Center lane left turn only (two-way left turn)
Marks a shared center lane for left turns from either direction.
What to do: Use the center lane only to turn left; do not drive through in it.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white
Handbook p. 116 ↗Washington road signs
Washington road signs and meanings.
Explore 62 signs and driving illustrations from this course’s handbook edition. Each entry pairs the image with its meaning and a practical action. Use your browser’s Find command to look up a name or a word from a meaning.
Look, recognize, act
Notice the shape and color before reading a sign’s words or symbol. Then connect its meaning with what you should do: stop, yield, adjust your speed, choose a lane, or prepare for a hazard. Signals, markings, and diagrams are included where the handbook uses them to explain a driving rule.
Use the source page link for the surrounding rule. Some illustrations show a complete road situation rather than a standalone roadside sign.
Your handbook sign library
62 entries. Sign images and page references belong to the handbook edition used for the Washington course.
Electric vehicle charging only
Space reserved for vehicles actively charging.
What to do: Park here only while connected to the charging equipment.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: green
Handbook p. 150 ↗
HOV lane (left lane only, motorcycles OK)
Left lane is reserved for HOV traffic; motorcycles may also use it.
What to do: Only qualifying carpools, buses, or motorcycles may use the left lane.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white
Handbook p. 134 ↗
Lane-use control sign (left, straight, right only)
Shows which turns each lane must make ahead.
What to do: Get into the lane matching the turn or direction you want.
Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: white
Lane-use control sign (left turn only, through lanes)
Shows which turns each lane must make ahead.
What to do: Get into the lane matching the turn or direction you want.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white
No alcohol while driving
Symbol prohibiting drinking and driving.
What to do: Never drive after drinking alcohol.
Shape: square · Color: white
Handbook p. 37 ↗
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 drinking and driving
Warns against driving after drinking alcohol.
What to do: Never drive after drinking; arrange another way home.
Shape: rectangle vertical · 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
Handbook p. 119 ↗
Reserved parking (accessible)
Parking space reserved for vehicles with a disabled parking permit.
What to do: Do not park here without a valid disabled parking permit.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white
Handbook p. 149 ↗
Speed limit
Shows the maximum legal speed on this road.
What to do: Do not drive faster than the posted speed limit.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: white
Handbook p. 114 ↗
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. 114 ↗
Tire chains required
Digital sign requiring tire chains on this route.
What to do: Install required tire chains before continuing.
Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: black
Handbook p. 120 ↗
Wrong way
You are driving the wrong way on a one-way road.
What to do: Stop and safely turn around; do not continue forward.
Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: red
Handbook p. 116 ↗
Yield
Slow down and give the right-of-way to other traffic.
What to do: Slow or stop if needed and let crossing/cross traffic go first.
Shape: triangle · Color: red
Handbook p. 114 ↗
Added lane
Warns that another lane joins the roadway ahead.
What to do: Watch for merging traffic entering from the added lane.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 120 ↗
Crossroad
Warns of an intersecting road ahead.
What to do: Slow down and watch for crossing traffic.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 119 ↗
Curve left
Road curves to the left ahead.
What to do: Slow down and steer smoothly through the left curve.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 119 ↗
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
Handbook p. 119 ↗
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
Handbook p. 120 ↗
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
Handbook p. 120 ↗
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
Handbook p. 115 ↗
Flood area (Turn Around Don't Drown)
Warns that the road ahead may flood; do not drive into flood water.
What to do: Turn around and take another route if the road is flooded.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: orange
Hill
A steep downhill grade is ahead.
What to do: Shift to a lower gear and control speed going downhill.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 119 ↗
Left lane ends
The left lane ends ahead and traffic must merge.
What to do: Merge right safely before your lane ends.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Low clearance
Warns of a low overhead structure ahead.
What to do: Check your vehicle's height and avoid the route if too tall.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 119 ↗
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
Handbook p. 119 ↗
Pedestrian crossing
Warns of a pedestrian crossing ahead.
What to do: Slow down and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 119 ↗
Playground
A playground area is near the road ahead.
What to do: Slow down and watch for children playing near the road.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Reverse curve
Warns of a curve one way followed by a curve the other way.
What to do: Slow down before the curves and stay in your lane.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 119 ↗
Right lane ends
The right lane ends ahead and traffic must merge left.
What to do: Merge left before the right lane ends, yielding to traffic already in that lane.
Shape: diamond · Color: other
Handbook p. 119 ↗
Road narrows
Warns that the road ahead becomes narrower.
What to do: Slow down and merge into the remaining lane space as needed.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 120 ↗
Roundabout ahead
A roundabout is ahead where traffic circles counterclockwise.
What to do: Slow down and yield to traffic already in the roundabout.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 120 ↗
Side road right
A side road joins the highway from the right ahead.
What to do: Watch for vehicles entering from the side road on the right.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 119 ↗
Signal ahead
Warns of a traffic signal ahead.
What to do: Be ready to slow or stop for the upcoming signal.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 120 ↗
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
Handbook p. 120 ↗
Slow-moving vehicles
Warns that slow-moving vehicles may be on the road ahead.
What to do: Be ready to slow down and pass slow vehicles with care.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 120 ↗
Soft shoulder
The ground on the side of the road is soft.
What to do: Avoid driving onto the shoulder except in an emergency, and do so carefully.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 120 ↗
Stop ahead
Warns that a stop sign is ahead.
What to do: Begin slowing down to stop at the upcoming sign.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 120 ↗
Winding road
Warns of a series of curves ahead.
What to do: Slow down and stay alert through the winding section.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 120 ↗
Y intersection
The road ahead forks into a Y-shaped intersection.
What to do: Slow down and choose the correct branch of the fork.
Shape: diamond · Color: yellow
School crossing
Warns that a school crosswalk is ahead.
What to do: Slow down and watch for children crossing near the school.
Shape: pentagon · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 113 ↗
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. 115 ↗
Light rail crossing
Marks a light rail transit crossing.
What to do: Watch and yield for light rail trains at the crossing.
Shape: square · Color: black
Handbook p. 120 ↗
Railroad crossbuck
Marks a railroad crossing; a train may be near.
What to do: Slow down, look both ways, and stop if a train approaches.
Shape: crossbuck · Color: white
Handbook p. 119 ↗
Railroad crossing ahead
Warns of a railroad crossing ahead.
What to do: Slow down, look and listen for trains before crossing.
Shape: circle · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 121 ↗
Railroad crossing emergency notification sign
Posted sign with a crossing ID and phone number to report problems.
What to do: Call the posted number to report trouble or an emergency at the crossing.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: blue
Handbook p. 106 ↗
Flagger ahead
A worker will direct traffic ahead.
What to do: Slow down and be ready to stop or follow the flagger's directions.
Shape: diamond · Color: orange
Workers ahead
Road workers are working near or in the roadway.
What to do: Slow down and watch for workers and equipment.
Shape: diamond · Color: orange
Destination and distance
Shows nearby destinations and the distance to each.
What to do: Use this sign to plan your route and remaining travel distance.
Shape: rectangle horizontal · Color: green
Handbook p. 118 ↗
Exit ramp advisory speed (25 MPH)
Shows the exit number and advisory speed for the ramp.
What to do: Slow to the advisory speed before taking the exit ramp.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: yellow
Handbook p. 120 ↗
National forest route marker
Marks a numbered road within a national forest.
What to do: Use this marker to confirm your route through the forest.
Shape: shield · Color: brown
Handbook p. 121 ↗
Tsunami hazard zone
Marks an area at risk of tsunami flooding.
What to do: After an earthquake, go to high ground or inland immediately.
Shape: rectangle vertical · Color: blue
Handbook p. 121 ↗
Volcano evacuation route
Marks a designated route for volcano evacuation.
What to do: Follow this route to higher/safer ground during an eruption warning.
Shape: square · Color: blue
Handbook p. 121 ↗
Accessible facility
Marks a facility or space accessible to people with disabilities.
What to do: Use as directed; reserve marked accessible spaces for permit holders.
Shape: square · Color: blue
Steady green light
Traffic signal showing a steady green light.
What to do: Go if the intersection is clear, yielding to pedestrians and emergency vehicles.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 112 ↗
Steady red light
Traffic signal showing a steady red light.
What to do: Stop and wait until the light turns green.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 110 ↗
Steady yellow light
Traffic signal showing a steady yellow light.
What to do: Slow down and prepare to stop; the light is about to turn red.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 111 ↗
Crosswalk
A marked mid-block crosswalk between intersections.
What to do: Stop and yield to pedestrians using a marked crosswalk.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 125 ↗
Fire lane marking
Red stripes or curb mark a fire lane where parking is banned.
What to do: Never park or stop in a marked fire lane.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a
Handbook p. 138 ↗
Two-way left turn lane markings
A shared center lane for left turns from either direction.
What to do: Use this lane only to turn left or wait to turn; do not drive through it.
Shape: n/a · Color: n/a