Signs communicate through colour, shape and symbol, so you can often read them before you read their words.
- Stop sign: an eight-sided (octagonal) red sign with white letters. Come to a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk or edge of the intersection.
- Yield sign: a triangle with a white background and red border. Let traffic proceed first; stop if necessary before entering.
- Warning signs: diamond-shaped, yellow background, black symbols. They alert you to a hazard ahead such as a curve, merge or pedestrians.
- Temporary condition signs: diamond-shaped, orange background, black symbols. They warn of construction zones, detours and lane closures.
- School zone sign: five-sided (pentagon), fluorescent yellow-green with black symbols. Slow down and watch for children.
- Railway crossing sign: X-shaped, white background with a red outline. Tracks cross the road ahead.
- Information and direction signs: rectangular, green background, white letters. They show distances, destinations and facilities.
- Regulatory symbols, a green circle means the action shown is permitted; a red circle with a line means it is prohibited.
🧠 Memory hook: "Yellow is a fixed hazard; orange is a temporary one." Both are diamonds, the colour tells you whether it is permanent.
Recall: What shape and colour is a railway crossing sign? What does an orange diamond warn of?