Warning signs
Winding Road sign
A series of three or more curves lies ahead, alternating direction over a longer stretch. Reduce speed and expect the turning to continue for a while, not just one bend.
- Diamond
- Yellow
- MUTCD W1-5
Shape and background first
Federal designation W1-5 in the MUTCD, the national standard every state signs to. Found on mountain passes, canyon roads and other long stretches where the highway follows uneven terrain for a mile or more.
What the MUTCD specifies
Designation: W1-5
MUTCD Section 2C.07
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
Unlike a single curve or reverse curve sign, this one warns that the twisting continues beyond what you can see, so the expected habit is holding a reduced speed through the whole stretch rather than accelerating back up between bends. A speed plaque mounted underneath applies to the entire section, not just the first curve.
The sign people confuse it with
Winding Road gets mixed up with Reverse Curve 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.
Winding Road
A series of three or more curves lies ahead, alternating direction over a longer stretch.
Reverse Curve
The road bends one way and then immediately the opposite way, forming an S shape.
