roadwise.Open study app

West Virginia driving lesson · Signs, Signals, and Markings

Warning signs

A 3-minute lesson from the West Virginia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Study this lesson in the app Back to the course
Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Signs, Signals, and Markings
Checkpoint questions
4
Source pages
46

Diamond-shaped warning signs tell you about possible danger ahead: curves, hills, merging traffic, narrow bridges. They are yellow with black letters or symbols and often have no words at all.

Know the rule

Warning signs are usually diamond-shaped, yellow with black letters or symbols, and often have no explanatory words.

Handbook p. 46 ↗

Know the rule

Pedestrian and school warning signs may be yellow-green with black letters.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
Curve warning signs (composite)
Curve, turn and winding road signs

Know the rule

A curve or sharp turn sign means the curve is too sharp for normal highway speed; an advisory speed sign may be attached.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
Crossroad and side road signs
Crossroad and side road signs

Know the rule

Crossroad or side road ahead: watch for vehicles entering or leaving the highway.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
Left lane ends
Right lane ends

Know the rule

Lane ending: here the right lane ends. The symbol is reversed if the left lane is ending.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
Added lane
Added lane

Know the rule

Added lane: traffic may be moving into your lane; be ready to change speed or lanes to avoid a crash.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
Two-way traffic
Two-way traffic

Know the rule

Two-way traffic: the road ahead carries traffic in both directions.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
Hill
Hill

Other warning signs:

  • Hill: take special care; slow down before you start downhill
  • Low clearance: a bridge or underpass ahead is low; the height is shown
  • Slippery when wet: slower speed needed on this section when wet
  • Pedestrian crossing: watch for and yield to people walking across
  • Signal ahead: a traffic signal is coming up
Handbook p. 46 ↗

Put it into practice

You see a yellow diamond with two lanes, the right one bending in. The right lane is ending. If you're in it, signal and merge left safely; if you're in the left lane, expect a car to merge ahead of you.

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 are most diamond-shaped warning signs?
  1. Yellow with black letters or symbols
  2. Orange with black letters
  3. White with black letters
  4. Red with white letters

Answer: Yellow with black letters or symbols

Diamond-shaped warning signs are typically yellow with black letters or symbols.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
What does a diamond-shaped warning sign showing a lane ending on the right mean?
  1. The road is closed ahead
  2. The right lane is ending and traffic must merge left
  3. There is a passing zone beginning
  4. A new lane has just been added

Answer: The right lane is ending and traffic must merge left

This warning sign tells drivers the right lane will end and they must merge into the remaining lane.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
Most warning signs are diamond-shaped with yellow backgrounds.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Diamond-shaped yellow signs are the standard warning sign format.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
Pedestrian and school warning signs may be yellow-green with black letters.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Pedestrian and school warning signs may use a fluorescent yellow-green background with black letters.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
Take the lesson checkpoint in the app

More in Signs, Signals, and Markings

All West Virginia lessons