; otherwise no action needed.
Shape: square · Color: brown
Hospital
Indicates a hospital is nearby in the direction shown.
What to do: Follow the arrow if you need to reach the hospital.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: blue
Handbook p. 44 ↗
Dark (non-functioning) traffic signal
The signal has no power and is not displaying any indication.
What to do: Treat the intersection as an all-way stop and proceed only when it is safe.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 57 ↗
Flashing red arrow
The indicated movement requires a complete stop before proceeding.
What to do: Stop completely, then make the movement only when it is safe.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 56 ↗
Flashing red light
Come to a complete stop, then proceed when safe, like a stop sign.
What to do: Stop completely, then go when the way is clear.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 56 ↗
Flashing yellow arrow
You may turn after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
What to do: Yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians, then complete the turn when safe.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 56 ↗
Flashing yellow light
Slow down and proceed through the intersection with caution.
What to do: Reduce speed and cross the intersection carefully, watching for other traffic.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 56 ↗
Green arrow
You have the right of way to make the indicated protected turn.
What to do: Make the turn shown by the arrow; oncoming traffic is stopped.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 56 ↗
Pedestrian don't walk signal
Pedestrians must not begin crossing the street.
What to do: Do not start crossing; if already crossing, continue to the far side.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 58 ↗
Pedestrian walk signal
Pedestrians may begin crossing the street.
What to do: Look both ways and cross within the crosswalk while the walk signal is shown.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 58 ↗
Red arrow
The indicated turn or movement is prohibited.
What to do: Stop and wait until the arrow turns green before making that movement.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 55 ↗
Steady green light
You may proceed through the intersection if it is clear.
What to do: Go if the way is clear, yielding to pedestrians and traffic already in the intersection.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 55 ↗
Steady red light
Traffic facing this signal must stop.
What to do: Stop before the crosswalk or intersection and wait for a green light.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 55 ↗
Steady yellow light
A red light is about to appear.
What to do: Stop if you can do so safely; otherwise clear the intersection carefully.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 55 ↗
Yellow arrow
The protected turn signal is ending soon.
What to do: Stop before making the turn unless you are already committed and cannot stop safely.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 55 ↗
Broken white line
Separates lanes going the same direction; passing is permitted.
What to do: You may change lanes when it is safe to do so.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Two-way left turn lane markings
A shared center lane for left turns from either direction.
What to do: Use this lane only to turn left or wait to turn; do not drive through it.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Hand signal left turn
Arm held straight out horizontally signals a left turn.
What to do: Extend your arm straight out to the side to signal a left turn.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 35 ↗
Hand signal right turn
Arm bent upward at the elbow signals a right turn.
What to do: Bend your arm upward at the elbow to signal a right turn.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 35 ↗
Hand signal stop or slow
Arm bent downward at the elbow signals stopping or slowing.
What to do: Bend your arm downward at the elbow to signal you are stopping or slowing.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 35 ↗