Do Not Enter Sign
The do not enter sign is a red circular sign with a white horizontal bar that prohibits all vehicles from entering a road or lane in that direction. It is typically posted at exit ramps and one-way street entrances.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
The do not enter sign means the road ahead is closed to your direction of travel. Entering past this sign puts you in direct conflict with oncoming traffic. It is posted at highway exit ramps, the entry points of one-way streets from the wrong direction, divided road medians, and closed road sections. It is one of the most serious regulatory signs on Ontario roads.
Quick Facts
Type
Regulatory Sign
Shape
Circular with horizontal white bar
Colours
Red background with white horizontal rectangle
In this guide
What does the Do Not Enter Sign mean?
The do not enter sign means the road ahead is closed to your direction of travel. Entering past this sign puts you in direct conflict with oncoming traffic. It is posted at highway exit ramps, the entry points of one-way streets from the wrong direction, divided road medians, and closed road sections. It is one of the most serious regulatory signs on Ontario roads.
What to do when you see it
Stop immediately and do not proceed. If you have already passed a do not enter sign by mistake, do not reverse on a highway. Turn on your hazard lights, pull over to the shoulder as quickly and safely as possible, wait for a gap in traffic, then make a U-turn or proceed to the next legal exit to correct your direction.
Where you'll see it in Ontario
Do not enter signs are posted at the wrong end of one-way streets, on all highway exit ramp entrances, at the ends of divided roads where vehicles may attempt to enter the oncoming lane, and at closed intersection approaches. They are often paired with a wrong way sign further down the road.
G1 test relevance
The G1 test asks candidates to identify the do not enter sign and explain its meaning. A common multiple-choice question pairs this sign with the wrong way sign and asks which one means vehicles coming from the opposite direction will hit you. Both signs address this hazard, but the do not enter sign is the one you see first.
Common mistakes drivers make
The most dangerous mistake is entering a highway at an exit ramp, often at night or in unfamiliar areas. Drivers sometimes also confuse the do not enter sign with the no entry sign used in parking facilities, though both have the same meaning and require the same response.
Related Signs
Wrong Way Sign
The wrong way sign is a red rectangular sign that tells drivers they are travelling in the wrong direction on a road. It is typically posted past the do not enter sign to give a second warning to drivers who have entered against the flow of traffic.
Learn moreOne Way Sign
The one way sign indicates that traffic on that road travels in only one direction. All vehicles must travel in the direction shown by the arrow, and driving against the arrow is illegal.
Learn moreNo U-Turn Sign
The no U-turn sign prohibits drivers from making a U-turn at that specific location. U-turns must only be made when safe and not prohibited by a sign or by the Highway Traffic Act.
Learn moreKeep Right Sign
The keep right sign instructs drivers to stay to the right side of a traffic island, obstruction, or divided road median. It directs traffic flow at road splits and median openings.
Learn moreReady to Pass Your G1 Test?
Learn all Ontario road signs and rules with an MTO-certified instructor. Join 5,000+ students who passed with SafePass.