Warning sign meanings — Alabama Permit Test

A SOFT SHOULDER sign means the side of the road is soft, so do not drive off the pavement.

A wheel that drops into soft ground can pull the car off the road.

The side of the road is soft. Do not drive off the pavement.

A ROAD NARROWS sign means the road ahead is not as wide as the road you are on.

Less room means oncoming cars will pass closer, so slow and keep right.

The road ahead is not as wide as the road you are on.

An island-ahead sign means there is an island ahead and you may drive on either side of it.

Knowing you can go either way keeps you from stopping short in front of it.

Island ahead. You may drive on either side.

A DIP sign means there is a dip in the roadway, so slow down.

A dip can hide an oncoming car and may hold water after rain.

There is a dip in the roadway. Slow Down!

A reverse turn sign warns of a sharp turn to the left, then a sharp turn to the right.

Two sharp turns in a row need a speed low enough to take both.

Sharp turn to the left then sharp turn to the right.

A T-intersection sign means you cannot go straight ahead; the road turns both right and left.

The road ends at a cross street, so you must slow down and turn one way or the other.

You cannot go straight ahead. Road turns to both right and left.

A ONE LANE BRIDGE sign means there is not room on the bridge ahead to meet or pass another car or truck.

If a car is already on the bridge coming your way, you must wait for it.

There is not room on the bridge ahead to meet or pass another car or truck.

A YIELD AHEAD sign means there is a YIELD sign ahead.

You get warning to slow so you can yield safely when you reach it.

There is a YIELD sign ahead.

A PAVEMENT NARROWS sign means the pavement ahead is not as wide as the pavement you are driving on.

The edge of the pavement comes closer, so stay in your lane and slow down.

The pavement ahead is not as wide as the pavement on which you are driving.

Chevron signs warn of a sharp turn or curve in the direction of the arrow, and they are normally placed in series.

A row of arrows traces the curve so you can see how sharp it is, even at night.

Warns of sharp turn or curve in direction of arrow.

A low shoulder sign means the road shoulder is much lower than the road surface.

A wheel dropping off a high edge can make the car swerve when you try to steer back.

Road shoulder much lower than road surface.

A truck crossing sign means watch for trucks entering the highway.

Loaded trucks start slowly and may need much of the road to pull out.

Truck Crossing. Watch for trucks entering highway.

A fire station sign means watch for fire trucks entering the street or highway.

Fire trucks leave in a hurry, and you may need to stop to let them out.

Fire Station. Watch for fire trucks entering street or highway.

A PAVEMENT ENDS sign means the road surface ahead will change to gravel or dirt.

Gravel and dirt give less grip, so slow down before the surface changes.

The road surface ahead will change to gravel or dirt.

A DEAD END sign means the street has no outlet.

You will have to turn around to get out, so do not go in unless you need to.

The street has no outlet.

A low clearance sign means vehicles or loads higher than the clearance shown cannot go under the structure ahead.

A tall truck or a load on the roof can strike the underside of a bridge.

Vehicles or loads higher than the clearance shown cannot go under the structure ahead.

A side road sign means a side road enters the highway ahead from the right, or at an angle.

Cars may pull out from that road, so watch for them and be ready to slow.

Side road enters highway ahead from the right.

A winding road sign means the road ahead winds.

A series of curves needs a slower speed than a single bend.

Winding road ahead.

A sign warning of a gradual curve to the right then a curve to the left means the road bends one way and then the other.

Knowing both bends are coming helps you pick a speed that fits the second one too.

Gradual curve to the right then curve to the left.

A two-headed arrow sign across the road means you cannot go straight ahead and must turn either right or left.

The road you are on ends, so you need to slow down in time to make the turn.

You cannot go straight ahead. You must turn either to the right or left.

A narrow bridge sign means there is a narrow bridge ahead.

There is less room to meet an oncoming car on the bridge, so slow down and keep right.

Narrow bridge ahead.

A cattle crossing sign warns that cattle may be crossing the road.

A cow is heavy enough to wreck a car, and livestock do not move out of the way.

Cattle crossing.

A school bus stop ahead sign means a school bus stops ahead.

A stopped bus means children getting on and off and crossing the road.

School bus stop ahead.

A sign reads SOFT SHOULDER. What should you do?

Stay on the pavement. A wheel that drops into soft ground can pull the car off the road. Alabama Driver Manual, p.45: “The side of the road is soft. Do not drive off the pavement.”