The No Left Turn Sign: Left Turns Are Prohibited Here
A no left turn sign means you may not turn left at that intersection or driveway. Go straight or turn right, then reach your destination by another legal route. It shows a black left-turn arrow inside a red circle with a slash; if a plaque lists hours, the ban applies only during those times.
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No left turn quiz: 3 test-style questions
- Under a NO LEFT TURN sign, a plaque reads 7 AM – 9 AM MON – FRI. It is Saturday at 8 AM. You may: Not turn left at any time / Turn left if it is otherwise safe and legal / Turn left only on a green arrow / Make a U-turn instead. Answer: Turn left if it is otherwise safe and legal. A time plaque limits the prohibition to the hours and days shown. Outside them, normal rules apply.
- Which sign means no left turn? A yellow diamond with a curved arrow / A green sign with a left arrow / A black left arrow inside a red circle with a slash / A white arrow on a black rectangle. Answer: A black left arrow inside a red circle with a slash. Prohibitions use a red circle and slash over the black symbol of the forbidden movement.
- You missed a left turn because of a NO LEFT TURN sign. The safest legal option is to: Turn left from the right lane / Wait for a gap and turn left quickly / Stop in the intersection and back up / Go straight or turn right, then use a legal route back. Answer: Go straight or turn right, then use a legal route back. Continue legally (for example, three right turns around a block) rather than making a prohibited or unsafe move.
What the no left turn sign means
The NO LEFT TURN sign (MUTCD R3-2) is a regulatory sign showing a black arrow turning left inside a red circle with a red diagonal slash, on a white square. It prohibits left turns at the intersection, ramp or driveway where it is posted. Its mirror image, the no right turn sign (R3-1), prohibits right turns.
Traffic engineers ban left turns where turning vehicles would cross heavy oncoming traffic, block a lane with no room to wait, conflict with light rail or busy pedestrian crossings, or have a crash history. Plaques underneath may restrict the ban to certain times (for example, rush hours) or exempt buses.
What to do
- Read the sign and any plaque as you approach, and choose the right lane early.
- Do not turn left while the prohibition applies, even if the road looks empty.
- Go straight or turn right, then reach your destination by another route: turning right three times around a block often replaces one left turn.
- Do not replace the left turn with a U-turn unless U-turns are clearly allowed at another location; many no-left-turn intersections also prohibit U-turns.
Common mistakes and test traps
- Time plaques. The prohibition applies only during the hours and days shown; outside them, a normal left turn (with yielding) is legal.
- Driveways count. A no left turn sign at a parking lot exit applies when you leave the lot.
- Red arrow versus sign. A red left arrow prohibits the turn only while it is red; the sign prohibits it at all times (or the posted times).
- Lane-use arrows. A white sign with an arrow and ONLY (for example, RIGHT LANE MUST TURN RIGHT) is a lane-use control, not a prohibition symbol.
Where you see it
No left turn signs are posted on the near side or far side of intersections, on overhead mast arms above the left lane, at exits from shopping centers onto busy arterials, at intersections near freeway ramps and along streets with light rail or streetcar tracks in the median. In many cities they appear along major corridors during peak hours.
Related signs to know
Review the no U-turn sign, the no turn on red sign and the one way sign. Left-turn yielding rules are in our right-of-way guide, and the full shape and color system is in the road signs guide.
No left turn sign FAQ
Does a no left turn sign also ban U-turns?
Not necessarily: a U-turn is a separate movement, so look for a NO U-TURN sign, and many such intersections post both. Because a U-turn starts like a left turn and crosses the same traffic, the safe choice is to avoid both.
What if the sign has hours listed?
The prohibition applies only during those hours and days. Outside them, you may turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
Is the no right turn sign similar?
Yes. The no right turn sign (R3-1) uses the same red circle and slash over a right-turn arrow.
Can emergency vehicles ignore a no left turn sign?
Emergency vehicles responding with lights and siren have limited exemptions under state law. Regular drivers have none.
Official sources
- FHWA — Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
- IIHS — Red light running and intersection safety
Keep studying
- No U-turn sign
- No turn on red sign
- One way sign
- Right-of-way rules
- All US road signs
- Practice tests by topic