Most Americans Can't Identify All of These U.S. Road Signs. Can You?

By: Kennita Leon
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Most Americans Can't Identify All of These U.S. Road Signs. Can You?
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Road signs are there for a reason. Over the years they have evolved from just a few to maybe over a couple hundred or so (in the world). They've gotten more colorful and creative and now give us directions we never knew we needed to know - not every country has deer that we have to look out for while driving. But that's the great thing about road signs. Every country has the ones specific to the needs of that nation or even state. So we're going to focus on the U.S. road signs that you should know. Do you think you can ace this quiz? 

Like we were saying, not every state has a sign devoted to watching out for deer, but some do. So it's still important to know the sign even if you don't live in Georgia, South Carolina or Texas. There's also a sign telling you about schools and playgrounds that you should know, even if you live in the middle of nowhere. So we're testing these things and more in our quiz. 

So if you want to test your road rules know-how, get started with this road signs quiz! We're going to take your license and hand you a booklet if you fail! 

Stop Sign
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
No motor vehicles
No stopping
Stop
Stop signs, which were first seen in Michigan in 1915, were initially featured in different colors, including a bright yellow for better visibility. By 1954, the red octagon-shaped stop sign that we use today was introduced.
Exclusive parking

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Yield
Wiki Commons by Fry1989
What's the name of this sign?
Highway
Bus stop
No goods vehicles
Yield
This sign is often used at traffic circles, signaling the drivers to maintain the flow of traffic and to allow other drivers to pass. It is similar to stop signs and can be found on street crossing signs to make way for pedestrians.

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Sharp Curve
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Width limit
No honking horn
No animal-drawn vehicles
Very sharp curve ahead
This sign signals drivers to slow down, due to a curve in the road ahead of them. To signal the warning, the sign may feature a curved arrow, or some variation of the words "sharp curve ahead" may be written.

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Deer Crossing
Wiki Commons by Dickelbers
What's the name of this sign?
End of all restrictions
Deer crossing
This sign tells drivers that they are traveling through an area with an active deer population, so they should drive cautiously. This is to ensure the safety of the driver and the deer, which may cross the road at any point in time.
Uneven road
Speed humps

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Entering a two-way street
Wiki Commons by Monaneko
What's the name of this sign?
No pedestrians
Height limit
Steep descent
Two-way traffic
This two-way traffic sign gives drivers a heads up that they are entering a two-way roadway and should drive accordingly.

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Train crossing
Wiki Commons by Sarah777
What's the name of this sign?
Railroad crossing ahead
If you were to ever spot a round sign, two black RR letters on either side and a huge X in the middle, chances are you have just passed the railroad crossing sign. This means that a train track is nearby and a train may be approaching. You should certainly be careful.
Steep ascent
Road narrows
Narrow bridge

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Workers Ahead
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
No motor vehicles
Give way
Workers ahead
It alerts drivers of workers that are nearby, due to construction or any other kind of work taking place in the vicinity.
Uneven road

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Tow Away
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
Fallen rocks
Tow-away zone
The tow-away zone sign shows that the designated space is not for parking purposes, and any vehicle in that area will be towed.
No stopping
Slippery road

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No Peds
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Danger ahead
No goods vehicles
Highway
No pedestrians
As a means of ensuring the safety of pedestrians, this sign is usually placed near roads and other places where pedestrians should not venture.

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Playground
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Exclusive parking
Playground ahead
Beware of a children's playground ahead when you see this sign. Drive cautiously to avoid causing injury to any child in the area.
Width limit
Traffic signals ahead

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Do Not Enter
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
No animal-drawn vehicles
No honking horn
Do not enter
This self-explanatory sign is definitely a warning for the curious. Whether it be strategically placed for security or privacy purposes, you should do just that - do not enter. It is commonly used to navigate traffic, such as on one-way roads and highways.
Bus stop

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Parking with Time
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Road narrows
Speed humps
End of all restrictions
Parking with time restrictions
These signs show the allotted time for parking in a specific area. In this way, drivers are free to explore their options for a parking lot that best suits their needs.

