No turns sign: what it means
The NO TURNS sign means you must not turn left or right here. Go straight ahead.
What does the NO TURNS sign mean?
MUTCD Section 2B.26 lists NO TURNS (R3-3) among the movement prohibition signs, used where turns are prohibited at an intersection approach. Where it is used, two signs should be placed, one where a No Right Turn sign would go and one where a No Left Turn sign would go.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- All traffic moves in the arrow’s direction.
- No left or right turns here.
- Traffic comes toward you here; do not go in.
Show answer
B. No left or right turns here. Both left and right turns are prohibited (MUTCD Section 2B.26). Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2B, Regulatory Signs, Barricades, and Gates: Section 2B.26, FHWA; MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA
Where will you see it?
At intersections where turning either way is not allowed, often in busy city centers.
What should you do?
Do not turn. Drive straight through and find another route.
What do people get wrong?
Reading it as no U-turns only. NO TURNS bans left and right turns.
Common questions
Does NO TURNS include U-turns?
The MUTCD has a separate No U-Turn sign. Check your state driver handbook for how U-turns are treated where turns are banned.
Can a plaque limit the times?
Yes. Movement prohibition signs can have plaques for times or exceptions, such as buses.
Compare with
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 4 November 2026 against the MUTCD 11th Edition (FHWA), Section 2B.26.
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2B, Regulatory Signs, Barricades, and Gates: Section 2B.26, FHWA
- MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA. FHWA lists the current version as the 11th Edition with Revision 1, dated December 2025
Sign pictures are our own simplified drawings of the MUTCD designs, which are in the public domain (MUTCD Section 1D.06). Sources and image credits.