Do Not Enter Sign

Updated July 9, 2026

Do Not Enter · MUTCD R5-1 · Regulatory sign

What the Do Not Enter sign means

A red square with a white horizontal bar means do not enter — the roadway ahead is closed to you. It marks the exit end of a one-way street, a freeway off-ramp, or a restricted road where entering would send you head-on into oncoming traffic. When you see it, do not proceed; the lanes beyond are carrying vehicles toward you. Find the correct entrance or another route. Do Not Enter signs are paired with Wrong Way signs to stop drivers before they travel against traffic.

What to do when you see it

Stop and do not drive past it; the road ahead carries traffic toward you, so take another entrance.

On the CA permit test

Do Not Enter means the road ahead is closed to you — entering means driving into oncoming traffic.

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