Sign shapes — Nebraska Permit Test

An octagon, an eight-sided sign, always means stop.

From behind, or with snow on its face, a stop sign can be known only by its shape.

The octagonal (eight-sided) shape always means stop.

A triangle, a three-sided sign, always means yield.

A driver who treats a yield like open road pulls out in front of cars that have the right of way.

The triangle (three-sided) shape always means yield.

A diamond-shaped sign warns of special conditions or hazards ahead; slow down and proceed with caution.

Diamonds stand before curves, hills and crossings that you cannot see yet, often at speeds you cannot hold.

These signs warn you of special conditions or hazards ahead.

A vertical rectangle generally gives instructions or tells you the law; a horizontal rectangle gives directions or information.

Mistaking a rule for a suggestion is how drivers get tickets and end up in wrong lanes.

When vertical, signs are generally used to give instructions or tell you the law.

A number under a railroad crossbuck means more than one set of tracks follows the sign.

Drivers who wait for one train to pass and then go are hit by a second train on the next track.

The number under the crossbuck indicates there is more than one set of tracks following the sign.

What does a diamond-shaped sign tell you?

Special conditions or hazards are ahead. Diamonds stand before curves, hills and crossings that you cannot see yet, often at speeds you cannot hold. Nebraska Driver’s Manual, p.35: “These signs warn you of special conditions or hazards ahead.”