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New York road signs and what they mean

The 39 road signs, signals and markings the New York State Driver's Manual teaches, each drawn as it looks on the road, with what it means.

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Rules you must obey

Red signs stop you or forbid something. White signs state a law you must obey.

  • CROSSBUCK

    CROSSBUCK

    Yield to trains. This is the rail equivalent of a yield sign.

    White X-shaped sign at the crossing itself. A plate below shows the number of tracks.

  • DO NOT ENTER

    DO NOT ENTER

    You may not drive past this point in this direction.

    White square with a red circle and a white bar across it.

  • DO NOT PASS

    DO NOT PASS

    Overtaking is prohibited from here until a PASS WITH CARE sign or the marking changes.

    Black-on-white regulatory rectangle.

  • KEEP RIGHT

    KEEP RIGHT

    Pass this island, median or barrier on the right.

    Black-and-white arrow sign on an obstruction.

  • NO LEFT TURN

    NO LEFT TURN

    No left turn from this point, in this direction.

    Left arrow in a red circle-slash.

  • NO RIGHT TURN

    NO RIGHT TURN

    No right turn here, red light or green.

    Right arrow in a red circle-slash.

  • NO TURN ON RED

    NO TURN ON RED

    The usual permission to turn on red is cancelled here.

    White regulatory sign, often with a red circle-slash.

  • NO U-TURN

    NO U-TURN

    You may not reverse direction here.

    Black U-arrow in a red circle-slash.

  • ONE WAY

    ONE WAY

    Traffic moves only in the arrow's direction.

    Black-and-white horizontal arrow rectangle.

  • SPEED LIMIT 25

    SPEED LIMIT 25

    25 mph is the maximum in ideal conditions — not a target.

    Black-on-white vertical rectangle. White regulates, yellow only warns.

  • SPEED LIMIT 65

    SPEED LIMIT 65

    Maximum legal speed on this freeway in good conditions.

    Black-on-white regulatory rectangle.

  • STOP

    STOP

    Come to a complete stop. Wheels must stop rolling.

    Red octagon — the only octagon on the road. Recognizable from the back and in the dark.

  • YIELD

    YIELD

    Give way to traffic and pedestrians already there. Slow down, and stop if you must.

    Red-and-white downward triangle — the only downward triangle.

Something ahead needs care

Yellow diamond signs warn you about what is ahead.

  • DIVIDED HIGHWAY BEGINS

    DIVIDED HIGHWAY BEGINS

    A median or barrier is about to separate the directions.

    Yellow diamond, one road splitting around a median.

  • DIVIDED HIGHWAY ENDS

    DIVIDED HIGHWAY ENDS

    The median is ending — you are about to face oncoming traffic again.

    Yellow diamond, two roads joining into one.

  • FLAGGER AHEAD

    FLAGGER AHEAD

    A person will direct traffic ahead.

    Orange diamond with a person holding a flag or paddle.

  • LANE ENDS / RIGHT LANE ENDS

    LANE ENDS / RIGHT LANE ENDS

    Your lane is about to disappear. Move over before it does.

    Yellow diamond showing one lane tapering away.

  • MERGE

    MERGE

    Lanes from two roads are about to join into one lane of traffic.

    Yellow diamond, two lines joining.

  • NARROW BRIDGE

    NARROW BRIDGE

    The bridge is narrower than the road you are on.

    Yellow diamond with a pinched roadway.

  • RAILROAD CROSSING AHEAD

    RAILROAD CROSSING AHEAD

    A railroad crossing is ahead. Shape alone identifies it.

    Yellow, with black RR letters and an X symbol.

  • ROAD WORK

    ROAD WORK

    A work zone is ahead. Conditions differ from the permanent signs.

    Orange diamond, with AHEAD or a distance such as 1000 FT — orange always means temporary.

  • SIGNAL AHEAD

    SIGNAL AHEAD

    A traffic light is coming, possibly hidden by a curve, crest or trees.

    Yellow diamond with a traffic-signal symbol.

  • SLIPPERY WHEN WET

    SLIPPERY WHEN WET

    The surface loses grip in rain, frost or fog.

    Yellow diamond with a car and skid marks.

  • STEEP GRADE / HILL

    STEEP GRADE / HILL

    A long or steep descent is ahead.

    Yellow diamond with a truck on a slope, often with a percentage plate.

  • TWO-WAY TRAFFIC AHEAD

    TWO-WAY TRAFFIC AHEAD

    The one-way or divided section ends; oncoming traffic returns.

    Yellow diamond, two opposing arrows.

  • WINDING ROAD

    WINDING ROAD

    There is a winding road ahead.

    Yellow diamond with an S-shaped arrow.

School and children

The five-sided shape is reserved for school.

  • SCHOOL ZONE / SCHOOL CROSSING

    SCHOOL ZONE / SCHOOL CROSSING

    School zone — children crossing.

    The school sign is a five-sided pentagon, and the county route sign is one too.

  • SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE

    SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE

    This is the slow-moving vehicle symbol, a reflective orange triangle.

    A reflective orange triangle on the back of the vehicle.

Lights

Follow a person directing traffic, even if the light shows something else.

  • GREEN ARROW — PROTECTED TURN

    GREEN ARROW — PROTECTED TURN

    Go in the arrow's direction, but yield to other traffic in the intersection.

    Green arrow lens.

  • OVERHEAD LANE CONTROL

    OVERHEAD LANE CONTROL

    Whether that specific lane is open in your direction right now.

    Green arrow (open) or red X (closed) above a lane.

  • STEADY GREEN LIGHT

    STEADY GREEN LIGHT

    You may proceed if the intersection is clear.

    Green lens, bottom of the head.

  • STEADY RED LIGHT

    STEADY RED LIGHT

    Stop. Remain stopped until it turns green.

    Red lens, top of the signal head.

  • STEADY YELLOW LIGHT

    STEADY YELLOW LIGHT

    The light is about to turn red. Stop if you can do so safely.

    Amber lens, center of the head.

Paint on the road

When a sign and the paint disagree, follow the sign. The paint still shows where you may drive.

  • LANE ARROW + ONLY

    LANE ARROW + ONLY

    This lane may only be used for the movement shown.

    White arrow painted in the lane, sometimes with the word ONLY.

  • STOP LINE

    STOP LINE

    The solid white line across your lane that shows where to stop.

Where things are

Green, blue and brown signs show directions, services and places of interest.

  • DETOUR

    DETOUR

    The normal route is closed; follow this alternate.

    Orange rectangle reading DETOUR — often paired with an arrow panel showing the routing.

  • GREEN GUIDE SIGN / EXIT

    GREEN GUIDE SIGN / EXIT

    Directions, distances and exits. Green never imposes a duty.

    Green rectangle, white lettering.

  • HOSPITAL (blue service sign)

    HOSPITAL (blue service sign)

    This sign marks a hospital open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    Blue rectangle with a white H.

  • REST AREA / SERVICES

    REST AREA / SERVICES

    Facilities ahead — restrooms, parking, sometimes fuel and food.

    Blue rectangle with service symbols.

From the New York State Driver's Manual

Edition: MV-21 (5/23), per the DMV's manual page. We read it on October 18. Read it at the DMV. We're an independent study app and aren't connected to the DMV or any state agency. Rules change, so check anything that matters to you with the DMV.

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