Sign colors — Iowa Permit Test

Red on a traffic sign means stop, yield, or do what the sign shows.

Red is saved for signs you must obey right now, so it catches your eye first.

Stop, yield, or do what is shown on the sign.

Green signs show direction: where a place is, or how far it is from you.

Knowing that green means directions helps you find your exit without slowing down to read every sign.

Direction. Indicates where a place is, or how far a place is from where you are.

Blue signs show services for travelers, such as rest areas, hospitals, lodging, fuel, and restaurants.

When you need gas, food, or a hospital, a blue sign tells you where to find it.

Directs you to places such as rest areas, tourist sites, hospitals, lodging, fuel stations, restaurants, and tourist attractions.

Yellow on a traffic sign means a general warning.

A yellow sign tells you something on the road ahead needs your care, so ease off and look.

General warning.

Fluorescent yellow-green is used for pedestrian, bicycle, and school warning signs.

This bright color is hard to miss, so it marks places where people on foot or on bikes may be in the road.

Pedestrian, bicycle, and school warning signs.

White signs are regulatory: they tell you about laws and ordinances that can be enforced.

A white sign states a rule, and you can get a ticket for breaking it.

Provides information regarding enforceable laws and ordinances.

Brown signs point to recreation and cultural places, such as historic sites and parks.

Brown signs help you find a park or a historic place to visit on your trip.

Provides direction to historical sites, parks, or recreational areas.

Fluorescent pink signs are warning and guide signs for incident management, such as crash clean up and debris removal.

A pink sign means a crash or mess is being cleared ahead, so slow down and look for crews and stopped cars.

Warning and guide signs for incident management such as crash clean up, debris removal, traffic, etc.

What does red on a traffic sign tell you?

Stop, yield, or do what the sign shows. Red is saved for signs you must obey right now, so it catches your eye first. Iowa Driver's License Manual, p.6: “Stop, yield, or do what is shown on the sign.”