Alaska Road Signs Cheat Sheet.
The night-before summary, built like the exam.

The numbers to remember

• Age 14 — eligible for an instruction permit.
• Age 16 — minimum age for a full license.
• $15.00 — original instruction permit fee (same as the road test fee).
• 2 years — how long a non-commercial instruction permit is valid.
• Supervising driver: 21+ years old, 1+ year of driving experience.
• 40 hours supervised driving total, including 10 hours in challenging conditions (night, weather, traffic).
• 6 months permit hold before a provisional license is issued.
• 6 months violation-free permit hold before the road test.
• 24 hours' notice reschedules a road test for free.
• $10.00 — a certified driving record.
• Failed the written test? Retest as early as the next business day.
• Written test covers: traffic laws, safe driving practices, sign recognition — online or in person.

Sign shapes at a glance

• Octagon, red — stop.
• Downward triangle, red/white — yield.
• Diamond, yellow — general warning.
• Pentagon — school zone/crossing.
• Round — railroad crossing.
• Rectangle, white — regulatory rule.
• Rectangle, green — directional guide.
• Diamond, orange — construction zone.
• Rectangle, blue — motorist services.
• Rectangle, brown — recreation/cultural site.

Right-of-way in one breath

First to stop goes first; ties go to the driver on the right. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, to oncoming traffic when turning left, to traffic already in the lane you're merging into, and always to emergency vehicles running lights and sirens. When unsure, pick whichever choice avoids a collision and yields to whoever already committed to their path.

Top traps

• Treating the posted limit as a target instead of a maximum — conditions like ice, fog, or heavy snow require driving below it.
• Forgetting that fatigue impairs reaction time similarly to alcohol or drugs.
• Mixing up regulatory (white) versus warning (yellow) sign colors under time pressure.
• Assuming a right-of-way rule applies universally instead of reading the specific intersection scenario described.
• Underestimating stopping distance on wet or icy pavement — build in extra following distance well before you need it.
• Forgetting headlights are required in reduced visibility even during the day, not just after dark.