Patina · Reading

Road Signs

what the sign says  ·  and what you say

American road signs are the same in every state. The shape and the color tell you what kind of sign it is before you are close enough to read the words.

★ the signs  ·  ★★ what you say  ·  ★★★ the rules that change  ·  ★★★★ check yourself

Download the PDF PDF · 6 pages

For the teacher · In class

hold up a sign and ask "rule, or warning?" before you ask what it means. Then read the left column of the bridge together and let the class say the right column. Check-yourself answers go in the chat.

Unit 12 teacher's key (PDF)

★ The signs

Look at each sign. Tap it to hear its name. Your language is under every line.

Rules. You must do this.

White or red.
stop sign
STOPStop the car completely. Then go when the road is clear.
yield sign
YIELDSlow down and let the other cars go first. Stop if you need to.
do not enter
DO NOT ENTERDo not drive in. Cars come the other way on this street.
wrong way
WRONG WAYYou are going the wrong way. Stop and turn around.
one way
ONE WAYAll cars go the same way here. Follow the arrow.
no parking
NO PARKING ANY TIMEDo not leave your car here.
no standing
NO STANDING ANY TIMEDo not wait here, even inside the car.
no U-turn
no wordsDo not turn around here and go back.
no left turn
no wordsDo not turn left here.
no turn on red
NO TURN ON REDWait for the green light. Do not turn when the light is red.
speed limit
SPEED LIMIT 25Do not drive faster than the number on the sign.

Warnings. Something is ahead. Be careful.

Yellow, or bright yellow-green.
pedestrian crossing
no wordsPeople walk across the street here. Slow down and look.
school crossing
no wordsA school is here. Children cross the street. Drive slowly.
traffic light ahead
no wordsThere is a traffic light ahead. Get ready to stop.

These signs are the same in every state. A stop sign in New York is the same in Texas. Learn them one time. Then you can drive anywhere.

Two shapes belong to one sign only. The stop sign is the only sign with eight sides. The yield sign is the only upside-down triangle. Now you can know them before you read the words.

There are other colors too. Orange is for work on the road. Green is for places. Blue is for services. This sheet teaches the two you see most.

★★ Read it. Then say it.

Signs use short words. People use other words. Read the left side. Then say the right side out loud.

  1. stop signSTOP
  2. yield signYIELD
  3. do not enterDO NOT ENTER
  4. wrong wayWRONG WAY
  5. one wayONE WAY
  6. no parkingNO PARKING ANY TIME
  7. no standingNO STANDING ANY TIME
  8. no U-turnNO U-TURN (picture)
  9. no left turnNO LEFT TURN (picture)
  10. no turn on redNO TURN ON RED
  11. speed limitSPEED LIMIT 25

★★★ Where you are changes the rule

Some rules are the same everywhere. Some change from place to place. Learn both.

The light is red. Can you turn right?

Usually

In most of the country: yes. Stop completely first. Then look and turn.

But watch out

But not with a NO TURN ON RED sign. Some big cities are different. In New York City you can never turn on red. Only a sign can allow it.

How fast can you drive?

Usually

Look at the sign. The number on the sign is the law.

But watch out

No sign? The limit is not the same in every state. Near a school it is slower. Slow down and look for a sign.

Look for your state's free driver's manual online. Many are in other languages. That book is the rule where you live.

★★★ No parking, no standing, no stopping

Three signs about stopping. Each one is stricter than the one before.

  1. 1no parkingNO PARKING ANY TIMEDo not leave your car.
  2. 2no standingNO STANDING ANY TIMEDo not leave your car, and do not wait in it.
  3. 3words onlyNO STOPPINGDo not stop at all.

Each sign is stricter than the one before. You cannot wait under all three. The other rules change from city to city. Read the small words on the sign.

★★★★ Check yourself

This part is harder. You have to see the street in your head. You do not just read a sign. Good for stronger readers, or for homework.

Answer with one or two words. Type your answers in the chat.

  1. 1You see a red light and you want to turn right. What do you do FIRST?
  2. 2You see a NO TURN ON RED sign. The light is red. Can you turn?
  3. 3You see NO STANDING. Can you wait in your car?
  4. 4A yellow diamond sign. Is it a rule, or a warning?
  5. 5Eight sides. Which sign?