Mandatory Signs

The essentials

Mandatory signs indicate a required direction of movement or behaviour. This topic helps distinguish a permitted choice from a mandatory instruction and apply the sign in the context of a lane, intersection or special road section.

What to remember

A mandatory sign usually requires a specific direction or mode of travel rather than merely giving advice. For example, ‘right only’, ‘straight ahead only’ or a sign showing which side to pass an obstacle limits the driver’s permitted choice on that section. Interpret these signs together with lane position and supplementary signs so that you do not confuse a mandatory direction with an informational arrow.

Listen to the explanation

Educational material; not a substitute for the current official rules.

Try questions on this topic

A small practice set from this subtopic. The full question bank and saved progress are available in your account.

What sign is called "An obstacle bypass on the left"? What sign is called "An obstacle bypass on the left"?
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

The correct answer: 3

Sign 3 is correct. Its white arrow points diagonally down and left inside a blue mandatory circle, requiring the obstacle to be passed on the left. This is not an ordinary left-turn sign: the blue circle means a mandatory action and the arrow identifies the required side of passage.

Which answer correctly states the permitted direction of travel? Which answer correctly states the permitted direction of travel?
  1. Just a U-turn
  2. Straight and U-turn
  3. Straight ahead only

The correct answer: Straight ahead only

Only straight-ahead movement is allowed from the current position. The nearby blue circular sign requires traffic to continue straight. The rectangular U-turn sign indicates a designated place farther ahead. The driver must first reach that location and may make the U-turn only there.

Which answer correctly states the permitted direction of traffic? Which answer correctly states the permitted direction of traffic?
  1. Straight on and left to the yard
  2. Straight ahead only
  3. Only a U-turn
  4. Straight ahead and a U-turn

The correct answer: Straight ahead only

Only straight-ahead movement is permitted. The blue circular sign requires the driver to continue straight at this point, so turning left into the courtyard is not allowed here. The rectangular sign ahead merely indicates a designated U-turn location that must first be reached.

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