A 3-minute lesson from the Colorado course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Colors do a lot of the work: yellow warns, orange means a work zone, green guides, blue points to services and brown to recreation. Learn the color and you'll know the sign's purpose at a glance.
Know the rule
Warning signs are yellow or fluorescent green with black symbols. They warn of school zones, curves, slippery surfaces, merging traffic or pedestrian-dense areas.
Railroad crossing signs come in a variety of shapes. Never try to beat a train, never start across until there's room to clear the tracks, and don't shift gears on the tracks.
Blue Emergency Notification System (ENS) signs are at every highway-rail grade crossing. They give a phone number to report problems, and a DOT number below it that identifies the exact crossing.
Driving I-70, you see a brown sign with a snowflake symbol. Brown means a recreational area (like a ski area). A blue sign with gas and food symbols would point to services instead.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What color background do work zone signs use?
Blue with white letters
Orange with black symbols
Yellow with black symbols
Green with white letters
Answer: Orange with black symbols
Work zone signs have an orange background with black letters or symbols.
