Regulatory sign · MUTCD R3-4
No U-Turn
You may not turn around to go back the way you came at this location. A red circle with a slash always means 'not allowed'.
- Shape
- Square
- Color
- White background, black U-shaped arrow inside a red circle with a red slash
What to do
Continue ahead and find a legal place to turn around, such as the next intersection without the sign or a designated turnaround. Never make a U-turn where it is prohibited, on a curve, near a hill crest or where other drivers cannot see you from 500 feet.
Where you see it
At intersections, median openings and signalized crossings where U-turns would be unsafe or block traffic.
Test trap
Do not confuse No U-Turn with No Left Turn — the U-turn arrow curves all the way back. Also, the absence of this sign does not automatically make a U-turn legal; state rules about visibility and business districts still apply.
Memory tip: Arrow hooks back on itself with a slash through it — no turning around.
Practice question
A sign showing a U-shaped arrow inside a red circle with a slash means:
- U-turn area ahead
- Sharp curve
- No U-turn
- Road ends
Answer: C. You may not make a U-turn here.
MUTCD sign meanings (as taught in state driver handbooks)