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Oklahoma driving lesson · Signs, Signals and Markings

Regulatory signs

A 3-minute lesson from the Oklahoma course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Signs, Signals and Markings
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
20

Regulatory signs tell you what you must and must not do. They control, or "regulate," traffic for everyone's safety, and you must obey them like any other traffic law, from turnpikes to unpaved county roads. Most are black and white rectangles.

Know the rule

You are required to obey regulatory signs just like other traffic laws. When you see rectangular signs, always obey them.

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Know the rule

At a "School Zone" speed sign, reduce your speed to the limit shown when the yellow light is flashing. Watch carefully for children and be ready to stop.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
School speed limit when flashing
School speed limit sign: 20 mph when flashing

Know the rule

A speed limit sign shows the highest speed you can travel under ideal conditions.

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Lane-use signs:

  • Lane 1 must go left; Lane 2 is optional, left or straight ahead
  • Lane 1 must go straight ahead; Lane 2 is optional, right or straight ahead
  • Must turn left
  • No turns from this lane
  • Center lane only: enter only to make a left turn; you must not pass in this lane
Handbook p. 20 ↗
Multiple turning lanes (left/through/right)
Lane-use sign: left lane turns left only; right lane may go left or straight
Center lane left turn only (two-way left turn)
Center lane only: for left turns

Other common regulatory signs:

  • No right turn
  • Keep right of an object or center divider
  • No U-turn: don't turn around in the street or intersection
  • No trucks / No bicycles
  • Do Not Enter: the roadway ahead is one-way traffic coming toward you; don't drive into it
  • Do Not Pass: don't cross yellow lines; you can't see far enough ahead to pass safely
Handbook p. 20 ↗
Do not enter
Do Not Enter
No U-turn
No U-turn

Know the rule

Do not park or stop in a space reserved for disabled people unless you have a disabled license plate or disability placard.

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Put it into practice

You're in the left lane under a sign showing a left arrow marked ONLY, and you wanted to go straight. You must turn left. Make the turn, then find a safe way to get back on your route.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

You approach a school zone where the yellow light is flashing. What must you do?
  1. Stop completely before entering
  2. Slow to the school zone limit
  3. Continue at the normal posted limit
  4. Turn on your hazard lights

Answer: Slow to the school zone limit

A flashing school zone light means you must reduce speed to the posted limit and watch for children.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
What does a speed limit sign show you?
  1. The highest speed allowed in ideal conditions
  2. The lowest legal speed at all times
  3. The safe speed in any weather
  4. The average speed of traffic on that road

Answer: The highest speed allowed in ideal conditions

A speed limit sign shows the highest speed allowed under ideal conditions, not a guaranteed safe speed.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
A sign shows an arrow pointing straight at you, indicating oncoming one-way traffic. What should you do?
  1. Proceed cautiously into the roadway
  2. Enter but keep to the right lane
  3. Do not drive into that roadway
  4. Enter only to make a left turn

Answer: Do not drive into that roadway

This sign means the roadway ahead carries one-way traffic coming toward you — don't enter it.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
A lane-use sign shows lane 1 must go left and lane 2 may go left or straight. What may a driver in lane 1 do?
  1. Go straight or turn left
  2. Only turn left
  3. Only go straight
  4. Turn left or right

Answer: Only turn left

A lane marked 'must go left' restricts drivers in that lane to a left turn only.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
Speed limit signs are warning signs, not regulatory signs.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

A rectangle is always a regulatory sign, and the manual says speed limit signs are regulatory.

Handbook p. 19 ↗
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