A 3-minute lesson from the Wyoming course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Signs speak through shape and color as well as words. When fog, snow or darkness makes the letters hard to read, the shape alone still tells you what to expect or what to do. The test asks you to identify signs this way.
Warning signs alert you to conditions ahead such as road hazards, construction sites or schools. They're usually diamond-shaped. Most are yellow with black letters.
Construction and maintenance signs have black lettering on an orange background. They warn of temporarily dangerous or unusual conditions on work projects.
Guide signs tell you where you are, what road you're on and how to reach your destination. Most are rectangular; county road signs and freeway route markers have other shapes. Their color depends on the type of information.
At dusk you see a yellow sign shaped like a house with a point on top, but can't read it. That five-sided pentagon means a school zone or school crossing. Slow down, watch for children, and never exceed 20 mph in the school zone.
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 shape is reserved exclusively for stop signs?
Octagon (eight sides)
Triangle pointing down
Diamond
Pentagon
Answer: Octagon (eight sides)
The octagon shape is reserved for stop signs, requiring a complete stop.
