Question 1 of 20Road signs
Maryland road signs test: free practice
Maryland road signs test: free practice with 20 sign questions.
Road-sign questions
Question 2 of 20Road signs
Where would you expect to see this sign?
Question 3 of 20Road signs
What does this sign tell you about the road ahead?
Question 4 of 20Road signs
You are on the main road and see this sign. What is the best thing to do?
Question 5 of 20Road signs
This orange sign shows a person with a shovel. What does it warn you about?
Question 6 of 20Road signs
What does this blue sign beside the highway tell you?
Question 7 of 20Road signs
What lies ahead when you see this sign?
Question 8 of 20Road signs
What does this sign tell you?
Question 9 of 20Road signs
What does this sign mean?
Question 10 of 20Road signs
What should you do while going down the grade this sign warns about?
Question 11 of 20Speed and following distance
A Maryland work zone has a lower posted speed limit, but you see no workers. What should you do?
Question 12 of 20Road signs
This sign is posted at a crossroad. Which move may you not make?
Question 13 of 20Road signs
What does this sign warn you about?
Question 14 of 20Road signs
What does this sign warn you about?
Question 15 of 20Road signs
When should you be most alert for animals near this sign?
Question 16 of 20Road signs
When you reach this sign, what must you do?
Question 17 of 20Road signs
What does this round yellow sign warn you about?
Question 18 of 20Road signs
What does this sign mean?
Question 19 of 20Road signs
What does this sign tell you to do?
Question 20 of 20Road signs
You come to this sign. There is no stop line and no crosswalk. Where should you stop?
1 of 20
Answer each question to see the explanation. Keyboard: A–D or 1–4 to answer, N next, P previous.
Answers and explanations (text version)
The correct answer to each question above, why it is right, and where it comes from. Try the test first.
Question 1: C. Follow the signs around a closed road
A detour sign leads you around a closed road. Follow the detour signs to get back on your route.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Work zone signs
Question 2: A. On the outside edge of a sharp curve
Chevron signs are placed on the outside of a sharp curve and point the way to steer.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Warning signs
Question 3: B. It ends, and you must turn left or right
The T-shaped symbol warns that your road ends at a crossing road, so you must turn left or right.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Warning signs
Question 4: A. Watch for cars joining and adjust your speed
At a merge, both drivers share the job. Watch for cars joining and adjust your speed or lane to help them merge.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Warning signs
Question 5: B. People working on or near the road
This sign warns of workers on or near the road. Slow down and give them space.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Work zone signs
Question 6: A. Fuel is available at or near the next exit
Blue signs show services for drivers. A gas pump symbol means fuel is available near the next exit.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Guide and service signs
Question 7: C. A series of curves
The wavy arrow means a winding road with a series of curves. Keep your speed down until it straightens.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Warning signs
Question 8: C. A school is near and children may cross
This school sign means a school is near and children may be crossing. Slow down and obey any school speed limit.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Warning signs
Question 9: D. The right lane ends ahead
The right edge line bends in toward the center, which means the right lane ends ahead and drivers in it must move left.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Warning signs
Question 10: D. Shift to a lower gear and keep your speed down
A lower gear lets the engine help slow the car, so your brakes do not overheat on a long steep grade.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Warning signs
Question 11: B. Obey the posted work zone limit
In work zones, "obey posted speed limits and be aware that there may be speed cameras."
Handbook: Section 5: Driving Situations and Conditions — H. Work Zone Safety
Question 12: B. A right turn
This sign bans right turns at that spot, so you must go straight or turn left if allowed.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Regulatory signs
Question 13: B. The road curves to the right ahead
This curve sign means the road bends to the right ahead. Slow down before you reach the curve.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Warning signs
Question 14: A. A yield sign is coming up
This sign warns of a yield sign ahead, so slow down and be ready to give way.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Warning signs
Question 15: D. At dawn and at dusk
Deer move most at dawn and at dusk, so take extra care at those times where this sign is posted.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Warning signs
Question 16: C. Stop completely, then go when it is safe
This is a stop sign. You must come to a full stop and move on only when the way is clear.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Regulatory signs
Question 17: D. A railroad crossing is ahead
The round yellow sign with an X warns of a railroad crossing ahead. Slow down, look and listen for trains.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Warning signs
Question 18: B. You must not drive onto this road from here
This sign means do not enter. You must not drive onto the road or ramp from this direction.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Regulatory signs
Question 19: A. Let traffic with the right-of-way go first
A yield sign means you slow down and let traffic and people with the right-of-way go first, stopping if you need to.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Regulatory signs
Question 20: B. Before you enter the intersection, where you can see
With no stop line or crosswalk, stop before you enter the intersection at a point where you can see traffic coming.
Handbook: Chapter: Traffic signs — Regulatory signs
US traffic signs as shown in the Maryland Driver's Manual (DL-002); the knowledge test checks 'Road signs' (MVA knowledge-tests page). 16 correct (80%) is our practice mark, not an official pass mark.
United States road signs and what they mean
Our own simplified drawings of the signs learners meet most. The full list, with meanings, is in the United States sign library; the official reference is the Maryland Driver's Manual (DL-002).
Regulatory signs
Come to a complete stop at the line, crosswalk or intersection edge, then go only when the way is clear.
Slow down and let traffic and pedestrians that have the right-of-way go first, stopping if needed.
The highest legal speed on this road under ideal conditions.
You must not drive into this road or ramp from this direction.
You are driving against traffic; stop safely and turn around.
Traffic on this road moves only in the direction of the arrow.
Left turns are not allowed here.
Right turns are not allowed here.
Turning around to go back the way you came is not allowed here.
You may not turn while the signal is red, even after stopping.
Pass to the right of the island or obstruction ahead.
Overtaking other vehicles is not allowed on this stretch.
You may not park here; stopping briefly to load or unload may still be allowed where local rules say so.
Vehicles in this lane must turn left.
Marks the crossing itself; yield to any train and stop if one is coming.
Warning signs
Marks the start of a stretch where passing is not allowed; it sits on the left side of the road.
The road bends gently to the right ahead; slow down before the bend.
The road turns sharply right ahead; slow down a lot before the turn.
A series of bends lies ahead; keep speed down until the road straightens.
Another road crosses yours ahead; watch for traffic from both sides.
A road joins from the right ahead; expect vehicles entering.
The road you are on ends ahead at a crossing road; be ready to turn left or right.
Traffic from another lane or ramp will join yours ahead; adjust speed so both can merge safely.
The right lane ends ahead; drivers in it must move left when safe.
A median will separate the two directions of traffic ahead; keep right of it.
The median ends ahead and traffic in both directions will share one road.
You are leaving a one-way road; oncoming traffic will use the same road ahead.
There is a traffic light ahead; be ready to stop.
A stop sign is coming up; slow down and prepare to stop.
A yield sign is coming up; slow down and be ready to give way.
People may be crossing ahead; slow down and yield to anyone in the crosswalk.
A school is near and children may be crossing; slow down and obey any school speed limit.
A railroad crossing is ahead; slow down, look and listen for trains.
The surface gets slick in rain; slow down and avoid sudden braking or steering.
Deer often cross here, especially at dawn and dusk; slow down and watch the roadsides.
A steep downgrade is ahead; check your speed and use a lower gear.
The bridge ahead is narrower than the road; slow down and watch for oncoming vehicles.
Marks the outside of a sharp curve and shows the direction to steer.
Temporary signs
Construction is ahead; slow down, expect changes and obey work-zone signs.
A worker is directing traffic ahead; follow their signals.
People are working on or next to the road; slow down and give them space.
The usual route is closed; follow the detour signs in the arrow direction.