Curve Sign: What It Means and How to Drive the Curve
The curve sign is a yellow diamond with a bending arrow. It warns that the road ahead curves in the direction of the arrow, so you should slow down before the curve, stay in your lane and keep a steady speed through it. If a yellow speed plaque is posted below, it shows the speed recommended for the curve.
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Curve sign quiz: 3 test-style questions
- You see a yellow diamond sign with an arrow bending to the right. What should you do? Slow down before the curve and stay in your lane / Move to the left lane to straighten the curve / Speed up to keep momentum through the curve / Get ready to turn right at the next intersection. Answer: Slow down before the curve and stay in your lane. The curve sign warns of a bend to the right. Brake before you enter it, then keep a steady speed and stay in your own lane all the way through.
- A plaque reading 35 MPH is mounted under a curve sign. The speed limit on the road is 55 mph. What does the plaque mean? The speed limit drops to 35 mph for the rest of the road / 35 mph is the recommended safe speed for the curve in good conditions / Trucks must slow to 35 mph; cars may keep going 55 / You must drive at least 35 mph. Answer: 35 mph is the recommended safe speed for the curve in good conditions. A yellow speed plaque is an advisory speed for the curve. It applies to all vehicles in good weather; in rain, snow or at night you may need to go slower.
- When is the best time to brake for a curve? In the middle of the curve, where it is sharpest / After you leave the curve / Before you enter the curve, while the road is still straight / Only if the car starts to slide. Answer: Before you enter the curve, while the road is still straight. Braking while the wheels are straight is the most stable. Hard braking in the middle of a curve can make the tires lose grip.
What the curve sign means
The Curve sign (MUTCD W1-2) is a yellow, diamond-shaped warning sign with a black arrow that bends gently left or right. It tells you that the road ahead changes direction and that the bend may be sharper than it looks from a distance. The arrow always shows which way the road goes.
The MUTCD uses two related symbols. A Turn sign (W1-1), with an arrow bent at a right angle, is used for tighter bends where the recommended speed is 30 mph or less. The Curve sign, with a smoother arrow, is used where the recommended speed is higher. On the permit test, both mean the same thing for you: slow down before the bend.
What to do at a curve, step by step
Curves are where many run-off-road crashes happen, usually because the driver entered too fast. Use this routine every time:
- Check for a speed plaque. A yellow plaque under the sign gives the advisory speed for the curve.
- Brake before the curve, while your wheels are still straight. Bring your speed down to the advisory speed or lower.
- Look through the curve toward where you want to go, not at the edge line or oncoming cars.
- Keep a steady speed in the curve and stay in the center of your lane. Do not cut across the center line.
- Accelerate gently only as the road straightens out.
In rain, snow, ice or darkness, the advisory speed may still be too fast. Every state's basic speed law requires you to drive no faster than is safe for conditions.
Common mistakes and test traps
The most common wrong answer on the test is that the curve sign means “turn here.” It does not: there is no intersection, the road itself bends. Another trap is treating the advisory speed plaque as the legal speed limit. In most states it is a recommendation, but if you crash taking the curve too fast, you can still be ticketed for unsafe speed.
Drivers also forget about oncoming traffic. In a left curve, the other driver may drift over the center line, and in a right curve your own car tends to drift outward. Never pass on a curve where you cannot see far enough ahead; a solid yellow line on your side tells you passing is not allowed.
Where you see curve signs
Curve signs are placed ahead of the bend, far enough to let you slow down calmly — farther on fast rural highways than on city streets. They are common on two-lane country roads, hills, freeway ramps and anywhere the road follows the land. In the curve itself you may see chevron signs (black arrows on yellow) or a large arrow sign on the outside of the bend, showing its sharpness.
If several curves follow each other, the road may use a Reverse Curve sign or the Winding Road sign instead.
Related signs to study
Learn the curve sign with the advisory speed plaque, the winding road sign and the slippery when wet sign, which often appear on the same roads. Then review all warning signs in our road signs test guide.
Curve sign FAQ
What does a curve sign mean?
It warns that the road ahead bends in the direction of the arrow. Slow down before the curve, stay in your lane and keep a steady speed through it.
What is the difference between a curve sign and a turn sign?
Both warn of a bend. The turn sign, with a right-angle arrow, is used for sharp bends where the recommended speed is 30 mph or less; the curve sign is used for gentler bends taken at higher speeds.
Is the speed on the plaque under a curve sign a legal limit?
In most states, no. It is an advisory speed for good conditions. You can still be cited for driving too fast for conditions if you lose control.
Can I pass another car in a curve?
Not when you cannot see far enough ahead to pass safely, and never where a solid yellow line is on your side of the center line. Wait for a straight road with a broken line.
Why should I brake before the curve and not in it?
Tires have limited grip. Using it for braking and steering at the same time increases the risk of a skid, so finish braking while the road is straight.
Official sources
Keep studying
- Advisory speed plaque
- Winding road sign
- No passing zone sign
- All U.S. road signs
- Speed limits and following distance
- Practice tests by topic