Sign shapes and colors — Wyoming Permit Test

Sign shapes and colors have meaning, so you should know what a sign tells you even when fading light, fog, rain, snow or darkness makes its letters hard to read.

In a storm you may only see a sign's outline, and that has to be enough to act on.

If fading light, fog, rain, snow or darkness makes it difficult to see the letters, you should still know what to look for or what to do.

Regulatory signs tell you what to do, and you must always obey them.

These signs carry the force of law, and ignoring one can cause a crash or a ticket.

These signs tell you what to do. You must always obey them.

The eight-sided octagon shape is reserved for stop signs.

Only one sign uses this shape, so you can know it is a stop sign even when snow covers the word.

This shape is reserved for stop signs.

Warning signs alert you to conditions ahead and are usually diamond shaped.

Recognizing the shape early gives you time to slow before you reach the hazard.

They are usually diamond shaped and warn you about road hazards, construction sites, schools or other situations which require your special attention.

On guide signs, the type of information given determines the color of the sign; most guide signs are rectangular.

Color lets you pick out the kind of help a sign offers before you can read it.

The type of information given determines the color of the sign.

Why should you know the meaning of sign shapes and colors?

To act when letters are hard to read. In a storm you may only see a sign's outline, and that has to be enough to act on. Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, p.95: “If fading light, fog, rain, snow or darkness makes it difficult to see the letters, you should still know what to look for or what to do.”