Virginia road signs and meanings.

Do not enter

Entry is prohibited in this direction.

What to do: Do not enter; find another route.

Shape: circle · Color: red

Do not pass

Passing other vehicles is not allowed here.

What to do: Do not pass; stay behind the vehicle ahead.

Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white

HOV lane

Ahead is a lane reserved for high-occupancy vehicles.

What to do: Use the lane only if your vehicle meets the occupancy requirement.

Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: black

Handbook p. 15 ↗

Keep right

Keep right of the island, median or obstruction ahead.

What to do: Stay to the right of the marked obstruction as you pass it.

Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white

Left turn only

Traffic in this lane must turn left.

What to do: Turn left from this lane; do not go straight or right.

Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white

Left turn yield on green

On a green circular light, left turns must yield to oncoming traffic.

What to do: Yield to oncoming traffic before turning left on a plain green light.

Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white

No bicycles

Bicycles are not allowed on this roadway.

What to do: Do not ride a bicycle here; use an alternate route.

Shape: square · Color: white

No passing zone

Passing other vehicles is not allowed in this zone.

What to do: Stay behind slower traffic; do not pass until the zone ends.

Shape: pennant · Color: yellow

No right turn

Right turns are not allowed here.

What to do: Do not turn right; continue straight or choose another lane.

Shape: square · Color: white

No turn on red

Turning is not allowed while the light is red.

What to do: Wait for a green light before turning; do not turn on red at this location.

Shape: square · Color: white

No U-turn

U-turns are not allowed here.

What to do: Do not turn around; continue straight or use another route.

Shape: square · Color: white

One way

Traffic on this street moves only in the arrow's direction.

What to do: Only enter or travel in the direction the arrow points.

Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: white

Reserved parking (accessible)

Parking reserved for vehicles with a valid disabled plate or permit.

What to do: Do not park here without a valid disabled plate or permit.

Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white

Speed limit

Sets the maximum legal speed on this road.

What to do: Do not drive faster than the posted limit.

Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white

Stop

Come to a complete stop.

What to do: Stop fully at the line, crosswalk, or intersection edge; go only when safe.

Shape: octagon · Color: red

Handbook p. 8 ↗

Wrong way

You are traveling in the wrong direction on a one-way road.

What to do: Stop safely and reverse direction as soon as possible.

Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: red

Advisory speed

Recommends the safe speed for the road condition ahead.

What to do: Slow to the advisory speed shown for the upcoming section.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Crossroad

Warns of an intersecting road ahead.

What to do: Slow down and watch for crossing traffic.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Handbook p. 37 ↗

Curve right

Road curves to the right ahead.

What to do: Slow down and steer smoothly through the right curve.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Deer crossing

Deer may cross the road in this area.

What to do: Slow down and watch for deer, especially at dawn or dusk.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Divided highway begins

Road ahead splits into a divided highway with a median.

What to do: Keep right of the median and stay alert for the lane split ahead.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Divided highway ends

Divided highway ahead merges back into a two-way road.

What to do: Move back toward the right and be ready to meet oncoming traffic.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Exit speed advisory

Shows the recommended safe speed for the exit ramp.

What to do: Slow to the posted advisory speed before taking the exit.

Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: yellow

Farm equipment

Slow-moving farm machinery may be on the road.

What to do: Slow down and pass farm equipment carefully when safe.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Hill

A steep downhill grade is ahead.

What to do: Shift to a lower gear and control speed going downhill.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Horse-drawn vehicle

Slow, horse-drawn vehicles may be on the road.

What to do: Slow down and pass horse-drawn vehicles carefully and widely.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Low clearance

Shows the maximum vehicle height that can safely pass.

What to do: Do not proceed if your vehicle is taller than the height shown.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Merge

A lane from the side joins your road ahead.

What to do: Adjust speed and merge safely; yield to traffic already in your lane.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Pedestrian crossing

Warns of a pedestrian crossing ahead.

What to do: Slow down and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Shape: diamond · Color: fluorescent_yellow_green

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Reverse curve

Warns of a curve followed immediately by a curve in the opposite direction.

What to do: Slow down and stay in your lane through both curves.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Right lane ends

The right lane ends ahead; traffic must merge left.

What to do: Merge left before the lane ends.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Roundabout ahead

A roundabout is ahead.

What to do: Slow down and be ready to yield entering the roundabout.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Sharp turn right

The road turns sharply to the right ahead.

