Warning signs
Dip sign
The roadway drops sharply and rises again just ahead, deeper than an ordinary bump. Slow down so the vehicle does not bottom out.
- Diamond
- Yellow
- MUTCD W8-2
Shape and background first
Federal designation W8-2 in the MUTCD, the national standard every state signs to. Common on rural roads that cross drainage channels or old creek beds without a bridge, where the pavement itself follows the ground down and back up.
What the MUTCD specifies
Designation: W8-2
MUTCD Section 2C.26
Conventional road size: 30 x 30 in
Source: Federal Highway Administration, MUTCD 11th Edition (December 2023), Part 2, Table 2C-1, verified 2026-09-26.
What the test wants you to know
The mistake people make
This word sign means the drop is severe enough to affect steering and suspension at normal speed, which is why the advisory plate underneath often reads lower than what you would expect for a plain bump. It also hides whatever is on the far side, so covering the brake as you approach is the habit examiners are checking for.
The sign people confuse it with
Dip gets mixed up with Bump more than any other pairing in this category. Put them side by side and the difference is obvious, which is exactly why it is worth doing once rather than meeting them cold in the exam.
Dip
The roadway drops sharply and rises again just ahead, deeper than an ordinary bump.
Bump
A raised section of pavement is ahead.
