North Dakota · Handbook chapter 2 · 3 min read

Chapter 2: Signs

North Dakota regulatory, warning, school, construction and guide signs: STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, WRONG WAY, no-passing signs, two-way left turn signs, the railroad advance warning sign, slow-moving vehicles, channelizing devices, flaggers and work zone fines.

Why this chapter matters

Signs tell you the rules, warn you of hazards and help you find your way. North Dakota uses three basic kinds: regulatory, warning and guide signs. Their shape and color tell you a lot before you can read them.

Regulatory signs

Regulatory signs give mandatory instructions. Most are white with black letters or red with white letters.

• STOP: the only eight-sided sign. Stop completely before the stop line or crosswalk. With neither, stop where you can safely see traffic from all directions before the intersection.
• YIELD: slow down and stop if necessary so you can give the right-of-way.
• SPEED LIMIT: the maximum speed under ideal conditions, usually on the right side of the road.
• ONE WAY: traffic flows only in the direction of the arrow.
• DO NOT ENTER: you may not enter that road section.
• WRONG WAY: you have entered a street, freeway or ramp against traffic.
• NO TURN ON RED: you may not turn right on red at that intersection; some are electronic.
• A red circle with a slash forbids the action shown, such as no U-turn, no right turn, no left turn or no trucks.
• No passing: the rectangular DO NOT PASS sign is on the right side of the road; the yellow pennant NO PASSING ZONE sign is on the left.
• TWO-WAY LEFT TURN ONLY: the center lane is only for left turns by traffic from either direction, never for passing.

Warning signs

Warning signs are yellow with a black legend and alert you to hazards so you can slow down.

• Lanes: added lane (no need to merge), lane reduction (move into the proper lane), merging traffic from the right, divided highway begins or ends, two-way traffic.
• Curves and turns, often with an advisory speed plaque showing the recommended speed.
• Intersections, Yield Ahead, Traffic Signal Ahead, Bump, Slippery When Wet, Deer Crossing and bicycle signs.
• Pedestrian and school signs may be fluorescent yellow-green or standard yellow. The five-sided school sign warns of a school or school crossing.
• Railroad advance warning: round, black on yellow. Slow down so you can stop if a train is coming.
• Slow-moving vehicle: an orange triangle with a red reflective border on vehicles or equipment going 25 mph or less.

Construction and maintenance

Work zone signs are orange with a black legend, mostly diamond-shaped, with some rectangles and electronic message boards.

• Barricades and panels: the diagonal stripes point the way to pass. Stripes sloping down to the right mean keep right; down to the left mean keep left.
• Flashing arrow panels direct you into open lanes.
• Flaggers wear orange, yellow or yellow-green and use red flags or STOP/SLOW paddles. Obey them.
• Breaking a work zone speed limit while workers are present carries a minimum $80 fee. Crews work day and night, and 98 percent of work zone deaths are travelers.

Guide signs