Traffic signs make up roughly one-third of the California permit test, and they're often where applicants lose the most points. This page focuses entirely on California traffic signs — regulatory, warning, guide, construction, and recreational — so you can master sign identification before test day. The California DMV expects you to recognize signs by **shape and color alone**, not just the words on them. That's because real-world driving doesn't always give you time to read a sign. An octagon always means stop. A diamond always means warning. A pennant means no passing zone. Once you interna