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Traffic Signs and Signals — Tennessee Driver's License Practice Test

Traffic Signs and SignalsQuestion 1 of 30

102 questions in this topic · 30 drawn at random this round

If a lane is marked with both a curved arrow and a straight arrow, what may you do?

Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual

All questions are based on the official Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security). Study the relevant chapter to reinforce your knowledge.

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This Tennessee Driver's License Traffic Signs and Signals practice set has 102 practice questions based on the official exam materials, each with an instant explanation. You need 80% on the real Tennessee Driver's License knowledge test to pass.

Topic overview

Traffic signs, signals, and pavement markings are the language of the road, and this is one of the biggest sections on the test. The good news is that signs are designed so you can often read them by shape and color before you even read the words — an octagon always means stop, a triangle always means yield. Learning those patterns gives you a head start on every question.

Colors and shapes carry consistent meaning. Red means stop, yield, or do not enter; yellow is a general warning; orange marks construction zones; green gives guidance and directions; blue points to services; brown marks recreation areas. The octagon is stop, the triangle is yield, the diamond warns of a hazard ahead, a round sign warns of a railroad crossing, and a rectangle carries regulations or guidance. A white background with a red circle and slash means "no" — no turn, no trucks, and so on.

Traffic signals and road markings finish the picture. Standard lights run red, yellow, green from top to bottom; a red light means stop, and unless posted otherwise you may turn right on red after a full stop when it is clear. A flashing red is treated like a stop sign, a flashing yellow means slow and proceed with caution, and if a signal is completely dark you treat the intersection as an all-way stop. On the pavement, yellow lines separate traffic going opposite directions and white lines separate traffic going the same way — a broken line means passing or crossing may be allowed, a solid line means stay put.

What does the shape of a sign tell me?

Shape signals purpose even before you read the words. An octagon is always stop, a triangle is always yield, a diamond warns of a hazard ahead, a round sign means a railroad crossing is ahead, and a rectangle carries regulations or guidance. This is why you can recognize a stop sign even if it is dirty or partly blocked.

Can I turn right on a red light in Tennessee?

Yes, unless a sign says otherwise. Come to a complete stop first, behind the crosswalk or stop line, then turn right only when there are no pedestrians crossing and no cross traffic. If a sign prohibits it, you must wait for the green.

What do yellow and white lines on the road mean?

Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions; white lines separate traffic moving in the same direction. A broken line means you may cross to pass or change lanes when it is safe; a solid line means stay in your lane. If you ever have yellow on your right and white on your left, you are going the wrong way.

Written from the official Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual — Traffic Signs and Signals ↗· Last checked: 2026-07-10· Reviewed by the PassPrep editorial team· How we verify →

Sample questions

Three questions from the Traffic Signs and Signals bank with the correct answer and an explanation. The practice quiz above draws 30 questions at random from the same bank.

  1. Besides traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings, who else can provide traffic control?

    • Law enforcement, highway construction personnel, or school crossing guards — Correct answer
    • Only the driver's own judgment
    • Other drivers using their horns
    • Pedestrians waiting to cross

    Explanation: Traffic control devices include traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings, but traffic control can also be provided by law enforcement, highway construction personnel, or school crossing guards.

    Handbook: Traffic Signs and Signals — Traffic Control Devices

  2. A police officer is directing traffic at an intersection in a way that differs from what the traffic light shows. What must you do?

    • Obey the police officer's directions — Correct answer
    • Follow the traffic light instead
    • Stop and wait for the officer to leave
    • Choose whichever is faster

    Explanation: Drivers must obey the directions of officers, construction personnel, or crossing guards even when those directions differ from what the traffic lights and signs indicate.

    Handbook: Traffic Signs and Signals — Obeying Directions

  3. What does the shape and color of a traffic sign tell you?

    • Its purpose — Correct answer
    • The name of the road it is on
    • The year it was installed
    • Nothing in particular

    Explanation: Every traffic sign has a definite shape and color that announce its purpose, so you can recognize a sign's meaning even at a distance.

    Handbook: Traffic Signs and Signals — Sign Shapes and Colors