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

AUTO

By: Kennita Leon

6 Min Quiz

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! 

What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

It alerts drivers of workers that are nearby, due to construction or any other kind of work taking place in the vicinity.

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What's the name of this sign?

The tow-away zone sign shows that the designated space is not for parking purposes, and any vehicle in that area will be towed.

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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

Beware of a children's playground ahead when you see this sign. Drive cautiously to avoid causing injury to any child in the area.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

This is another traffic control sign that instructs drivers to turn left at the intersection. It features an arrow pointing left.

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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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What's the name of this sign?

This particular sign requires vehicles in all directions of an intersection to stop before driving through.

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What's the name of this sign?

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.

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