Virginia · Handbook chapter 3 · 6 min read

Chapter 3: Traffic signs

Virginia traffic signs for the 10-question sign part of the exam: sign colors and shapes, regulatory signs, warning signs, railroad crossings and work zone signs, flaggers and slow-moving vehicles.

Why this chapter matters

Part one of the Virginia knowledge exam is 10 traffic sign questions, and you must get every one right before you can take part two. Sign colors and shapes carry meaning before you can read the words, which helps in fog or at a distance.

Colors

Shapes

Regulatory signs

Regulatory signs state the law. A red circle with a slash means the action shown is not allowed.

• Speed limit: the maximum in good conditions. You can still be ticketed for going too fast for rain, snow or ice. Some are electronic and change with conditions.
• DO NOT ENTER / WRONG WAY: you are going against traffic. Slow down, pull over and carefully turn around.
• ONE WAY: traffic moves only in the arrow's direction.
• No Left Turn: in Virginia a U-turn counts as two left turns, so U-turns are also illegal where this sign is posted.
• No Right Turn, No U-Turn, No Turn on Red.
• DO NOT PASS: start of a no passing zone; do not pass even if the way is clear.
• LEFT TURN YIELD ON GREEN: left turners on a green ball must yield to oncoming traffic.
• KEEP RIGHT: an island, median or barrier is ahead; keep to the side the arrow shows.
• Lane use control: traffic in that lane must turn the way the arrow points.
• HOV: lanes reserved for buses and vehicles carrying the number of people shown.
• Disabled parking: only for vehicles with a disabled parking permit.

Warning signs

• No Passing Zone: marks the start of a zone where you may not pass, even if the way is clear.
• Advisory speed: the highest safe speed for an exit or curve.
• Reduced Speed Limit Ahead, Stop Ahead, Yield Ahead, Signal Ahead: slow down and be ready.
• Merge: two lanes become one; drivers in both lanes share the job of merging safely.
• Lane reduction: the right lane ends; its drivers merge left, and left-lane drivers let them in.
• Divided highway begins: the road splits and each side is one-way. Divided highway ends: two-way traffic ahead. Keep right for both.
• Curves and turns: right curve, sharp right turn, reverse turns and winding road. Slow down.
• Intersection, Y intersection (bear right or left) and T intersection (your road ends at a stop sign; turn right or left after yielding).
• Roundabout: yield to traffic already in the circle and travel counterclockwise.
• Slippery When Wet: slow down, avoid hard braking and sudden turns, and leave more space.
• Low clearance: do not go on if your vehicle is taller than the posted height. Hill: a steep grade is ahead; check your brakes.
• Deer crossing, tractors and farm equipment, and horse-drawn buggies: slow down, do not use the horn near buggies, and pass with at least three feet of room.
• Pedestrian, bicycle and school signs: a second sign with an arrow may mark the exact crossing.
• Open joints, expansion joints, rough road, bump and uneven lanes warn of surfaces that are risky, especially for motorcyclists.

Railroad crossings

• The round yellow advance warning sign: look, listen, slow down and be ready to stop.
• The white crossbuck marks the crossing itself. Trains can come from either direction on any track.
• Flashing lights: stop when they start and wait until the trains have passed and the lights stop.
• Gates: stop before the gate lowers and stay stopped until it rises. Never drive around a lowered gate.
• Low ground crossing: a steep slope that can catch low vehicles on the tracks.
• X and RR may be painted on the road before a crossing. School buses always stop at railroad crossings.
• If your car stalls on the tracks, get out and run diagonally away from the tracks toward the oncoming train.
• Report a dangerous crossing to the number on the emergency sign, giving the crossing number.

Work zones

Orange means a work zone: slow down and stay alert.

• Road construction ahead and detour signs warn of changed traffic patterns.
• Flashing arrow boards move you into another lane because part of the road ahead is closed.
• Flaggers wear orange or yellow vests, or yellow-green shirts or jackets, and use STOP/SLOW paddles or red flags.
• Photo speed enforcement signs mean cameras enforce the work zone speed limit.
• Near barricades, drums and cones, stay in the middle of your lane and do not change lanes until you are clear of the zone.
• Rumble Strips Ahead: drive slowly over the strips; do not swerve around them.
• Speeding in a work zone can cost up to $500; using a handheld device there brings a $250 fine.

The slow-moving vehicle emblem must be shown by vehicles traveling at 25 MPH or less on a public highway, such as farm equipment, horse-drawn vehicles and highway work vehicles. Be ready to adjust your speed or position.