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Oklahoma driving lesson · Signs, Signals and Markings

Warning signs and object markers

A 3-minute lesson from the Oklahoma 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 and Markings
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
21, 22

Warning signs are diamond-shaped with a yellow background and black letters or symbols. They tell you about conditions immediately ahead: hazards, changes in direction, or other situations. When you see one, be ready to use extra caution or change your speed or lane.

Know the rule

Warning signs are diamond-shaped, with a yellow background and black letters, and signal conditions immediately ahead.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Road and traffic warnings:

  • Traffic control signal ahead: be prepared to stop
  • Divided highway ahead (center strip/median): keep to the right
  • Road ahead makes a gentle curve: slow down, keep right, don't pass
  • Two-lane narrow bridge or culvert ahead: approach with caution
  • Divided highway ends: be careful where two-way traffic begins again
  • Two-way traffic ahead: drive in the right lane, expect oncoming traffic in the left lane
  • Low clearance: vehicles or loads higher than shown can't go through the underpass
  • Steep hill ahead: approach with caution; you may want a lower gear
Handbook p. 21 ↗

Merging and lane warnings:

  • Merge: other traffic may move into your lane; adjust speed and lane so they can merge safely
  • Two roadways come together with a new lane added: you don't have to merge, but watch the new lane
  • Right lane ends ahead: prepare to merge
  • Stop sign ahead: be prepared to stop
Handbook p. 21 ↗
Merge
Merge
Added lane
Added lane: two roadways join with a new lane
Stop ahead
Stop sign ahead

Know the rule

Pedestrian crossing: slow down and prepare to stop, watch both sides of the street, and yield.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Know the rule

School signs warn of activities and hazards on or near the roadway: watch both sides of the road and be prepared to slow down and/or stop.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
School zone and school crossing signs
School zone and school crossing signs

Know the rule

A "T" intersection sign means the road ends ahead: you must turn right or left and be prepared to yield.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Know the rule

Diagonal stripes on a warning sign or barricade show which way to pass: stripes sloping downward to the right mean bear right; sloping downward to the left mean bear left.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Object markers and reflectors:

  • Placed in front of objects close to the road edge, such as culverts or center piers on divided highways
  • Placed on the endrails of narrow bridges or other obstructions to make them stand out
  • Night-time reflectors that show where the road lies (road alignment)
Handbook p. 22 ↗

Put it into practice

You're in the right lane and see a yellow diamond showing two lanes merging into one. The right lane ends ahead: check your mirror and blind spot, signal, and adjust your speed to merge smoothly into the left lane.

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 color and shape is a standard warning sign?
  1. Orange rectangle with white letters
  2. White rectangle with black letters
  3. Yellow diamond with black letters
  4. Red octagon

Answer: Yellow diamond with black letters

Warning signs are diamond-shaped, yellow background, black letters.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
A merge sign means you have the right-of-way and other traffic must stop for you.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

A merge sign warns that other traffic may be moving into your lane; be ready to adjust speed and lane.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
Which of these signs is diamond-shaped with a yellow background?
  1. A regulatory sign
  2. A guide sign
  3. A service sign
  4. A warning sign

Answer: A warning sign

Warning signs are always yellow diamonds with black lettering or symbols.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
A sign shows diagonal stripes sloping downward to the right on a barricade. What does this mean?
  1. Bear to the right
  2. Bear to the left
  3. Stop immediately ahead
  4. The road is completely closed

Answer: Bear to the right

Stripes sloping downward to the right mean bear to the right; sloping left means bear left.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
A yellow diamond-shaped sign is a warning sign about a hazard or change in the road ahead.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Yellow diamonds are the standard shape and color for warning signs.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
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