What to do: Slow down well before the turn and steer right to follow the sharp bend.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Side road joining a curve

Warns that a side road joins the highway on a curve ahead.

What to do: Watch for vehicles entering from the side road while negotiating the curve.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Signal ahead

A traffic signal is ahead.

What to do: Be prepared to slow or stop for the signal.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Slippery when wet

Road may be slick from rain, ice or oil.

What to do: Slow down, avoid sudden braking or sharp turns, and increase following distance.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

T intersection

The road ahead ends in a T-shaped intersection.

What to do: Slow down and prepare to turn left or right.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Winding road

The road has several curves ahead.

What to do: Slow down and drive carefully through the series of curves.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Y intersection

A Y-shaped intersection is ahead.

What to do: Slow down and choose your path carefully at the split.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

School zone

Marks a school zone with photo speed enforcement.

What to do: Slow to the posted school-zone speed; cameras may enforce it.

Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: fluorescent_yellow_green

Handbook p. 17 ↗

Low-ground railroad crossing

Warns that low vehicles may get caught crossing raised tracks.

What to do: Slow down and cross carefully if driving a low-clearance vehicle.

Shape: diamond · Color: yellow

Railroad crossbuck

Marks an active railroad crossing; act as a yield sign for trains.

What to do: Look, listen, slow down, and stop if a train is coming.

Shape: crossbuck · Color: white

Railroad crossing ahead

Advance warning that a railroad crossing is ahead.

What to do: Slow down and prepare to stop if a train is coming.

Shape: circle · Color: yellow

Railroad crossing emergency notification sign

Gives a phone number and crossing ID to report a problem at this rail crossing.

What to do: Note the number and crossing ID to report a malfunction or emergency.

Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: blue

Barricade (Type III)

Marks a closed roadway or the edge of a detour.

What to do: Do not drive past or around a barricade blocking the road.

Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: orange

Flagger stop paddle

A flagger uses a stop paddle to halt traffic in a work zone.

What to do: Stop and wait until the flagger signals you to proceed.

Shape: other · Color: orange

Rumble strips ahead

Warns of textured pavement strips ahead meant to alert drivers.

What to do: Expect vibration/noise; stay alert and in your lane.

Shape: diamond · Color: orange

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Work zone speed photo enforced

Warns that speed cameras enforce the limit in this work zone.

What to do: Obey the posted speed limit; violations may be photo-enforced.

Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: white

Flashing red light

A flashing red light means stop, then proceed when safe.

What to do: Stop completely, then go only when it is safe, like a stop sign.

Shape: n/a · Color: n/a

Flashing yellow light

A flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed with caution.

What to do: Slow down and proceed carefully; no full stop is required.

Shape: n/a · Color: n/a

Lane use control signals

A green downward arrow means traffic may use that lane.

What to do: You may drive in the lane marked with a green arrow.

Shape: n/a · Color: n/a

Handbook p. 8 ↗

Red arrow

A red arrow prohibits movement in that direction.

What to do: Stop and wait; do not turn or move in the arrow's direction.

Shape: n/a · Color: n/a

Steady red light

A steady red light means come to a complete stop.

What to do: Stop and remain stopped until the light turns green.

Shape: n/a · Color: n/a

Bike lane

Marks a lane reserved for bicycle travel.

What to do: Do not drive or park in a marked bike lane; yield to cyclists.

Shape: n/a · Color: n/a

Handbook p. 14 ↗

Broken white line

Separates lanes of traffic moving in the same direction.

What to do: You may change lanes across a broken white line when safe.

Shape: n/a · Color: n/a

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Broken yellow center line

Separates two-way traffic; passing allowed on the broken side.

What to do: You may pass when the yellow line on your side is broken and it's safe.

Shape: n/a · Color: n/a

Handbook p. 13 ↗

HOV diamond

Marks a lane for carpools, buses, or qualifying vehicles.

What to do: Enter only if you meet the occupancy or vehicle requirement.

Shape: n/a · Color: n/a

Handbook p. 15 ↗

Lane use arrow (single lane)

A painted arrow shows the required direction of travel for the lane.

What to do: Follow the direction indicated by the lane arrow.

Shape: n/a · Color: n/a

Handbook p. 14 ↗

Railroad crossing pavement marking

Pavement markings warn drivers of an upcoming railroad crossing.

What to do: Slow down and be prepared to stop for a train.

Shape: n/a · Color: n/a