Sign questions on the Class E exam rarely show you a familiar picture and ask what it says. They describe a shape or a color and ask what kind of sign it is, or show a symbol you may never have seen and expect you to reason from its shape and color. Learn the eight shapes and nine colors below and that whole section becomes free points.
The eight shapes
Two more shapes appear occasionally: the crossbuck (an X shape reading RAILROAD CROSSING, posted at the tracks themselves; treat it like a yield sign) and the shield for interstate and U.S. route markers.
The nine colors
| Color | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Stop, yield, prohibition | Stop, Yield, Do Not Enter, Wrong Way, No Turn |
| Yellow | General warning | Curve, slippery when wet, lane ends, pedestrian crossing |
| Fluorescent yellow-green | School, pedestrian and bicycle warnings | School crossing, school zone |
| Orange | Construction and temporary conditions | Road work ahead, flagger, detour. Work-zone fines are doubled when workers are present |
| Green | Direction and distance | Exit signs, street names, mile markers |
| Blue | Motorist services | Gas, food, lodging, hospital, rest area |
| Brown | Recreation and cultural sites | State parks, historic areas, scenic routes |
| White | Regulatory | Speed limit, keep right, parking rules |
| Black | Regulatory (white text on black) | One Way, night speed limits |
Also worth one line: fluorescent pink marks emergency incident management signs, and yellow with a black border on a diamond means a warning as opposed to an orange work-zone diamond. Exams like to test the yellow-versus-orange distinction.
Traffic signals the exam asks about
- Steady red: stop. You may turn right on red after a full stop unless a sign prohibits it, and left on red only from a one-way street onto another one-way street.
- Flashing red: treat as a stop sign.
- Steady yellow: the light is about to turn red; stop if you can do so safely.
- Flashing yellow: slow down and proceed with caution.
- Flashing yellow arrow: you may turn after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
- Green arrow: protected turn; oncoming traffic is stopped.
- Dark signal (power out): treat the intersection as a four-way stop.
Pavement markings
- Broken yellow line: you may pass when clear; traffic on the other side goes the opposite way.
- Solid yellow line on your side: no passing.
- Double solid yellow: no passing in either direction. You may cross it only to turn left into a driveway.
- White lines separate lanes going the same direction. Broken white: lane changes allowed. Solid white: stay in your lane.
- Two-way left-turn lane: a center lane bordered by solid-and-broken yellow lines, used only for turning left, never for passing.
How to study signs in 20 minutes
- Cover the descriptions above and name each shape from the picture alone. Repeat until perfect.
- Say the meaning of each color without looking.
- Take the road signs practice test. Anything under 90%, come back to this page.
Signs are one of four exam areas; see the rest in what is on the Class E Knowledge Exam.
Quick answers
What does a pennant-shaped road sign mean?
A sideways triangle (pennant) always means No Passing Zone. It is posted on the left side of the road at the start of the zone.
What does a pentagon-shaped sign mean?
A five-sided sign marks a school zone or school crossing. It is yellow-green or yellow with black symbols.
What color are construction signs in Florida?
Orange. Orange signs warn of road work and temporary conditions, and fines for speeding in a work zone are doubled when workers are present.
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Start Free Practice TestFacts in this article follow the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) as of September 2026. Rules and fees can change; confirm details with your local driver license office before you go.