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Cattle Crossing
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Height limit
Steep descent
Cattle crossing
Similar to the deer crossing sign, this sign alerts drivers to cattle that may be crossing the roads in the area. It has the graphic of a black cow to give drivers an immediate understanding of the area they are traveling through.
Low-flying aircraft ahead

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Ped Crossing
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Give way
Pedestrian crossing
The pedestrian crossing sign serves as notice to motorists of areas where they may encounter pedestrians crossing the road. To the pedestrians, it serves as a guide to the areas designated for their safe travels.
No pedestrians
No motor vehicles

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No Hitchhiking
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
No hitchhiking
This sign is produced in different ways: there is one with "no hitchhiking" written across and another with a hitchhiking diagonal slash over an open hand. It is used to indicate that hitchhiking in a particular area is forbidden.
Narrow bridge
Steep ascent
Slippery road

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School speed limit
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
Highway
No stopping
School speed limit ahead
This precautionary sign tells drivers to slow down and to take heed of the speed limit as they approach a school zone. This is to protect people traveling to and from the campus.
Uneven road

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Crossroads
Wiki Commons by Monaneko
What's the name of this sign?
Exclusive parking
Bus stop
Crossroads
The crossroads sign shows that a road crosses another at an intersection ahead. The arrow indicates the direction the road takes, and this sign warns drivers to be observant of cross traffic.
Width limit

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Handicapped Crossing
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
Fallen rocks
No goods vehicles
No animal-drawn vehicles
Handicapped crossing
This sign shows a depiction of a disabled person crossing the road. Signs like these serve as a means of making way for the handicapped or the differently abled to navigate roadways on a daily basis.

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Hairpin Curve
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Hairpin curve
A curved arrow is seen on the hairpin curve sign, as a means of warning motorists of a sharp bend in the road ahead. Motorists should be wary of those dangerous curves and drive cautiously.
No honking horn
No motor vehicles
Road narrows

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Right Turn Only
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Danger ahead
Right turn only
This is another one of the traffic signs used on the roadways. In this particular lane, drivers can only make right turns and are not allowed to navigate the vehicle in another direction.
Speed humps
Crosswinds

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HOV Lane Ends
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
Steep descent
End of all restrictions
HOV lane ends
A HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane or car-pool lane, is designed for vehicles carrying numerous people to travel through within certain time periods. However, this sign indicates that the lane that allows this flow of traffic has come to an end.
Traffic signals ahead

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Keep Left
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Steep ascent
Highway
Give way
Keep left
The keep left sign signals all drivers to continue to the left and prohibits them from navigating in other directions. This is another sign used to help maintain the flow of traffic.

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No Bicycles
Wiki Commons by Google
What's the name of this sign?
Uneven road
No bicycles
This is to indicate that bicycle riders are forbidden to travel along this particular roadway or to enter this facility. This regulation is put in place for their safety, as some areas may be dangerous for bicycle riders to pass through.
Height limit
Exclusive parking

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Winding Road Ahead
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
No stopping
Bus stop
No animal-drawn vehicles
Winding road
A wavy arrow pointed in the direction of the winding road is depicted on this sign. This warns motorists of several consecutive curves on the road ahead so that they can proceed cautiously.

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Y Intersection
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
Y intersection ahead
This traffic sign signals that the driver is approaching a three-way intersection. The Y shape of the sign shows that each road is of equal importance and prepares drivers beforehand.
No pedestrians
No honking horn
Narrow bridge

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Left or Straight
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
No goods vehicles
Width limit
Low-flying aircraft ahead
Left turn or straight
This sign informs drivers that the lane they are traveling on divides into two directions. Drivers can either continue straight ahead along the road or turn left.

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Minimum Speed
Wiki Commons by Paweł Grzywocz
What's the name of this sign?
Slippery road
Minimum speed limit
This displays the minimum speed motorists are allowed to use when traveling in this specific area. Usually, these are seen on freeways and other highways.
Fallen rocks
Speed humps

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Right Lane
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
Steep descent
No motor vehicles
Right lane
This sign is used to direct traffic. It shows an arrow pointing right, informing drivers that they must turn in this direction at the intersection.
Highway

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Left Turn Only
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Left turn only
This is another traffic control sign that instructs drivers to turn left at the intersection. It features an arrow pointing left.
Danger ahead
Crosswinds
End of all restrictions

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Bicycle lane path
Wiki Commons by P.Ctnt
What's the name of this sign?
Give way
No animal-drawn vehicles
Steep ascent
Bike lane
This bike lane sign indicates that only bicycles should be traveling along this road, and other motorists should yield to the cyclist traveling straight ahead.

