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

Sign Shapes — One Shape, One Meaning

• Octagon = STOP. Red with white letters. Used for nothing else.
• Downward triangle (red/white) = YIELD. Slow, give way, stop if traffic demands.
• Yellow diamond + black symbol = warning about a condition ahead.
• Pentagon (five sides) = school zone or school crossing.
• Round yellow = advance warning of a railroad crossing.

Sign Colors

• Orange = construction / work zone. Slow down, add space, obey flaggers.
• Blue = motorist services: gas, food, lodging, hospital.
• Brown = recreational and cultural sites: parks, historic areas.

Signals

• Flashing red = stop sign in lights. Full stop, go when clear.
• Steady yellow = red is coming. Stop if you can do so safely.
• Flashing yellow = slow down, proceed with caution.

Pavement Markings

• Yellow lines separate OPPOSITE directions; white lines separate SAME direction.
• Solid yellow on your side = no passing for you.
• Broken yellow on your side = pass only when the oncoming lane is clear far ahead.
• Solid white stop line = halt before the line, crosswalk stays clear.

Right-of-Way

• Four-way stop: first to arrive goes first; simultaneous arrivals yield to the right.
• Left turn on plain green: yield to all oncoming traffic.
• School bus, red lights + stop arm: BOTH directions stop — exception only for a divided highway.
• Emergency vehicle, lights and siren: pull right, stop, wait.
• Leaving a driveway: yield to sidewalk pedestrians, then all road traffic.
• Roundabouts: yield to traffic already circulating.

Speed & Conditions

• Following distance: 4 seconds minimum in good weather — more in rain, snow, ice.
• Posted limits assume good conditions. Ice at the posted limit is still too fast.
• Night: drive within the reach of your headlights. Fog: low beams only.
• Hydroplaning: off the gas, steady wheel, no hard braking.
• Skid: steer where you want to go; stay off the brakes until grip returns.
• Bridges freeze before roads.

Alcohol & Drugs

• Adult per se limit: 0.08 BAC. Commercial drivers: 0.04.
• Implied consent: driving = consent to chemical testing; refusal = automatic suspension.
• Only time sobers you. Coffee and showers do not lower BAC.
• Judgment fails first. Drowsy meds count. Alcohol + drugs multiplies impairment.

Pennsylvania GDL Numbers to Memorize

• Permit at 16; application no earlier than 6 months before your 16th birthday.
• Under 18: consent form DL-180TD signed by parent/guardian/spouse 18+.
• Permit valid 1 year after passing the knowledge test.
• 6-month skill-building period before the junior-license road test.
• 65 supervised hours — at least 10 at night, 5 in bad weather.
• No driving 11 p.m.–5 a.m. (documented work/volunteer exceptions).
• Passengers under 18: max 1 non-family first 6 months, then 3, unless a parent rides along.
• 6+ points or one 26+ mph-over conviction = 90-day suspension.
• Under 18 all belted; under 8 in child restraints — a primary offense.
• Junior → senior early: 1 year held, clean record, approved driver training.