Roadwise States Maryland Driving lessons Sign shapes & colors Maryland driving lesson · Signs, Signals & Markings
Sign shapes & colors A 3-minute lesson from the Maryland 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 20 You can read most signs before you can read their words. The shape and main background color tell you what kind of message is coming, so learn them well enough to react in a glance.
Rectangle Regulatory or guide sign. Vertical ones usually give instructions or rules of the road; horizontal ones usually give directions or information.
Handbook p. 20 ↗ Octagon: stop Diamond: warning Pentagon: school zone and school crossing Pennant: no passing Crossbuck: highway-rail grade crossing Put it into practice
Far ahead you see a fluorescent yellow-green pentagon. Before you can read it, you know it's a school zone or school crossing, so start slowing and watch for children.
A useful reminder Round = railroad AHEAD (warning). Crossbuck = the crossing itself. Pink = emergency incidents, orange = work zones.
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? Triangle Diamond Pentagon Octagon (8-sided) Answer: Octagon (8-sided)
The octagonal (8-sided) shape always means stop.
Handbook p. 20 ↗ What does a diamond-shaped sign generally indicate? A stop is required A warning of special conditions or hazards ahead Route information A service like food or gas Answer: A warning of special conditions or hazards ahead
Diamond-shaped signs warn you of special conditions or hazards ahead.
Handbook p. 20 ↗ What does a pentagon-shaped sign warn you of? A railroad crossing A no-passing zone A school zone or school crossing A hospital nearby Answer: A school zone or school crossing
The five-sided pentagon shape warns of school zones and marks school crossings.
Handbook p. 20 ↗ What does a pennant-shaped sign mark? A school crossing A railroad crossing The end of a no-passing zone The start of a no-passing zone Answer: The start of a no-passing zone
A pennant-shaped sign marks the start of a no-passing zone.
Handbook p. 20 ↗ What shape is used to warn that a railroad crossing is ahead? Diamond Round Octagon Pentagon Answer: Round
A round sign is used to warn of an upcoming railroad crossing.
Handbook p. 20 ↗ What does fluorescent pink indicate on a traffic sign? School zones Recreation areas Regulatory rules Emergency traffic incidents Answer: Emergency traffic incidents
Fluorescent pink signs are used for emergency traffic incidents.
Handbook p. 20 ↗ Previous lesson Crosswalk (pedestrian) signals Next lesson Regulatory signs More in Signs, Signals & Markings About the source Roadwise’s Maryland course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 20. 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 Maryland’s MVA. Roadwise provides study material and does not issue permits or licenses.
