Wondering which signs you will see on the California driving test? DriversEd.com has got you covered. Keep reading to learn some California driving test tips that will help you pass the test and get you on the road to becoming a safe driver.
California Driving Test Tip: Understand Road Signs’ Colors
You will need to show you understand how to follow the road signs you encounter when you take the California written and road tests. Let’s look at road sign colors and their meanings and prepare you to pass the test on your first try.
Red
A red sign is a signal for you to stop and look for any oncoming traffic approaching you.
Yellow
Yellow is a general warning for drivers. Yellow signs warn drivers about hazards such as wet roads and bicycle traffic.
Green
Green indicates drivers can proceed in the direction they are traveling.
White
Signs with a white background and black and red letters or symbols inform drivers of speed limits and other road regulations.
Brown
Brown signs reference a nearby recreation point, such as a state park.
Orange
Orange signs warn drivers to watch for construction or road maintenance.
Blue
Blue signs provide drivers with information about services, such as hospitals.
Here are all the sign colors summarized for you. Be sure to take a close look. These will be on the California driving test!
California Driving Test Tip: Know What a Sign’s Shape Means
California road signs come in all shapes and sizes. The following image summarizes the most common sign shapes and what they mean.
California Driving Test Tip: Check Your Sign Knowledge
Let’s do a knowledge check to ensure you understand what you need to know to pass the California road test.
Knowledge Check #1
What are these signs communicating to drivers?
These signs are yellow, which means they are warning signs. The diamond shape tells us they are warning about possible hazards on the road. The first sign warns drivers that the highway will split, and the second sign warns that the right lane is about to end.
Knowledge Check Question #2
What kind of sign is this, and what is it communicating to drivers?
This sign is a white rectangle with black and red symbols, which means it’s a regulatory sign. It informs drivers that making a U-turn on the street they’re driving on is illegal.
California Driving Test Tip: Study and Follow the Signs
Studying the types of road signs and their meanings will prepare you to obey them when taking your driving test. For example, you need to come to a complete stop at stop signs, drive below the posted speed limit, and yield to pedestrians and cars that have the right of way. Failure to obey traffic signs would likely cause you to fail the driving test.
California Driving Test Tip: Take Driver’s Ed
According to data from the California Office of Traffic Safety:
Teen motor vehicle fatalities (age 16-19) decreased 25.2% from 219 in 2018 to 164 in 2019
Teen driver fatalities (age 16-19) decreased 12.7% from 95 in 2018 to 83 in 2019.
A 2015 study by the Nebraska Prevention Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that:
Driver's education reduces crashes and traffic violations among new drivers.
According to the study, "teens taking driver education are less likely to be involved in crashes or to receive a traffic violation during their first two years of driving.”
In other words, driver’s ed will teach you what you need to know to pass your California driving test and be a safe driver. Ready to get started? DriversEd.com offers convenient online courses that will help you get prepared. Check it out today!
Updated 04/06/23