Road signs/Do Not Pass Sign
Do Not Pass Sign: what it means and what to do
A do not pass sign means you may not pass other vehicles travelling in your direction on that stretch of road. It is often posted with the yellow pennant no passing zone sign.
What it looks like
A white vertical rectangle with black DO NOT PASS lettering.
What to do
- Stay behind the vehicle in front for as long as the sign applies.
- Wait for a sign or marking that says passing is allowed again, and for a gap that is long enough to finish passing safely.
- Do not use a passing lane or the oncoming lane to get around a slow vehicle in a no-passing zone, even if the road looks clear.
Quick check: Do Not Pass Sign
Two questions to test what you just read.
What does the do not pass sign mean?
On the permit test
Tests pair it with a solid yellow line on your side and ask when passing is allowed.
Where it shows up on state tests
7 questions across our state banks show this sign. Here is how many each bank has, and what each state's own test rules say about road signs.
| State | Questions showing it | What the state says about signs |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 1 | Two separate tests: road signs (20 questions) and road rules (20 questions). |
| North Carolina | 1 | Separate road-signs test: identify at least 9 of 12 signs. |
| New Jersey | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
| New York | 1 | 4 of the 20 questions are about road signs, and at least 2 of those 4 must be correct — even with 14 right overall. |
| Ohio | 1 | 40 multiple-choice questions on motor vehicle regulations and traffic signs. |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
| Virginia | 1 | Part one is 10 traffic-sign questions and you must answer all 10 correctly before part two opens. |
How it differs from similar signs
| Sign | How to recognise it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Do Not Pass Sign | White rectangular sign reading DO NOT PASS | A do not pass sign means you may not pass other vehicles travelling in your direction on that stretch of road. |
| No Passing Zone Sign | Yellow pennant-shaped sign reading NO PASSING ZONE | A no passing zone sign marks the start of a stretch where passing is prohibited, because you cannot see far enough ahead to pass safely. |
| Two-Way Traffic Sign | Yellow diamond warning sign with one arrow pointing up and one pointing down | A two-way traffic sign means a one-way street or roadway ends ahead and you will then share the road with oncoming traffic. |
| One Way Sign | Black rectangular sign with a white arrow reading ONE WAY | A one way sign means traffic may move only in the direction the arrow points. |
See them side by side
Common questions
You may not pass vehicles going the same way as you for as long as the sign applies. It is a regulatory sign, so passing anyway is a violation.
The rectangle is the order not to pass. The yellow pennant marks where the no-passing zone begins and is placed on the left side of the road, facing you.
All road signs Practice your state’s permit test free
Sources, checked 2026-10-08: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 2: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings; Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (FHWA). Written in our own words; follow your state’s manual for the exact wording.