Regulatory Signs

Key points

1. You must obey all official signs, signals and markings unless a police officer or road worker is redirecting traffic.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “You must obey all official signs, signals, and markings unless you see a police officer or road worker redirecting traffic.”
   Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 7

2. A stop sign means a complete stop; stay stopped for pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “This sign means you must come to a complete stop. Yield to other vehicles and stop and stay stopped for pedestrians crossing in marked or unmarked crosswalks.”
   Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 7

3. A yield sign means slow down and yield the right of way, stopping if needed.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “This sign means you should reduce speed and yield right of way. If needed, stop the same as you would for a stop sign.”
   Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 7

4. A do not enter sign means you are going the wrong way onto a road or freeway.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “This sign warns you not to enter a road or freeway. You will see this sign if you are going the wrong way.”
   Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 7

5. A red circle with a slash means do not make the turn shown.

   Source: Handbook p. 7

   “When you see a sign with a red circle and a slash mark, it means do not make the turn shown.”
   Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 7

6. White rectangular regulatory signs with black words or symbols tell you what to do.

   Source: Handbook p. 8

   “Regulatory signs are rectangular with black words or symbols on a white background and tell you what to do.”
   Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 8

7. Under a stop sign, a Right Turn Permitted Without Stopping sign lets right turning traffic go without stopping.

   Source: Handbook p. 8

   “This sign may appear below a stop sign. Traffic turning right may turn without stopping. Other traffic must stop and yield right of way.”
   Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 8

8. No Turn on Red means you wait for the green before turning.

   Source: Handbook p. 9

   “No Turn on Red: You may not turn during the red light. You must wait for the signal to turn green.”
   Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 9

9. An HOV lane is for vehicles carrying at least the number of people shown on the sign, often two or more.

   Source: Handbook p. 9

   “This lane is reserved for vehicles carrying at least two or more persons, as noted on the sign.”
   Oregon Driver Manual, Handbook p. 9

Recognize these signs

3 questions from the Oregon practice test

1. 1. What must a driver do at an octagonal Stop sign?

   1. Stop only when a pedestrian is visible
   2. Slow down and continue if the intersection looks empty
   3. Come to a complete stop and yield before entering
   4. Yield without stopping unless another sign is posted
   Show answer

   Come to a complete stop and yield before entering. An octagonal Stop sign requires a complete stop, followed by yielding to other vehicles and pedestrians before entering when it is safe. The empty-intersection choice wrongly turns a stop requirement into a yield rule. Waiting for a pedestrian is also too narrow because cross traffic may have priority. Use the stop line or crosswalk as the stopping reference, scan both directions, and proceed only after the intersection is clear and your movement is allowed.

2. 2. What do red regulatory signs that prohibit actions or movements do at intersections?

   1. Control the flow of traffic through intersections to increase safety
   2. Warn only of weather conditions ahead
   3. Identify services such as food, fuel, or lodging
   4. Mark roads where passing is encouraged
   Show answer

   Control the flow of traffic through intersections to increase safety. Oregon describes prohibitive regulatory signs as red signs that control actions or movements and increase safety by controlling traffic through intersections. They communicate a rule, not a suggestion or a service location. The warning-sign choice confuses red regulatory signs with the yellow signs used to alert drivers to possible hazards or changing road conditions. When a red prohibition appears, identify the movement it restricts before entering the intersection. The color is a useful quick cue, but the symbol or words still tell you exactly which turn, entry, or movement is forbidden.

3. 3. What does a Right Turn Permitted Without Stopping sign below a stop sign allow?

   1. All traffic may ignore the stop sign
   2. Right-turning traffic may turn without stopping
   3. Left turns may proceed without yielding
   4. Only buses may turn without stopping
   Show answer

   Right-turning traffic may turn without stopping. This special sign applies to traffic turning right. It may be placed below a stop sign and allows a right turn without stopping, while other traffic must still stop and yield the right of way. It does not erase the stop requirement for every movement, and it does not create a special privilege for left turns or buses. Before turning, check pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles that have priority. The small supplemental sign is the detail that changes the usual stop-sign instruction for that movement.

Source: the Oregon Driver Manual, Signs & Traffic Signals. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.