The No U-Turn Sign: Turning Around Is Prohibited Here
A no U-turn sign means you may not make a U-turn (a 180-degree turn to go back the way you came) at that location. Continue to a place where turning around is legal, such as an intersection without the prohibition or a safe side street. The black U-shaped arrow inside a red circle with a slash is a regulatory sign.
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No U-turn quiz: 3 test-style questions
- A white sign with a black U-shaped arrow inside a red circle with a slash means: U-turns are allowed here / No U-turns / Road curves sharply ahead / Detour: turn around. Answer: No U-turns. The red circle and slash mean the action shown is prohibited; here, the U-turn.
- Even with no sign, a U-turn is generally illegal: On a quiet residential street with good visibility / At an intersection controlled by a green light / Near the top of a hill or on a curve where other drivers cannot see you / In an empty parking lot. Answer: Near the top of a hill or on a curve where other drivers cannot see you. State laws forbid U-turns where drivers cannot see you in time, such as on curves and near hilltops. Exact distances vary by state.
- There is a NO U-TURN sign at your intersection, but you need to go back. What is the best choice? Make the U-turn if no police are around / Turn around in the intersection quickly / Back up to the previous driveway / Continue and turn around legally at another location. Answer: Continue and turn around legally at another location. Go on to a place where turning around is legal, for example by turning right and using a side street.
What the no U-turn sign means
The NO U-TURN sign (MUTCD R3-4) is a regulatory sign: a white square with a black arrow bent into a U, crossed by a red circle and diagonal slash. The red circle-and-slash is the universal prohibition symbol: whatever is drawn inside is forbidden. Here, it means you may not turn your vehicle around to travel in the opposite direction.
The sign applies at the intersection or stretch of road where it is posted, usually mounted over the left-turn lane or on the median. A combination sign (R3-18) shows both a left arrow and a U-turn arrow when both moves are prohibited. Plaques may limit the rule to certain hours or exempt certain vehicles.
What to do
- Do not make the U-turn, even if traffic is light.
- Plan an alternative: continue to the next intersection where U-turns are allowed, or turn right, then turn around on a quiet side street using a legal three-point turn or by driving around the block.
- Never back up on a public road to undo a missed turn.
- Where U-turns are allowed, make them from the far-left lane, signal, yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, and make sure the turn fits in one smooth move.
Common mistakes and test traps
- U-turns can be illegal without a sign. Most states prohibit them on curves and near hilltops where you cannot see or be seen in time, near railroad crossings, and on freeways (crossing the median is illegal). Some states also restrict them in business districts except at intersections. Distances and details vary by state.
- Green arrow does not mean U-turn. A green left arrow protects the left turn; a U-turn there is allowed only if not prohibited, and you must still watch for pedestrians and for vehicles turning right from the cross street.
- Fire stations and school zones. Many handbooks list these as places to avoid U-turns.
- The slash goes from upper left to lower right on US prohibition signs; the test may show the symbol without words.
Where you see it
You see no U-turn signs at busy intersections with high-speed or heavy oncoming traffic, at median openings on divided roads, near freeway ramps, in front of driveways where turning vehicles would block traffic, and at intersections where the turn radius is too tight for a safe U-turn. They are often paired with a no left turn sign or placed over a dedicated left-turn lane.
Related signs to know
Other turn prohibitions are the no left turn sign and the no turn on red sign. For entering roads you may not use, see do not enter. Learn the full shape and color system in the road signs guide, and test yourself with road sign questions.
No U-turn sign FAQ
Are U-turns legal when there is no sign?
Often yes, at intersections and on roads with good visibility, but every state lists places where they are illegal even without a sign, such as curves, hilltops, near railroad crossings and on freeways. Check your state handbook.
What does the red circle with a slash mean?
It means the action shown inside the circle is prohibited. The same symbol is used for no left turn, no right turn and no parking signs.
Can I make a U-turn at a traffic light?
In most states, yes, from the left-turn lane when the signal allows a left turn and no sign prohibits U-turns. You must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
What is the penalty for an illegal U-turn?
It is a moving violation; fines and points depend on the state. If it causes a crash, you can also be found at fault.
Official sources
Keep studying
- No left turn sign
- No turn on red sign
- Do not enter sign
- All US road signs
- Road signs test guide
- Practice tests by topic