Signs, signals and markings in Iowa

By the end of this topic you can

• You can tell what a sign means from its color and shape.
• You can respond correctly to steady and flashing signals and arrows.
• You can read yellow and white lines and know when passing is allowed.
• You can use reversible and shared left-turn lanes safely.
• You can recognize the slow-moving vehicle emblem and rural warning signs.

What you need to know and understand

• Red means stop, yield or a prohibition; yellow is a general warning; orange is road work.
• White signs are regulatory; green gives directions; blue shows services; brown marks recreation sites.
• Fluorescent yellow-green is used for pedestrian, bicycle and school signs; fluorescent pink marks incident scenes.
• An octagon is always a stop sign; a downward triangle is yield; a pennant on the left warns of a no passing zone.
• A flashing red light means stop, just like a stop sign; a flashing yellow light means proceed with caution.
• Yellow lines separate opposite directions; white lines separate traffic going the same way.
• A reflective orange triangle on the back of a vehicle means it travels 35 mph or less.

Reading a sign before you can read it

• Octagon: stop sign only. Stop fully at the line, crosswalk or edge of the intersection.
• Triangle pointing down: yield to traffic and pedestrians.
• Diamond: warning of a hazard ahead, such as curves, deer, farm machinery or horse-drawn vehicles.
• Pennant: placed on the left side of the road at the start of a no passing zone.
• Pentagon: school area or school crossing.
• Round yellow sign: railroad crossing ahead. Crossbucks mark the crossing itself.
• Blue Emergency Notification System sign at railroad crossings: gives a phone number and crossing ID to report a stalled vehicle or signal problem.

Signals, arrows and beacons

• Steady red: stop. Flashing red: treat as a stop sign.
• Steady yellow: stop if you safely can; otherwise go through with caution.
• Green: go only when the intersection is clear, yielding to anyone still in it.
• Flashing yellow arrow: you may turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
• Steady green arrow: protected turn in the arrow's direction only.
• Rectangular rapid flashing beacons: amber lights at crosswalks; stop for anyone in the crosswalk.
• Pedestrian hybrid beacons: dark means proceed with caution; flashing then steady yellow means slow and prepare to stop; steady red means stop; flashing red means stop, then go if the crosswalk is clear.

Lines and lanes on Iowa pavement

A solid yellow line on your side means no passing; a dashed yellow line on your side means you may pass when it is safe. Double solid yellow means no passing either way. Yield lines are rows of white triangles pointing at you, showing where to yield.

Reversible lanes, marked with double dashed yellow lines, change direction by time of day. A green arrow means you may use the lane, a red X means you may not, a flashing yellow X means the lane is for turning only, and a steady yellow X means move out of the lane. A shared center left-turn lane may only be used to turn left, never to pass. Green paint marks bicycle lanes and conflict areas; do not stop on it.

Common mistakes

• Treating a flashing yellow arrow as a protected turn. Oncoming traffic still has a green light.
• Using the center two-way left-turn lane to overtake slow traffic.
• Missing the pennant sign because it sits on the left side of the road.
• Following too closely behind a farm vehicle with an orange triangle. It may be traveling at 35 mph or less and turn wide without warning.

Test yourself: Signs, signals and markings in Iowa

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Iowa Permit Practice Test
• Iowa Permit Test
• Iowa Driving Test