Signs, signals and markings in Alaska
Signs, signals and pavement markings tell you what the law requires, warn you of hazards and guide you to your destination. Alaska uses the standard US system, plus wildlife warnings such as moose and caribou crossing signs.
Sign recognition is one of the three areas the knowledge test covers, so learn shapes and colors until you know a sign before you can read it.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can identify a sign's purpose from its color and shape.
- You can respond correctly to steady, flashing and arrow signals.
- You can read yellow and white pavement lines.
- You can act on lane control signals and pedestrian signals.
- You can follow work zone devices and flaggers.
What you need to know and understand
- Regulatory signs are black or red on white and must be obeyed.
- Warning signs are black on yellow. School signs are five-sided.
- Guide signs are white on green, service signs white on blue, and construction and maintenance signs black on orange.
- A flashing red light means stop, then go when it is safe. A flashing yellow light means slow down and take care.
- A flashing yellow arrow lets you turn, but you must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
- Yellow lines separate traffic going in opposite directions. White lines separate traffic going the same way.
- Pavement markings carry the same legal force as signs, and driving on the shoulder is illegal.
- Directions from a police officer, firefighter or authorized flagger override signs and signals.
Reading signs by color
- Red octagon: stop sign. Stop completely, then yield.
- Red and white triangle: yield. Slow down and stop if needed.
- Red and white Do Not Enter: you are facing the wrong way into a road or ramp.
- Black on yellow: warning of hazards such as curves, slippery roads, merging traffic and wildlife. Alaska signs show moose and caribou as well as deer.
- Black on orange: road work ahead. Slow down and watch for crews and flaggers.
- A red circle with a diagonal slash: the action shown is prohibited.
Signals beyond red, yellow and green
A steady yellow light warns that red is coming. Stop unless you are so close that you cannot stop safely. A red arrow means no turn in that direction until the arrow turns green or flashing yellow. A green arrow gives that movement priority, but you still yield to anyone already in the intersection.
Lane control signals hang over reversible lanes. A red X means do not use the lane. A yellow X means leave it safely. A green arrow means you may drive in it. Pedestrian signals with an upraised hand mean people must not start crossing, and a countdown shows how many seconds remain.
What the lines are telling you
- Dashed yellow center line: passing is permitted when safe.
- Solid yellow line on your side: no passing, though you may cross it to turn into a driveway.
- Single solid yellow line at the left edge: the left side of a divided or one-way road.
- Dashed white lines: lane changes allowed when safe. Solid white lines: lane changes discouraged, or the road edge.
- Center two-way left-turn lane: only for vehicles turning left, never for passing or accelerating.
- Stop lines and crosswalks: stop before them. Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks even when they are not painted.
Common mistakes
- Treating a steady yellow light as a signal to speed up.
- Using the center left-turn lane to merge or pass.
- Ignoring a flagger because the signal shows green. Flaggers' directions come first.
- Not slowing for wildlife signs. They mark areas with frequent animal crossings.
Test yourself: Signs, signals and markings in Alaska
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: Alaska Driver Manual (Rev. 10/2025), Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles: Signs, Traffic Signals and Marking sections. Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with the Alaska licensing agency.