Work zone signs
Shoulder Work sign
Crews are working on the shoulder rather than in a travel lane. Move over or slow down as you pass, since workers and equipment sit close to traffic.
- Diamond
- Orange
- MUTCD W21-5
Shape and background first
Federal designation W21-5 in the MUTCD, the national standard every state signs to. Typical for mowing, guardrail repair, or drainage work strung out along a highway shoulder for miles at a time.
What the MUTCD specifies
Designation: W21-5
MUTCD Section 6H.22
Conventional road size: 36 x 36 in
Source: Federal Highway Administration, MUTCD 11th Edition (December 2023), Part 6, Table 6H-1, verified 2026-09-26.
What the test wants you to know
The mistake people make
A lot of drivers relax because the lane itself looks clear, but move over laws for stopped work and emergency vehicles generally apply even when the activity is off on the shoulder. The test angle is that this sign does not mean the work zone rules can be ignored.
