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CHEAT SHEET · GA ROAD SIGNS

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

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Weighted to the current exam outline·15-minute scanVerified against the official content outline
By Vincent Ruan, EA, CFP®Published August 7, 2026
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Test Format

  • Knowledge Exam = 2 sections: Road Rules + Road Signs
  • Pass mark: 15 of 20 on EACH section (75%)
  • Walk-in at DDS, no appointment; free official practice test online
  • Fail once: wait 1 day. Fail twice: wait 7 days
  • Everything tested is in the Georgia Drivers Manual

Licensing Ladder (TADRA, ages 15-18)

  • Age 15: Class CP instructional permit after the written test
  • Age 16-17: Class D provisional after holding CP for 1 year + 1 day and passing the road test
  • Joshua's Law (16-17): 30 hrs driver ed + 6 hrs behind-the-wheel (or 40 hrs parent-taught) + 40 supervised hrs incl. 6 at night
  • Age 18+: full Class C once all requirements are done

Sign Shapes

  • Octagon = stop (red, white letters)
  • Downward triangle = yield (red and white)
  • Yellow diamond, black symbol = warning
  • Pentagon = school zone or crossing
  • Round = railroad advance warning (the only round sign)

Sign Colors

  • Orange = construction or work zone; obey the flagger over posted signs
  • Blue = motorist services (gas, food, lodging)
  • Brown = recreational and cultural sites

Pavement Markings

  • Yellow lines = opposite-direction traffic across them
  • White lines = same-direction lanes
  • Solid yellow on YOUR side = no passing for you
  • Broken yellow on your side = pass when safe
  • Double solid yellow = no passing either way

Signals

  • Flashing red = full stop, then go when clear (works like a stop sign)
  • Steady yellow = red is coming; stop if you safely can
  • Flashing yellow = slow down, proceed with caution

Right-of-Way

  • Four-way stop: first to arrive goes first; ties yield to the right
  • Left turns yield to oncoming traffic, at lights and driveways alike
  • School bus, red lights + stop arm: BOTH directions stop; only a divided highway exempts the far side
  • Merging, roundabouts, driveways, T-intersections: yield to the flow you are entering; pedestrians first
  • Emergency vehicle behind you: pull right and stop

Speed and Conditions

  • Follow at 3+ seconds; add more in rain or darkness
  • Posted limit = ideal conditions only; slow when conditions worsen
  • Fog: low beams. Night: never outdrive your headlights
  • Hydroplaning: ease off the gas, steer steady, no hard braking
  • Bridges freeze first; brake before curves, not in them

Alcohol and Drugs

  • Adult per se limit: .08 BAC (every state; Utah alone is .05)
  • Commercial vehicles: .04 BAC
  • Implied consent: refusing the test = automatic suspension
  • Only TIME lowers BAC; coffee and showers do nothing
  • 2019: 353 of Georgia's 1,491 traffic deaths involved a .08+ driver
  • Impairing prescriptions count as impaired driving too

Frequently asked questions

What are the fastest facts to memorize the night before?

The one-to-one pairings: octagon stop, triangle yield, diamond warning, pentagon school, round railroad; orange work zone, blue services, brown recreation; yellow paint means oncoming traffic, white means same direction. Add the pass marks, 15 of 20 on each section, and you have the mechanical points covered.

Does the cheat sheet cover the Joshua's Law numbers?

Yes. For 16- and 17-year-olds seeking the Class D license: 30 hours of driver education, 6 hours behind the wheel or 40 hours parent-taught, and 40 hours of supervised driving including 6 at night, all after holding the permit for 1 year and 1 day.

When should I review the cheat sheet before my DDS visit?

The night before and again the morning of your visit. Because Georgia testing is walk-in with no appointment, you control the timing: review, take the free DDS practice test as a final check, and go while the material is fresh. A failed section costs you at least a 1-day wait, so the last-minute pass matters.

Sources

  1. 1.Teen Drivers | Georgia Department of Driver Services — Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) (accessed Aug 7, 2026)
  2. 2.Test and Exams Information | Georgia Department of Driver Services — Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) (accessed Aug 7, 2026)
  3. 3.Impaired Driving – Home | Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety — Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) (accessed Aug 7, 2026)

Official sources

Every exam fact on this page traces to a primary document published by the body that administers the exam.

Last verified against the official exam content outline: