Road signs/One Way Sign
One Way Sign: what it means and what to do
A one way sign means traffic may move only in the direction the arrow points. Turning onto the street the other way means a head-on collision waiting to happen.
What it looks like
A black rectangle with a white arrow and the words ONE WAY. On a street with signals you may also see it above the traffic lane.
What to do
- Enter a one-way street only in the direction of the arrow.
- Check the signs at the intersection before you turn, especially after dark or in unfamiliar areas.
On the permit test
Tests ask which way traffic moves and what the sign next to a one-way entrance is called (do not enter).
Where it shows up on state tests
9 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. |
| Texas | 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. |
| Washington | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
How it differs from similar signs
| Sign | How to recognise it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Do Not Enter Sign | Red circle with a white horizontal bar reading DO NOT ENTER | A do not enter sign means you must not drive onto that road or ramp in the direction you are heading. |
| Wrong Way Sign | Red rectangular sign reading WRONG WAY | A wrong way sign facing you means you are driving against the flow of traffic on a one-way street, ramp or divided road. |
| 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. |
See them side by side
Common questions
Vehicles may travel only in the direction the arrow points. Driving the other way is illegal and extremely dangerous.
No. The only way to leave a one-way street in the other direction is to turn off it onto a different street.
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.