What is the difference between an advance sign and a transition sign?

• A. An advance sign is decorative; a transition sign is regulatory
• B. An advance sign directs traffic into the new path; a transition sign warns of upcoming changes
• C. An advance sign warns of upcoming changes; a transition sign directs traffic into the new path or lane configuration.
• D. They function the same

Answer: (C)

The key idea is how these signs guide you through a roadway change: warnings ahead versus directions for the change itself. An advance sign is placed well before the change to alert you that something different is coming. It gives you time to slow down or prepare, but it doesn’t tell you exactly how to maneuver at that moment. A transition sign appears where the change begins and tells you how to move into the new path or lane configuration—such as directing you to merge, shift lanes, or follow a new alignment. So, advance signs warn of upcoming changes, and transition signs direct traffic into the new path or lane setup. Decorative or regulatory roles aren’t the purpose of advance signs, and the two signs aren’t the same in function.