Regulatory Signs
Regulatory signs are the traffic-law signs the NJ knowledge test expects you to read instantly. They are usually white rectangles with black legends; the octagonal STOP and triangular YIELD are the shape exceptions. The exam tests meaning, placement, and whether a sign changes a default rule such as right turn on red.
What the colors and shapes tell you
- White/black regulatory signs tell you what you must do or must not do: speed limit, lane use, turn restrictions, parking rules.
- Red on white usually marks a prohibition or a stop/yield requirement; a red circle with a slash means no.
- A supplemental plaque (7 AM–9 AM, Except Buses) is part of the sign and limits when it applies.
NJ defaults you must know
- Unless posted otherwise, the statutory limit is 25 mph in a school zone and in a business or residential district; higher defaults apply on other road classes.
- Right turn on red is allowed after a full stop unless a sign prohibits it. Left turn on red is allowed only from a one-way street onto a one-way street, after stopping, unless prohibited.
- Lane-use signs with a curved arrow require the turn from that lane; a straight-arrow lane does not authorize a turn.
Worked example
You approach a red ball and want to turn right. A NO TURN ON RED sign is mounted beside the signal. The default permission does not apply. You must stop and wait for green, even if traffic is clear.
Traps
Treating a yellow warning sign as law; missing a small plaque; assuming a green arrow permits any lane movement; and reading a parking sign only at the top instead of the whole panel.