A detour sign means the traffic pattern or route is changing. Slow down and follow the posted route. Unusual or dangerous conditions may be ahead.
What to do
Slow down and follow the changed route.
Practice question
The answer stays closed until you open it.
This orange diamond reads DETOUR and shows an arrow. What should you do?
Slow down and follow the changed route.
Ignore the sign if you know a shorter way through the closed lane.
Stop and wait for a pilot car even when the arrow points to an open lane.
Use the closed lane if no workers are standing in it.
Show the answer
Answer: Slow down and follow the changed route.
A detour sign means the traffic pattern or route is changing. Slow down and follow the posted route. Unusual or dangerous conditions may be ahead.
What does the Detour sign mean?
A detour sign means the traffic pattern or route is changing. Slow down and follow the posted route. Unusual or dangerous conditions may be ahead. This is study wording cited to VA Driver's Manual (Apr 2026) §2 Work Zones. It is not a verbatim quotation from the manual.
