Regulatory signs

By the end of this topic you can

• You can come to a complete stop at a STOP sign at the right place.
• You can yield correctly at a YIELD sign.
• You can recognize DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY signs and react if you have entered the wrong way.
• You can read prohibition signs such as NO LEFT TURN and NO U-TURN.
• You can follow lane-use, one-way and speed limit signs.

What you need to know and understand

• STOP means a full stop at the stop line; if there is none, before the crosswalk; if there is none, before the intersection.
• YIELD means slow down and be ready to stop for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.
• DO NOT ENTER means you must not go onto that road or ramp.
• A red circle with a slash means the action shown is prohibited.
• White rectangular signs with black lettering give rules such as speed limits, ONE WAY and lane-use instructions.
• NO TURN ON RED means wait for a green signal before turning.
• An officer or flagger directing traffic overrides signs and signals.

Stopping at a STOP sign

At an all-way stop, the first vehicle to stop goes first. If two arrive together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.

1. Slow down early and check mirrors.
2. Stop completely at the white stop line. If there is no line, stop before the crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk, stop before entering the intersection.
3. Look left, ahead, right and left again. Pull forward slowly to see better if your view is blocked, then stop again if needed.
4. Yield to pedestrians and to traffic with the right-of-way.
5. Go only when it is safe.

Common rule signs and what they require

• YIELD (red and white downward triangle): slow, give way, stop if needed.
• DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY (red and white): you are about to go against traffic.
• ONE WAY (black arrow on white): traffic flows only in the arrow's direction.
• SPEED LIMIT: the maximum legal speed in good conditions.
• NO LEFT TURN, NO RIGHT TURN, NO U-TURN: red circle and slash over the movement.
• LEFT TURN YIELD ON GREEN: turn left on a green circle only after yielding to oncoming traffic.
• Lane-use signs over or beside lanes: which lanes must turn or may go straight.
• DO NOT PASS and KEEP RIGHT: stay in your lane or keep to the right of an island.

If you see WRONG WAY

If you pass a DO NOT ENTER or WRONG WAY sign, you are heading against traffic. Pull over as soon as it is safe, turn on your hazard lights and turn around or back out carefully. At night, red reflectors shining back at you from the road are another sign you are going the wrong way.

Common mistakes

• Rolling stops at STOP signs. Your wheels must stop moving completely.
• Stopping past the stop line or in the crosswalk. Stop at the first marked point.
• Treating YIELD as a STOP every time, or ignoring it. Slow, look and go only if it is clear.
• Turning on red where NO TURN ON RED is posted. Wait for green.
• Missing lane-use signs and ending up in a turn-only lane. Read overhead signs early.

Test yourself: Regulatory signs

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.