Maryland: Sign shapes and colors Practice Test
What the shape and background color of a traffic sign tell you before you can read it.
Independent educational site · not affiliated with any government agency or DMV
Ready? Test yourself
- Instant feedback with an explanation
- Every answer cites its source in the manual
- Your best score is saved on this device
Questions are original and based on the official manual "Maryland Driver’s Manual" (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.
All 20 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
Show the questions and answersHide the questions
-
A sign has a red background. What kind of information does it give?
- General warning of what to expect ahead
- Stop, yield, do not enter, or wrong way
- Destinations, distances, and directions
- Services like food, gas, and rest areas
Show answer
Correct answer: Stop, yield, do not enter, or wrong way
A red sign background means stop, yield, do not enter, or wrong way.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
Which main background color gives a general warning of what to expect ahead?
- Orange
- Green
- Fluorescent pink
- Yellow
Show answer
Correct answer: Yellow
A yellow background is used for a general warning of what to expect ahead.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
Which main background color is used for speed limit and keep right signs?
- White
- Red
- Yellow
- Blue
Show answer
Correct answer: White
White signs show the speed limit, keep right, and some guide signs.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
Which background color is used for construction and maintenance work area warning signs?
- Yellow
- Fluorescent pink
- Orange
- Red
Show answer
Correct answer: Orange
Orange is the background color for construction and maintenance work area warning signs.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
A sign has a green background. What information does it give?
- Services like food, gas, and rest areas
- Destinations, distances, and directions
- Recreation and cultural interest areas
- Emergency traffic incidents
Show answer
Correct answer: Destinations, distances, and directions
Green signs give destinations, distances, and directions.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
Which main background color is used for services like food, gas, and rest area signs?
- Green
- Brown
- White
- Blue
Show answer
Correct answer: Blue
Blue signs show services such as food, gas, and rest areas.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
A sign has a brown background. What kind of place does it point to?
- Recreation and cultural interest areas
- Construction and maintenance work areas
- Services like food and gas
- Schools and bicycle routes
Show answer
Correct answer: Recreation and cultural interest areas
A brown background is used for recreation and cultural interest areas.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
Which color does the manual give for school signs?
- Fluorescent pink
- Orange with black symbols
- Fluorescent yellow-green
- Brown
Show answer
Correct answer: Fluorescent yellow-green
The manual gives fluorescent yellow-green as the color of school signs.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
Which color is used for signs about emergency traffic incidents?
- Fluorescent yellow-green
- Fluorescent pink
- Orange
- Red
Show answer
Correct answer: Fluorescent pink
Fluorescent pink is used for emergency traffic incident signs.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
Which main background color is used for One Way signs and signs that change messages?
- Green
- Brown
- Blue
- Black
Show answer
Correct answer: Black
Black is used for One Way signs and signs that change messages.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
What does an eight-sided (octagon) sign always mean?
- Stop
- Yield
- Warning
- No passing
Show answer
Correct answer: Stop
The octagonal (eight-sided) shape always means stop, and you must come to a complete stop.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
What does a downward-pointing triangle sign tell you to do?
- Come to a complete stop and wait for traffic to clear
- Be ready for special conditions or hazards ahead
- Slow down and, if necessary, stop to give the right-of-way
- Do not pass any other vehicles here
Show answer
Correct answer: Slow down and, if necessary, stop to give the right-of-way
The triangle shape means yield: slow down and, if necessary, stop to give the right-of-way to other vehicles and pedestrians.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
What do diamond-shaped signs do?
- Mark the start of a no passing zone
- Warn you of special conditions or hazards ahead
- Mark a school crossing
- Identify the location of a railroad crossing
Show answer
Correct answer: Warn you of special conditions or hazards ahead
Diamond signs warn you of special conditions or hazards ahead, so you may have to slow down and be ready to act.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
A sign is shaped like a pennant, a sideways triangle. What does it mark?
- The location of a railroad crossing
- A school zone
- A recreation area
- The start of a no passing zone
Show answer
Correct answer: The start of a no passing zone
The pennant shape marks the start of a no passing zone, where you must not pass other vehicles.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
What do vertical rectangular signs usually give?
- Instructions or the rules of the road
- Directions or information
- A warning of a railroad crossing ahead
- The start of a no passing zone
Show answer
Correct answer: Instructions or the rules of the road
Vertical rectangular signs usually give instructions or tell you the rules of the road.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
What do horizontal rectangular signs usually give?
- A warning of a school zone
- The start of a no passing zone
- Directions or information
- A warning of special hazards ahead
Show answer
Correct answer: Directions or information
Horizontal rectangular signs usually give directions or information.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
What does a five-sided (pentagon) sign warn you of?
- That a railroad crossing is ahead
- School zones, and it marks school crossings
- The beginning of a no passing zone ahead
- Construction work areas
Show answer
Correct answer: School zones, and it marks school crossings
The pentagon (five-sided) shape warns you of school zones and marks school crossings.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
What does a round sign warn you of?
- A school zone
- A no passing zone
- A hazard such as a sharp curve
- A railroad crossing ahead
Show answer
Correct answer: A railroad crossing ahead
A round sign is used to warn that there is a railroad crossing ahead.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
What does a crossbuck, the X-shaped sign, identify?
- The location of a railroad crossing
- A school zone
- The start of a no passing zone
- A work zone ahead
Show answer
Correct answer: The location of a railroad crossing
The crossbuck identifies the location of a railroad crossing.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20
-
What do trapezoid-shaped signs show?
- School zones, school crossings, and pedestrian routes ahead
- Highway-rail grade crossings and railroad warnings ahead
- Recreation and cultural interest areas and National Forest Routes
- Destinations, distances, and directions on highways
Show answer
Correct answer: Recreation and cultural interest areas and National Forest Routes
Trapezoid signs show recreation and cultural interest areas and National Forest Routes.
Source: Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 Edition (DL-002 10-25)), page 20