Regulatory Signs: Speed Limits, Movement, and Prohibitions
Regulatory signs control behavior
Regulatory signs tell you what the law requires. They are usually white rectangles with black legends, often with red. Common examples include SPEED LIMIT, STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, WRONG WAY, ONE WAY, KEEP RIGHT, NO TURN ON RED, lane-use signs, weight limits, and parking controls. You must obey them even when traffic is light.
A posted speed limit is the maximum safe speed under ideal conditions, not a target and not a minimum. Arkansas also uses special limits in school and work zones. Slow down when weather, traffic, or road conditions make the posted limit unsafe. A minimum speed sign, by contrast, sets a floor for slow vehicles on some limited-access roads.
Trap points: YIELD requires you to slow and stop if necessary, not merely to check traffic. A green light does not cancel a NO TURN ON RED sign. A sign with a red circle and diagonal slash prohibits the action pictured. A blank or missing sign does not mean no rule applies; default traffic law still governs.
Worked example: You approach a red light and want to turn right. A NO TURN ON RED sign is posted. Even if the way is clear, you must wait for a green signal. Without that sign, Arkansas generally allows a right turn after a complete stop unless another sign prohibits it.
Rule of thumb: regulatory signs use words like must, only, no, stop, yield, and limit. Read them literally and follow the strictest instruction.