Earn Your Wheels TXTexas

Texas road signs and what they mean

The 50 road signs, signals and markings the Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) 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.

  • CARPOOL / HOV LANE

    CARPOOL / HOV LANE

    Restricted to high-occupancy vehicles during the posted hours.

    White diamond symbol on the sign and painted in the lane.

  • 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 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.

  • WRONG WAY

    WRONG WAY

    You are traveling against traffic. Get off the road immediately.

    Red rectangle, white text.

  • 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.

  • ADDED LANE

    ADDED LANE

    Traffic is joining, but into its own new lane. No merging required.

    Yellow diamond, a new lane appearing alongside.

  • ANIMAL CROSSING

    ANIMAL CROSSING

    Animals regularly cross here.

    Yellow diamond with a deer (or cattle) symbol.

  • BUMP / DIP

    BUMP / DIP

    An abrupt change in the road surface ahead.

    Yellow diamond with a raised or dropped profile.

  • CHEVRON / LARGE ARROW

    CHEVRON / LARGE ARROW

    The road changes direction sharply right here.

    Yellow rectangle with an arrowhead, mounted in the curve itself.

  • CROSSROAD AHEAD

    CROSSROAD AHEAD

    A road crosses yours ahead; traffic may enter from both sides.

    Yellow diamond with a plus symbol.

  • CURVE AHEAD

    CURVE AHEAD

    A curve is coming at roughly the advisory speed.

    Yellow diamond with a bending arrow. An advisory speed plate may hang below.

  • 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.

  • LOW CLEARANCE

    LOW CLEARANCE

    Anything taller than the posted height will hit the structure.

    Yellow diamond or rectangle stating a height, e.g. 12'6".

  • MERGE

    MERGE

    Another stream of traffic is about to join yours. Traffic already on the highway has the right of way.

    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.

  • NO PASSING PENNANT

    NO PASSING PENNANT

    You are entering a no-passing zone.

    Yellow pennant — a sideways triangle. Mounted on the LEFT side of the road.

  • PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

    PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

    People cross here, often mid-block.

    Yellow (or fluorescent yellow-green) diamond with a walking figure.

  • RAILROAD CROSSING AHEAD

    RAILROAD CROSSING AHEAD

    A railroad crossing is ahead. Shape alone identifies it.

    Yellow CIRCLE with an X and RR — the only round sign on the road.

  • 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.

  • SIDE ROAD AHEAD

    SIDE ROAD AHEAD

    A road joins from one side only.

    Yellow diamond with a T-branch to one side.

  • 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 road becomes slippery when wet.

    Yellow diamond with a car and skid marks.

  • SOFT SHOULDER

    SOFT SHOULDER

    The edge is loose dirt or gravel and will not carry your weight.

    Yellow diamond, text or symbol showing the shoulder giving way.

  • 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.

  • STOP AHEAD

    STOP AHEAD

    A stop sign is coming that you cannot see yet.

    Yellow diamond with a small red octagon symbol.

  • T-INTERSECTION AHEAD

    T-INTERSECTION AHEAD

    Your road ends ahead at another road. You must turn.

    Yellow diamond with a T symbol.

  • 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

    A winding road is 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.

    A five-sided school sign with squared bottom corners.

  • SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE

    SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE

    This vehicle travels at 25 mph or less.

    Orange-and-red reflective TRIANGLE mounted on the rear of a vehicle.

Lights

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

  • FLASHING YELLOW ARROW

    FLASHING YELLOW ARROW

    You may turn, but you must yield. Oncoming traffic has green.

    Flashing amber arrow lens.

  • GREEN ARROW — PROTECTED TURN

    GREEN ARROW — PROTECTED TURN

    The turn is protected: oncoming traffic is held on red.

    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.

  • PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL

    PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL

    Controls people on foot — and tells you what pedestrians are about to do.

    WALK figure / raised HAND, often with a countdown.

  • 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 and wait for green if you are going straight. You may turn right, or turn left if both streets are one way, unless prohibited.

    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.

  • 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.

From the Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7)

Edition: Revised January 2026. We read it on October 11. Read it at the DPS. We're an independent study app and aren't connected to the DPS or any state agency. Rules change, so check anything that matters to you with the DPS.

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