DMV Permit · Right of Way

What does an octagonal (eight-sided) red sign always mean?

Correct answer

Stop

  1. A No parking
  2. B Stop
  3. C Yield
  4. D Speed limit

Why this is the answer

An OCTAGONAL (eight-sided) RED sign ALWAYS means STOP. DMV/permit test. The unique octagon shape is reserved exclusively for stop signs — so it's recognizable even if covered by snow or hard to read. At a stop sign, come to a COMPLETE stop, yield to pedestrians and cross traffic, and proceed only when safe. SIGN SHAPES convey meaning: OCTAGON = stop; TRIANGLE (downward) = yield; DIAMOND = warning; RECTANGLE (vertical) = regulatory (speed limits, rules); PENNANT = no passing; PENTAGON = school zone; CIRCLE = railroad crossing. Knowing that the octagon always means stop is a fundamental, commonly tested sign concept.
Source: DMV Permit — Sign Shapes (Stop)

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About this topic: Right of Way

Right-of-way rules are yielding rules — they tell you who must wait. At four-way stops, intersections without signals, and emergency-vehicle situations, knowing them prevents the most common urban crashes. This is one of 11 DMV Permit questions on right of way, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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