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The Do Not Enter Sign – No, It Is Not Round

R5-1 Do not enter

What shape is the Do Not Enter sign?

  A. Round
  B. Three-sided
  C. Five-sided
  D. Square

Learning the shapes of different signs can seem simple enough. Still, many users need help to identify the shape of the Do Not Enter sign. It is easy to be fooled by the circular symbol and think that the sign itself is circular, but in the United States, it isn’t.

The correct answer to the question above is D. Square.

Squares and Rectangles

It is a good idea to learn the basic shapes and colors of road signs. It will help you on your DMV test and when you drive since it will make it easier to recognize signs from a distance if visibility is poor.

One important reminder is that regulatory signs are always rectangles or squares. They are typically white with black lettering. A red regulatory sign or a sign with red symbols indicates a prohibition, like the Do Not Enter sign.

There are other signs with rectangular or square shapes, but they have a different background color. Green, blue, and brown rectangles/squares are guide signs. Yellow and orange rectangles/squares are warning plaques.

Where You Will See the Do Not Enter Sign

You will see the Do Not Enter sign where you could enter a divided highway, one-way roadway, or exit ramp from the wrong direction.

The sign is mounted on the right-hand side of the road, facing traffic that could wrongly enter the roadway or ramp. Where greater emphasis is needed, a second sign may be on the left-hand side.

The sign tells you that entering this road or ramp from your direction is prohibited. Never enter under any circumstances.

Wrong Way Sign

R5-1a - Wrong Way Sign

Farther from the crossroad and beyond the Do Not Enter sign, you will often see a red Wrong Way sign. If you have entered a ramp or roadway and face a Wrong Way sign, you are already driving against traffic. Pull to the side and come to a complete stop. Turn on emergency flashers and turn around when it is safe.

What Road Signs are Round?

In the United States, there is only one round or circular sign. It is yellow with black symbols and warns of arailroad crossing ahead.

W10-1 Grade Crossing Advance Warning

DMV Questions and Answers by State

5 Comments

  1. I haven’t had license’s in 30 years and I’m fixing to go in January to get them.I wish I could stay on the 500 ones but it keeps changing on me.This would be great help if it would just stay on the 500 and let me try and answer them.Each one I miss I write the question down and the answer so I can study them later.

  2. Why is it wrong for the analytical mind that says the”Do not enter” sign is indeed round inside a square?”

    • There is a round symbol in this sign. The shape of the sign is still, as you say, square. An analytical mind can probably tell the two apart.

  3. anahid matevosian April 12, 2014

    the Divided Highway sign in the California Driver Handbook does not indicate it as end of divided Highway. Thanks

  4. Bernie May 14, 2013

    You say there is ‘only on sign in U.S’ Please correct it to -there is ‘only one sign in U.S’. I suppose there is no difference between one and one, as long as it is spoken and not written, LOL

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