The North Dakota manual treats communicating as its own topic alongside signs and pavement markings, and the exam follows it. Knowing what a sign means is half the job. The other half is knowing how to tell other drivers what you are about to do, which matters more on an empty highway than most people realize.
This free quiz pulls 20 questions at random covering signs, signals, lights and pavement markings, with an explanation after every answer. You need 16 correct to match the 80% standard.
North Dakota Signs and Signals Test
Communicating is a skill, not a courtesy
On a two-lane highway with a mile of visibility, the driver behind you has plenty of time to react if you tell them early enough. If you do not, closing speed does the rest. That is why the North Dakota manual gives this its own section.
- Signal well before the turn or lane change, not as you begin it.
- Tap the brake pedal to flash your brake lights when you are slowing somewhere unexpected, such as to turn onto a field approach.
- Hazard flashers warn that you are stopped or moving far below the speed of traffic. They are not a license to park badly.
- Headlights on in rain, snow, dust or low light makes you visible long before it helps you see.
- The horn is a warning, not a complaint. A short tap to say you are there beats a long blast after the fact.
Signs in a state where snow hides them
Learn the shape and color system rather than memorizing individual signs. It is faster, and it is the only thing that helps when blowing snow has covered half the sign face.
Shapes: octagon is stop and nothing else uses it. Upside-down triangle is yield. Diamond warns. Pentagon means school. Round means a railroad crossing ahead, a crossbuck means you are at it. A pennant on the left marks a no passing zone.
Colors: red prohibits, yellow warns about the road, orange means workers are present, fluorescent yellow-green means people are crossing, green guides, blue means driver services, brown means parks and recreation, and white with black lettering is law.
Ready for the full test?
When you are getting these right consistently, take the full North Dakota permit practice test, which adds road rules, right of way, alcohol law, winter survival and sharing rural roads with farm equipment. For requirements and the whole process, see the North Dakota permit guide.
Disclaimer: Pass The Permit is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the North Dakota Department of Transportation or any government agency. These are original practice questions, not actual exam questions. Always confirm current rules with the official NDDOT driver manual.