The Do Not Enter Sign: Never Drive Past It
A do not enter sign means you must not drive into that road or ramp from your direction, because traffic beyond it moves toward you. You see it at freeway exit ramps, one-way streets and divided-road crossovers. If you have already passed one, stop safely, turn around when it is legal and safe, and call 911 if you are on a freeway.
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Do not enter quiz: 3 test-style questions
- A red circle with a white horizontal bar and the words DO NOT ENTER means: Road closed for repairs ahead / You must not enter the road from this direction / No parking at any time / Enter only if no traffic is coming. Answer: You must not enter the road from this direction. DO NOT ENTER marks a road or ramp you may not enter from your direction, usually because traffic flows toward you.
- Where are you most likely to see a DO NOT ENTER sign? At the end of a freeway exit ramp, facing drivers on the cross street / At a freeway on-ramp entrance / In the middle of a two-way street / Before a railroad crossing. Answer: At the end of a freeway exit ramp, facing drivers on the cross street. Exit ramps are the classic location: the signs face drivers on the cross street so they do not mistake the exit for an entrance.
- You realize you just drove past a DO NOT ENTER sign onto a one-way street. You should: Speed up to reach the end of the block quickly / Keep going and use your hazard lights / Back up at speed to the corner / Pull to the side, stop, and turn around when it is safe and legal. Answer: Pull to the side, stop, and turn around when it is safe and legal. Stop out of the way of oncoming traffic, then turn around or back out only when it is safe and legal to do so.
What the do not enter sign means
The DO NOT ENTER sign (MUTCD R5-1) is a regulatory sign: a white square holding a red circle with a white horizontal bar, with DO NOT above the bar and ENTER below. It means vehicles may not enter that roadway from your direction. Beyond the sign, traffic travels toward you, or the road is not open to you at all.
Red is the color the MUTCD uses for stop, yield and prohibition, and the circle-and-bar is one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. Many states add a WRONG WAY sign farther along the same ramp or street, as a second warning for a driver who missed the first.
What to do
- Do not turn in. If your navigation app suggests that road, ignore it and find another route.
- Look for the correct entrance. On a freeway, on-ramps are usually signed with route shields and an entrance direction; the DO NOT ENTER signs mark the exit.
- If you entered by mistake, slow down, move to the edge of the road and stop out of traffic. Turn around only where it is legal and safe. On a freeway or ramp, do not attempt a U-turn: pull as far off the road as you can, turn on your hazard lights and call 911.
- If you see another driver going the wrong way, slow down, move toward the right edge, and call 911 when it is safe.
Common mistakes and test traps
- Do not enter is not "road closed." The road may be open, just not in your direction. ROAD CLOSED signs are a different, rectangular legend.
- Confusing it with WRONG WAY. DO NOT ENTER is the first barrier at the entry point; WRONG WAY tells you that you have already made the mistake.
- Delivery or "just a few feet." There is no exception for short distances or quick stops.
- Night driving. Wrong-way entries happen most often at night and are frequently linked to impairment or unfamiliar roads; the signs are retroreflective so they shine in headlights.
Where you see it
The most common places are freeway and expressway exit ramps, the far end of one-way streets, crossovers and openings in the median of a divided highway, exit-only driveways of parking lots, and lanes reserved for buses or emergency vehicles. They are often mounted on both sides of the ramp, and sometimes lower than usual so that headlights pick them up.
Related signs to know
DO NOT ENTER works with the wrong way sign and the one way sign. Other red-and-white prohibitions include the no U-turn and no left turn signs. See the full color system in our road signs guide.
Do not enter sign FAQ
Is DO NOT ENTER the same as ONE WAY?
No. ONE WAY shows the direction traffic may travel. DO NOT ENTER is placed where drivers might enter against that direction, telling them they may not go in.
Can I enter a DO NOT ENTER road if it is empty?
No. The prohibition applies at all times unless a plaque lists exceptions, such as EXCEPT BUSES or specific hours.
What color and shape is the DO NOT ENTER sign?
A white square containing a red circle with a white horizontal bar, with white words DO NOT and ENTER.
What happens if you drive past a DO NOT ENTER sign?
It is a moving violation in every state, and on a ramp it can lead to a head-on crash. Stop safely and turn around legally, or call 911 on a freeway.
Official sources
Keep studying
- Wrong way sign
- One way sign
- Divided highway sign
- All US road signs
- Road signs test guide
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