The Do Not Pass Sign: Stay in Your Lane Until It Ends
A do not pass sign means you may not pass (overtake) other vehicles by moving into the oncoming lane from that point until the no-passing zone ends, usually where a PASS WITH CARE sign or a broken yellow line appears. It is a black-and-white regulatory sign that backs up the solid yellow line on your side of the center line.
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Do not pass quiz: 3 test-style questions
- You see a white DO NOT PASS sign on a two-lane road and a slow tractor ahead. You should: Pass quickly if no one is coming / Stay behind it until passing is allowed again / Pass on the right shoulder / Honk until the tractor pulls over. Answer: Stay behind it until passing is allowed again. Passing is prohibited in the zone. Stay behind with a safe following distance until a PASS WITH CARE sign or broken yellow line.
- The yellow pennant-shaped NO PASSING ZONE sign is placed: On the right side of the road / Above the lane / On the left side of the road, at the start of the no-passing zone / Only in work zones. Answer: On the left side of the road, at the start of the no-passing zone. The pennant is the only sign of that shape, posted on the left side so drivers looking to pass see it.
- On your side of the center line, a solid yellow line means: Passing is allowed with care / The lane is for buses only / The road is one-way / You may not cross it to pass. Answer: You may not cross it to pass. A solid yellow line on your side marks a no-passing zone, whether or not a sign is posted.
What the do not pass sign means
The DO NOT PASS sign (MUTCD R4-1) is a regulatory sign: a vertical white rectangle with the black words DO NOT PASS. It is posted at the beginning of, and sometimes along, a stretch of two-lane road where passing in the oncoming lane is prohibited. The zone usually ends at a PASS WITH CARE sign (R4-2) or where the yellow center line on your side becomes broken.
Passing is prohibited where you cannot see far enough ahead to complete a pass safely: on hills and curves, approaching intersections, railroad crossings, bridges and tunnels, and in narrow or busy sections. The sign reinforces the pavement markings, which are the primary way the rule is shown.
What to do
- Stay in your lane and do not cross the center line to pass, even if the vehicle ahead is slow.
- Keep a safe following distance (at least three seconds) so you can see past the vehicle and react.
- Wait for the end of the zone: a PASS WITH CARE sign or a broken yellow line on your side.
- Before passing later, check that the road ahead is clear for a long distance, signal, check your blind spot and return to your lane well before any oncoming vehicle.
- If someone passes you illegally, ease off the gas to let them back in safely.
Common mistakes and test traps
- Three no-passing signs. DO NOT PASS (white rectangle, regulatory, right side), NO PASSING ZONE (yellow pennant, warning, left side) and the solid yellow line all mean the same thing for you: no passing.
- Line patterns. Solid yellow on your side: no passing. Broken yellow on your side: passing allowed when safe. Double solid yellow: no passing in either direction.
- Where passing is illegal even without a sign, such as within a set distance of an intersection, bridge or railroad crossing (100 feet in many states) or on a hill or curve where you cannot see ahead. Check your state handbook.
- Passing on the right using the shoulder is illegal in almost all situations.
- School buses. Never pass a school bus with flashing red lights and stop arm extended, in any zone.
Where you see it
DO NOT PASS signs are mostly found on rural two-lane highways at the start of hills and curves, before narrow bridges, near intersections and railroad crossings, and in some work zones. They are posted on the right side of the road, while the yellow NO PASSING ZONE pennant is on the left.
Related signs to know
Study the no passing zone pennant, the curve ahead and two-way traffic signs. Line colors and patterns are explained in the pavement markings guide and safe following distances in the speed guide. See all signs in the road signs guide.
Do not pass sign FAQ
What is the difference between DO NOT PASS and NO PASSING ZONE?
DO NOT PASS is a white regulatory rectangle on the right side of the road. NO PASSING ZONE is a yellow pennant-shaped warning sign on the left side. Both tell you passing is prohibited.
Where does a no-passing zone end?
Usually at a PASS WITH CARE sign or where the solid yellow line on your side becomes a broken yellow line.
Can I pass a bicycle in a no-passing zone?
Some states allow crossing the center line to pass a bicycle when it is safe, and many require a minimum clearance such as 3 feet. Rules vary, so check your state handbook.
Is it ever legal to pass on the right?
On multilane roads, yes, when it is safe. On a two-lane road, passing on the right using the shoulder is illegal in almost all cases.
Official sources
Keep studying
- No passing zone sign
- Two-way traffic sign
- Curve ahead sign
- Pavement markings guide
- All US road signs
- Practice tests by topic