Detour Ahead Sign: Meaning and What to Do
The orange diamond reading DETOUR AHEAD warns that the road will be closed and traffic sent onto a detour a short distance on. Versions of the sign state the distance instead of AHEAD. Its purpose is to prepare you to leave the road before the arrow sign tells you where.
Detour Ahead Sign
Advance warning matters on a detour because the turn may come at an intersection you would normally drive through without a thought. The diamond has you looking for the arrow, slowing, and choosing a lane before you reach it.
What to do when you see the detour ahead sign
Slow down and begin watching for the Detour arrow sign. Get into the lane the detour will need if you can tell which it is, and expect other drivers to brake and turn unexpectedly. If you are unsure of the route, following the signs is safer than improvising.
The signs it is confused with
Tests pair it with the Detour arrow sign that marks the turn and with Road Closed Ahead, which warns of the closure itself. All three are orange; the diamond shape marks this one as a warning of what is coming.
Signs are one topic of ten on every test
Every state practice test covers signs, signals, and markings among its ten topics, with every answer explained. Pick your state and see how its exam asks about signs like this one; it is free, with no sign-up.
Choose your stateQuestions about the detour ahead sign
What does detour ahead mean?
A detour begins a short distance ahead because the road is closed. Slow down and watch for the arrow sign that shows where to turn.
Why is it a diamond?
Diamonds are warning signs. This one warns of the detour; the rectangular arrow sign directs you onto it.
What should I do when I see it?
Slow, choose a lane, and look for the turn. Expect drivers ahead of you to slow suddenly when they see the arrow.
Is the distance always given?
Sometimes the sign says AHEAD and sometimes it gives a distance. Either way the arrow sign follows at the turn itself.
How does this sign appear on the written test?
As a recognition question in the orange work zone group, often paired with the Detour arrow sign.