Regulatory Signs
Regulatory signs carry the force of law: they tell you what you must do, what you must not do, and where a restriction applies. Florida's knowledge test draws from this domain by asking you to identify a sign from its legend and then choose the legal action, not just the sign's name.
Reading the sign family
Most regulatory signs are white rectangles with black legends. Prohibitions often add a red circle and slash or red text. The octagon STOP and inverted-triangle YIELD are the only signs of their shapes, so shape alone identifies them. Speed limit signs are white with black numerals; the posted number is the maximum lawful speed under ideal conditions, not a recommended speed.
Rules tested again and again
- Right turn on red: allowed after a complete stop and yield unless a sign prohibits it.
- Left turn on red: allowed only from a one-way street onto another one-way street.
- Lane-use signs with arrows are regulatory; obey the arrow even when traffic is light.
- ONE WAY, DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY mark one-way streets; DO NOT ENTER faces the back of the flow.
- HOV lanes use the diamond symbol and restrict occupancy and hours.
- KEEP RIGHT and KEEP LEFT with arrows direct traffic around medians and islands.
Worked example
You face a steady red light on a two-way street and want to turn left into a one-way street. No sign restricts turns. Is the turn legal? No. Florida permits a left turn on red only from one-way to one-way. The correct answer is to wait for green. If instead you were turning right, the turn would be legal after a stop and yield unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted.
Traps that cost marks
Do not treat YIELD as a rolling stop: you must slow and be ready to stop. Do not assume right on red is always allowed; a sign or a red arrow overrides it. Read plaques such as 'WHEN PEDESTRIANS PRESENT' or time-of-day plates before answering. A white rectangular sign is usually regulatory, not a warning, and an advisory speed plaque is not a legal limit.