Roadwise States Hawaii Driving lessons Sign colors, shapes and regulatory signs Hawaii driving lesson · Signs, Signals & Markings
Sign colors, shapes and regulatory signs A 3-minute lesson from the Hawaii course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Signs, Signals & Markings
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 You can read most signs before you can read their words. Color and shape tell you whether a sign orders, warns or guides. Regulatory signs are orders, and ignoring them is a violation.
Sign colors: red, yellow, orange, black, white, green, blue and brown Know the rule
STOP sign: 8-sided, white on red. Always come to a complete stop and yield to approaching traffic before proceeding.
Handbook p. 44 ↗ Know the rule
YIELD sign: triangular, red and white. Be ready to stop, but you need to stop only when other traffic has the right-of-way.
Handbook p. 44 ↗ Stop, yield and speed limit signs Know the rule
SPEED LIMIT signs are rectangular black and white and show maximum and minimum limits, sometimes for certain times, conditions or vehicles.
Handbook p. 44 ↗ Know the rule
REDUCED SPEED AHEAD signs look like speed limit signs. Begin slowing; the new limit starts at the next speed limit sign.
Handbook p. 45 ↗ Know the rule
LANE USE CONTROL signs (rectangular, black and white) show required or permitted turns from specific lanes. Move only as shown for your lane.
Handbook p. 45 ↗ Know the rule
DO NOT PASS signs are rectangular and mark where you must not pass on two- or three-lane roads.
Handbook p. 45 ↗ Know the rule
NO PASSING ZONE signs are yellow and black pennants on the left side of the road, pointing to where the no-passing zone begins.
Handbook p. 45 ↗ Know the rule
PASS WITH CARE signs (rectangular, black and white) mark the end of a no-passing zone.
Handbook p. 46 ↗ Know the rule
EXCLUSION signs are rectangular with a red circle on white, or a red circle with a red diagonal; they restrict or prohibit vehicles, movements or activities.
Handbook p. 46 ↗ Know the rule
Other regulatory signs are rectangular with black or red lettering on white; they restrict people, vehicles, weights, parking and more. Alignment signs show where to drive.
Handbook p. 47 ↗ Put it into practice
You see a 'REDUCED SPEED 35 AHEAD' sign while doing 45 mph. Start slowing now, but the 35 mph limit doesn't legally begin until you reach the next speed limit sign.
A useful reminder Only the stop sign has 8 sides, only the yield sign is a downward triangle, and only the no-passing sign is a pennant.
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.
On traffic signs, the color red generally indicates: a warning a construction zone guide information an action is prohibited Answer: an action is prohibited
Red on a traffic sign means a prohibited action.
Handbook p. 43 ↗ A stop sign is what shape and color? Diamond, yellow and black Octagonal, white on red Triangular, red and white Rectangular, black and white Answer: Octagonal, white on red
A stop sign is an eight-sided, white-on-red sign.
Handbook p. 44 ↗ When facing a yield sign, you: must be ready to stop may proceed at full speed must always stop completely never have to slow down Answer: must be ready to stop
At a yield sign, stop only if there is traffic with the right-of-way.
Handbook p. 44 ↗ Speed limit signs show both maximum and: school zone hours average speeds recommended curve speeds minimum speed limits Answer: minimum speed limits
Speed limit signs may show both maximum and minimum limits.
Handbook p. 44 ↗ A "Reduced Speed Ahead" sign tells you: to begin slowing; the new limit starts at the next speed limit sign the new limit starts at this sign the lower limit applies only to trucks the road is closed ahead Answer: to begin slowing; the new limit starts at the next speed limit sign
The new speed limit takes effect at the next speed limit sign, not this one.
Handbook p. 45 ↗ A yellow, pennant-shaped sign pointing to the start of a no-passing zone is a: Lane Use Control sign Pass With Care sign No Passing Zone sign Do Not Pass sign Answer: No Passing Zone sign
The pennant-shaped No Passing Zone sign marks where a no-passing zone begins.
Handbook p. 45 ↗ Previous lesson Lane-control and pedestrian signals Next lesson Warning signs and guide signs More in Signs, Signals & Markings About the source Roadwise’s Hawaii course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 43, 44, 45, 46, 47. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
For current application requirements, fees, appointments, and the format that applies to your age or license type, check Hawaii’s DMV. Roadwise provides study material and does not issue permits or licenses.
