Octagon, red: Stop sign: come to a full stop Triangle pointing down, red and white: Yield: slow down and give way Circle with slash: Prohibition: whatever is shown is not allowed Yellow diamond: Warning of a hazard or change ahead Orange diamond or rectangle: Construction or work zone warning Pentagon, yellow-green: School zone or school crossing Round, yellow with an X: Railroad crossing ahead Crossbuck: Railroad crossing; yield to trains White rectangle: Regulatory sign, such as a speed limit Green sign: Guide information such as directions and distances Blue sign: Services such as gas, food or lodging; or hospital Brown sign: Recreational or cultural area Do Not Enter: Do not drive in this direction Wrong Way: You are driving against traffic One Way: Traffic moves only in the direction of the arrow Merge: Lanes join; adjust speed and take turns safely Slippery When Wet: Road may be slick; slow down Divided highway begins: Opposing traffic will be separated by a median Pedestrian crossing: People may cross; be ready to stop No passing zone: Do not pass other vehicles here Double solid yellow line: No passing in either direction Solid white line: Lane change is discouraged or prohibited Broken white line: Lane changes allowed when safe Dashed yellow line on your side: Passing allowed when it is safe Red light: Stop and wait behind the line Yellow light: Signal is about to turn red; stop if you can do so safely Green light: Go, after yielding to vehicles and pedestrians still in the intersection Flashing red light: Treat as a stop sign Flashing yellow light: Proceed with caution Green arrow: You may turn in the arrow's direction; oncoming traffic is stopped Red arrow: Do not turn in that direction Right of way: Who gets to go first; it is given, not taken Four-way stop: The first vehicle to arrive goes first; if tied, yield to the right Uncontrolled intersection: Yield to vehicles already in or approaching the intersection Pedestrians in a crosswalk: Always yield to them Emergency vehicle with siren: Pull over to the right and stop School bus with red lights flashing: Stop; in most places traffic must stop in both directions Three-second rule: Stay at least three seconds behind the car ahead Following distance in bad weather: Increase it to four seconds or more Stopping distance: Reaction distance plus braking distance Blind spot: An area beside the car that mirrors do not show Check mirrors and blind spots: Do this before changing lanes Use turn signals: Signal before turning or changing lanes Hand signal: left arm straight out: Left turn Hand signal: left arm bent up: Right turn Hand signal: left arm bent down: Stop or slow Seat belt: Everyone in the car should buckle up Child safety seat: Children use age- and size-appropriate restraints Speed limit: The highest legal speed, in good conditions Drive to conditions: Slow down in rain, fog, snow or heavy traffic Hydroplaning: Tires riding on water instead of the road; ease off the gas Skid on ice: Ease off the gas and steer gently in the direction you want to go Headlights: Use them from sunset to sunrise and in poor visibility High beams: Use on dark roads without other traffic; dim for oncoming cars Hazard lights: Flashers that warn others you are stopped or in trouble Parallel parking: Parking parallel to the curb between two cars Parking uphill with a curb: Turn wheels away from the curb Parking downhill: Turn wheels toward the curb Fire hydrant: Do not park in front of one Red curb: No stopping or parking Handicap parking: Only for vehicles with a valid permit Driving under the influence: Illegal and dangerous; never drive after drinking or using impairing drugs Distracted driving: Texting or other tasks while driving; keep your eyes on the road Drowsy driving: Driving while tired is dangerous; pull over to rest Aggressive driving: Tailgating or speeding to intimidate; stay calm Roundabout: Yield to traffic already in the circle and travel counterclockwise Merging onto a highway: Match highway speed using the on-ramp Passing: Only pass when it is legal and clear; return to your lane safely U-turn: Allowed only where it is safe and not prohibited Left turn on a green light: Yield to oncoming traffic Right turn on red: Allowed after a full stop where not prohibited and when clear Learner's permit: Allows supervised practice driving Graduated licensing: Phased system giving new drivers more privileges over time Insurance: Most states require drivers to carry liability insurance Registration: Official record of a vehicle, renewed regularly Tire pressure: Check regularly; correct pressure improves safety and fuel use Dashboard warning light: A signal that a system needs attention Brake fluid: Hydraulic fluid that transfers brake pedal force Anti-lock brakes: Keep wheels from locking in hard stops; press firmly and steer Oversteer and understeer: Car turns more or less than the driver intends Motorcyclists and bicyclists: Share the road and allow extra space Move over law: Change lanes or slow down for stopped emergency vehicles Point system: States track violations by adding points to a driving record Defensive driving: Anticipating hazards and staying prepared to react Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/tp-driving-rules