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Delaware driving lesson · Signs, Signals & Markings

Sign shapes & regulatory signs

A 3-minute lesson from the Delaware course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Signs, Signals & Markings
Checkpoint questions
4
Source pages
40, 72, 73

You can read a sign before you can read its words: shape and color tell you what type it is. The sign test asks you to identify signs by shape, color or symbol alone. Regulatory signs state laws you must obey.

Stop
Stop sign

Know the rule

The stop sign is the only 8-sided sign—red with white letters. Stop at the stop line; if none, at the crosswalk; if none, before entering the intersection. Before starting, yield to any vehicle or pedestrian in or approaching the intersection.

Handbook p. 72 ↗
Yield
Yield sign

Know the rule

At a yield sign, slow down, look left and right, and yield to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully crossing or maneuvering—stopping if necessary.

Handbook p. 72 ↗

Shapes

Shapes
ShapeMeaning
Octagon (8 sides)Stop
Downward triangleYield
Pentagon (5 sides)School or school crossing
RoundRailroad crossing ahead
DiamondWarning
Square/rectangleRegulatory (laws) or guide
Handbook p. 73 ↗

Know the rule

Regulatory signs are square, rectangular or a special shape, usually white, red or black, with black, red, white or green letters or symbols.

Handbook p. 72 ↗
No left turn, no right turn, no U-turn (composite)
No Left Turn, No Right Turn and No U-Turn

Other regulatory signs:

  • One Way—two versions carry the same message
  • No Turn on Red—wait for a green signal before going or turning
  • Do Not Enter—often with double solid lines; it may be one-way the other way, or closed to vehicles
  • No stopping, standing or parking where posted
  • Reserved parking for handicapped only
  • Keep Right—stay to the right of the traffic island or divider
  • Speed Limit—the legal limit for that stretch of highway
Handbook p. 73 ↗

Know the rule

Overhead lane signals: obey the sign over your lane. When it says ONLY, you must go the direction the arrow points—there's no option.

Handbook p. 73 ↗

Put it into practice

At a stop sign with no stop line and no crosswalk, stop just before entering the intersection. Then wait until any approaching car, bicycle or pedestrian has passed before you go.

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 shape is a stop sign?
  1. Triangle
  2. Octagon
  3. Diamond
  4. Pentagon

Answer: Octagon

The stop sign is the only 8-sided, red sign with white letters you will see on the highway.

Handbook p. 72 ↗
What shape is a yield sign?
  1. A circle
  2. A rectangle
  3. A triangle
  4. An octagon

Answer: A triangle

The yield sign is a downward-pointing triangle; slow down, look left and right, and yield to pedestrians and vehicles.

Handbook p. 72 ↗
Regulatory signs, which state traffic laws such as speed limits or turn restrictions, are usually
  1. yellow and diamond-shaped
  2. square, rectangular, or a special shape
  3. brown and rectangular
  4. round and yellow

Answer: square, rectangular, or a special shape

Regulatory signs are typically square, rectangular, or specially shaped, usually white, red, or black with contrasting letters or symbols.

Handbook p. 72 ↗
A stop sign is the only 8-sided highway sign you will encounter in Delaware.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

The handbook notes the stop sign is the only 8-sided sign used on Delaware highways.

Handbook p. 72 ↗
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