Warning sign · MUTCD W11-3
Deer Crossing
Deer frequently cross the road in this area. Collisions with animals are common here, especially at dawn, dusk and night.
- Shape
- Diamond
- Color
- Yellow background, black leaping deer
What to do
Slow down and scan the roadsides, using your high beams at night when no traffic is ahead. If a deer appears, brake firmly and stay in your lane; swerving often causes a worse crash. Remember that deer travel in groups, so expect more after the first one.
Where you see it
Along rural and wooded roads where deer are known to cross, often for several miles.
Test trap
Test questions ask what to do if an animal runs out: the handbook answer is to brake and hold your lane, not to swerve into oncoming traffic or off the road. Other animal signs (cattle, horses) follow the same idea.
Memory tip: Where one deer leaps, more follow — slow down and look wide.
Practice question
A yellow diamond sign showing a leaping deer means:
- Hunting area
- Deer often cross here — watch for animals
- Zoo ahead
- Deer must be reported
Answer: B. Deer often cross in this area, especially at dawn and dusk.
MUTCD sign meanings (as taught in state driver handbooks)