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No trucks
Wiki Commons by Fry1989
What's the name of this sign?
Height limit
No large trucks
This sign prohibits large trucks from traveling through a particular area. It may be put in place due to poor road conditions or other factors that make it unsafe for trucks to travel that route.
No stopping
Exclusive parking

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End Passing Zone
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Passing zone ends
The passing zone ends sign means that you can no longer overtake other drivers once you have gotten to the point in the road where this sign is posted. After the zone ends, you may encounter bends in the road or other factors that make it dangerous to overtake.
Road narrows
Traffic signals ahead
Roundabout

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Keep Right
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Roadworks
No pedestrians
Keep right
This is to indicate a change in the roadway that has usually taken place due to an obstruction. The sign redirects motorists and helps to regulate the flow of traffic.
Low-flying aircraft ahead

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No U turn
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
No honking horn
No U-turn
The no U-turn sign shows a restriction symbol over a curved arrow, to indicate that, in this area, drivers cannot turn their vehicle in the opposite direction. It is often seen in areas of heavy traffic, as it would be dangerous to switch directions of a vehicle during that time.
No motor vehicles
No goods vehicles

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Center Lane
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Center lane
The center lane, also known as a suicide lane. It is found on most multi-lane roads in residential or commercial districts and allows vehicles to turn without disrupting the flow of traffic.
Highway
Bus stop
Narrow bridge

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Night Speed Limit
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
Slippery road
Exclusive parking
Speed humps
Nighttime speed limit
This sign enforces the speed motorists must adhere to when driving at night. This speed limit may differ from state to state.

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No Left Turn
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Road narrows
No left turn
This specifically instructs drivers not to turn left at an intersection where this sign is placed. Instead, drivers can turn right or proceed through the intersection.
Steep descent
Give way

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No turns
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
Width limit
Uneven road
Fallen rocks
No turns
Motorists who see this sign on the roadway must know that they cannot make any left or right turns at the intersection. They must instead drive straight through the intersection.

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Right Turn or Straight
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
No animal-drawn vehicles
No stopping
Right turn or straight
When you spot this sign on the roadway, it means that the lane you are traveling on is going to split in two. You can then either turn right or travel straight.
Height limit

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Bus lane
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
Danger ahead
Steep ascent
Bus lane
The bus lane sign indicates where buses are allowed to travel through. No other vehicle should use this lane during operating hours unless allowances have been given beforehand, such as in the case of taxis and cyclists.
Crosswinds

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truck speed limit
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
Truck speed limit
This sign will indicate the legal speed limits for trucks in the U.S. The limit may differ from state to state, but it is usually lower than that of other vehicles.
Highway
No motor vehicles
Bus stop

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Toll
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
No goods vehicles
Traffic signals ahead
Pay toll
This is part of the toll system, which allows vehicles the ability to travel short and long distances on special roads to save time. This system runs throughout an entire roadway, and the fees differ based on distance.
Low-flying aircraft ahead

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No Straight
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
No honking horn
No straight through
This prohibitory traffic sign tells motorists that they cannot continue to drive straight and must make a turn - either left or right. This may be due to one-way traffic ahead or a dead end.
Exclusive parking
End of all restrictions

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Turn Only
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Width limit
Turn-only lanes
These traffic lanes allow motorists to make left or right turns at an intersection or onto another road. The arrow markings on the road serve as a guide to motorists as to what direction they can turn.
No pedestrians
Narrow bridge

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No Right Turn
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Slippery road
Speed humps
Road narrows
No right turn
Drivers are prohibited from making a right turn at an intersection where this sign is posted. However, they can turn left or simply drive through the intersection.

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Left Lane
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
Uneven road
Left lane merge
The left lane merge sign tells motorists to yield to other motorists who will be entering from the left. Two lanes must merge into one.
Steep ascent
Steep descent

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Straight Only
Wiki Commons
What's the name of this sign?
End of all restrictions
Height limit
Straight ahead only
This sign indicates that vehicles can only travel in a straight ahead direction. They must proceed straight ahead without attempting to make any left or right turns.
Give way

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Yield to Peds
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Yield to pedestrians
Vehicles nearing this sign must give pedestrians priority and allow them to cross the road at the crossing. This is a means of ensuring their safety and comfort.
Bus stop
No goods vehicles
No animal-drawn vehicles

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All Way Stop
Shutterstock
What's the name of this sign?
Highway
Exclusive parking
No motor vehicles
All way stop
This particular sign requires vehicles in all directions of an intersection to stop before driving through.

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Speed Limit
Wiki Commons By Federal Highway Administration
What's the name of this sign?
No honking horn
No stopping
Speed limit
This traffic control sign may feature various speed limits, depending on the area that you are driving through. Residential areas, school zones and highways all have different speed limits.
No pedestrians

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