Roadwise States New Hampshire Driving lessons Sign colors and shapes New Hampshire driving lesson · Signs, Signals, and Markings
Sign colors and shapes A 2-minute lesson from the New Hampshire course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 2 minutes
Course unit Signs, Signals, and Markings
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 27, 28, 29 Signs tell you about rules, hazards, locations, directions and services. Their shape and color identify the type of sign before you can read it, which matters when a sign is far away, covered in snow, or seen from the back.
Octagon: STOP Downward triangle: YIELD Pentagon: school crossing Circle: railroad crossing ahead Know the rule
Guide signs are square or rectangular and green, brown or blue: intersecting roads, cities and towns, points of interest, hospitals, service stations, restaurants and hotels.
Handbook p. 29 ↗ Put it into practice
Far ahead you see the back of a five-sided sign. Even before reading it, its pentagon shape tells you it marks a school zone or school crossing.
A useful reminder Orange = road work; yellow = general warning. Both warn, but only orange means construction or maintenance.
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 does a red traffic sign generally indicate? Direction or guidance General warning Prohibition (stop or don't do something) Driver services Answer: Prohibition (stop or don't do something)
Red signs indicate a prohibition, such as stop or don't do something.
Handbook p. 28 ↗ What does a yellow traffic sign generally indicate? Driver services Tourist and recreation guidance General warning Prohibition Answer: General warning
Yellow signs indicate a general warning.
Handbook p. 28 ↗ What shape is a stop sign? Octagon (8 sides) Pentagon (5 sides) Diamond Downward-pointing triangle Answer: Octagon (8 sides)
The octagon shape is used exclusively for stop signs.
Handbook p. 28 ↗ What shape indicates a school zone or school crossing? Pentagon (5 sides) Diamond Octagon Circle Answer: Pentagon (5 sides)
A pentagon shape signals a school zone or school crossing.
Handbook p. 28 ↗ What shape gives an advance warning of a railroad crossing? Pentagon Crossbuck (X) Diamond Circle Answer: Circle
A circle shape provides advance warning of a railroad crossing.
Handbook p. 28 ↗ What does a pennant (sideways triangle) sign on the left side of the road indicate? A one-way street A yield ahead A reduced speed zone A no-passing zone ahead Answer: A no-passing zone ahead
A pennant-shaped sign on the left warns of a no-passing zone ahead.
Handbook p. 28 ↗ Previous lesson Traffic signals and rules of the road Next lesson Prohibition and warning signs More in Signs, Signals, and Markings About the source Roadwise’s New Hampshire course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 27, 28, 29. 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 New Hampshire’s DMV. Roadwise provides study material and does not issue permits or licenses.
