Pass with care sign: what it means
The PASS WITH CARE sign marks the end of a no-passing zone. You may pass again, but only when it is safe.
What does the PASS WITH CARE sign mean?
MUTCD Section 2B.37 says the PASS WITH CARE (R4-2) sign should be installed at the downstream end of a no-passing zone if a DO NOT PASS sign was installed at its start.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- Passing is not allowed here.
- The no-passing zone ends here.
- Passing is not allowed from here.
Show answer
B. The no-passing zone ends here. It marks the end of a no-passing zone (MUTCD Section 2B.37). Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2B, Regulatory Signs, Barricades, and Gates: Section 2B.37, FHWA; MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA
Where will you see it?
On two-lane roads at the end of a no-passing zone.
What should you do?
Pass only if the road ahead is clear for a long way and the pavement markings allow it.
What do people get wrong?
Passing at once because the sign allows it. You still need a clear view and enough room.
Common questions
Does PASS WITH CARE mean I should pass?
No. It means passing is no longer banned. Pass only when it is safe.
What sign starts the no-passing zone?
A DO NOT PASS sign, often with a yellow NO PASSING ZONE pennant on the left.
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.37.
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2B, Regulatory Signs, Barricades, and Gates: Section 2B.37, 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.