Maine driving lesson · Right-of-Way, Signals, Signs and Markings
Regulatory, guide and route signs
A 3-minute lesson from the Maine course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Regulatory signs are the law: they tell you what you must or must not do. Guide and route signs help you find your way. Shape and color tell you which kind you're looking at.
Know the rule
Regulatory signs are square, rectangular or a special shape, white with black, red or green letters or symbols. They cover traffic direction, lane use, turning, speed and parking.
Stop sign: eight sides (octagon), red with white letters. Stop behind the stop line or crosswalk; if there is neither, stop where you can see traffic on the cross road, before any part of your vehicle enters the intersection.
Yield sign: a red and white down-pointing triangle (some old ones are yellow and black). Slow down and yield to traffic and pedestrians that have the right-of-way.
Obey police directing traffic; refusing is illegal and fleeing can cost your license. When police aren't present, signals and signs have the authority of law, and it's unlawful to remove or deface them.
Guide signs are square or rectangular and green, brown or blue. They show intersecting roads, cities and towns, points of interest, hospitals, service stations, restaurants and hotels.
At a 4-way stop with no painted stop line or crosswalk, stop where you can see traffic on the cross street, before your bumper enters the intersection. Wait your turn, then check again for vehicles and pedestrians.
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?
An octagon
A diamond
A triangle
A circle
Answer: An octagon
A stop sign has eight sides (octagon) and is red with white letters.
