Regulatory Signs (speed limits, lane use, turns, one-way, no-passing, weight and height limits)
What this domain tests
Regulatory signs state what a driver must do or must not do. In Maine they follow the MUTCD pattern: white rectangles with black legends, red for prohibitions, and special shapes such as the red-and-white DO NOT ENTER square. The exam asks you to read speed limits, lane-use arrows, turn controls, one-way signs, no-passing markings, and weight/height limits, and to know which sign carries legal force.
Core rules
- A white speed-limit sign is regulatory; the number is the legal maximum unless conditions require slower driving.
- Lane-use arrows show permitted movements. A red X or a white arrow with a slash can close a lane or prohibit a turn.
- One-way signs use a black arrow on white; DO NOT ENTER is a red square with a white bar; WRONG WAY is a red rectangle.
- The yellow pennant marks a no-passing zone; it is a warning sign, not a white regulatory sign.
- Weight and height limits are white rectangles with black numerals; they restrict vehicles, not just advise.
Worked example
A white rectangular sign shows a black left-turn arrow crossed by a red circle and slash. A driver wants to turn left at 6 p.m. on a weekday. Unless a plaque lists days or hours, the prohibition applies at all times. The driver must go straight or turn right. The red slash is the key: it means the movement is prohibited, not merely discouraged.
Traps that cost marks
- Treating a yellow no-passing pennant as a regulatory sign; it warns of a restriction already established by law and markings.
- Confusing DO NOT ENTER with WRONG WAY; both prohibit entry, but WRONG WAY faces traffic already going the wrong direction.
- Assuming an advisory speed plaque changes the legal speed limit; it does not.
- Missing a supplemental plaque that limits a turn restriction to certain hours or vehicle types.