New York road signs
New York road signs & signals
What every sign shape, color, signal and pavement marking means — straight from the official NY DMV handbook.
The New York written test includes 4 road sign questions — you must get at least 2 right to pass.
Sign shapes & colors
- In New York, warning signs are normally:Warning signs normally are yellow and diamond-shaped, with black letters or symbols. They tell you that you are approaching a hazardous location or a location with a special rule.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs
- Destination signs in New York are:Destination signs are green with white letters and show the direction and distance to locations.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs: Destination Signs
- Blue signs with white letters or symbols show:Service signs are blue with white letters or symbols and show the location of services such as rest areas, gas stations, camping and medical facilities.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs: Service Signs
- Orange signs with black letters or symbols indicate:Work area signs are orange with black letters or symbols. A work-area speed limit as low as 25 mph can be posted, and you must always obey flag persons.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs: Work Area Signs
- Regulation signs in New York are normally:Regulation signs normally are white rectangles with black letters or symbols, though some are different shapes and some use red letters or symbols.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs
- A regulation sign showing a red circle with a slash over a symbol means:A red circle with a slash over a symbol indicates that an action, like a right turn, is not allowed or that some vehicles are restricted from the road.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs: Other Regulation Signs
- At a YIELD sign, you must:At a YIELD sign, decrease speed and prepare to stop and yield to vehicles and pedestrians. You must come to a full stop if traffic conditions require it.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs: Yield Sign
- At a STOP sign with no stop line, where must you stop?You must stop before the stop line if there is one. If not, stop before you enter the crosswalk. With neither, stop before entering the intersection at the point that gives you a view of traffic.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Signs: Stop Sign
Signals & pavement markings
- May you turn right on a steady red light in New York City?You are not allowed to turn on a red light in New York City unless a sign that permits it is posted.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Signals: Steady Red
- Outside New York City, when may you turn left on a steady red light?You can turn left at a steady red light when turning from a one-way road into another one-way road, after a full stop and yielding to traffic and pedestrians — unless a sign, signal, or marking prohibits it.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Signals: Steady Red
- A flashing red traffic light means the same as:A flashing red light means the same as a STOP sign: stop, yield the right-of-way, and go when it is safe.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Signals: Flashing Red
- What does New York law require if the traffic lights at an intersection are out of service?State law requires that if traffic lights are out of service or not working correctly, you must stop as you would for a stop sign and then continue according to right-of-way rules.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Signals: Traffic Lights
- Above a lane, a steady yellow "X" means:Lane-use control lights: steady red X — do not drive in this lane; steady yellow X — move from this lane; flashing yellow X — left turns only; green arrow — you may use this lane.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Traffic Signals: Lane Use Control Lights
- Double solid lines separate two lanes. When may you cross them?With double solid lines you cannot pass or change lanes. You may cross only to turn left to enter or leave the highway (e.g., a driveway or a U-turn).New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Pavement Markings
- What does an edge line that angles toward the center of the road indicate?An edge line that angles toward the center of the road shows that the road is narrower ahead.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Pavement Markings: Edge and Lane Lines
- A diamond symbol painted in a lane indicates:The diamond symbol indicates reserved lanes for buses, high-occupancy vehicles, bicycles or other special vehicles.New York State Driver's Manual — Chapter 4: Traffic Control — Pavement Markings: Diamond Symbol
Practice questions based on the official driver handbook. These are not official DMV test questions. DriveReady is an independent platform, not affiliated with or endorsed by any DMV or government agency.