Alerts a driver who has entered a roadway in the wrong direction that they are traveling against traffic and must turn around.
MUTCD-style sign reference illustration. Always verify against the official CA MUTCD and Caltrans sign charts.
| Sign code | R5-2 |
|---|---|
| Federal code | R5-2 |
| Name | Wrong Way |
| Category | Regulatory Signs |
| Shape | Rectangle (Horizontal) |
| Color | Red background, white legend |
| California status | Used in California per CA MUTCD |
| Typical CA minimum size | 42" × 30" |
Download this sign or open the official MUTCD reference.
Official source: FHWA Standard Highway Signs, 2024 (11th Edition) — Regulatory signs.
Source: FHWA Standard Highway Signs — Public Domain. California: CA MUTCD 2026 (effective Jan 18, 2026).
Files linked from FHWA are official government publications in the public domain. CA MUTCD and Caltrans links open official government websites. Always verify against the current edition.
Alerts a driver who has entered a roadway in the wrong direction that they are traveling against traffic and must turn around.
Alerts a driver who has entered a roadway in the wrong direction that they are traveling against traffic and must turn around. In the field, R5-2 Wrong Way is typically positioned at the point of regulation within the activity area. Common deployments include backing up DO NOT ENTER on closed ramps and one-ways; temporary one-way operations through a work zone; locations with wrong-way entry risk. Always confirm its size, retroreflective sheeting, spacing, and placement against the CA MUTCD 2026 and the reviewing agency before finalizing the traffic control plan.
Used in California with DO NOT ENTER to protect one-way segments and closed ramps created by temporary traffic control.
Common field deployments
Agency review note
StreetsLA, LA County DPW, and Caltrans District 7 may require larger sizes or additional devices. Verify with the reviewing agency before finalizing the TCP.
Typical minimum: 42" × 30".
Sizes are CA MUTCD minimums and vary by roadway classification and speed. Verify against the CA MUTCD 2026 (CA MUTCD Part 2B (Regulatory Signs)), Caltrans sign specifications, and the reviewing agency.
Where it sits: Point of regulation within the activity area.
CA MUTCD reference: CA MUTCD Part 2B (Regulatory Signs).
In Los Angeles, temporary regulatory changes (speed, one-way, turn or entry restrictions) generally involve LADOT review, and on state highways Caltrans District 7. Regulatory authority cannot be created by signing alone — confirm the change is authorized by the agency with jurisdiction over the roadway.
Confirm WRONG WAY supplements DO NOT ENTER where wrong-way movement could occur. Public Ready reviews one-way and ramp closure signing.
These signs are typically deployed alongside R5-2 on a California TCP.
Protecting a one-way or closed ramp? Public Ready can supply WRONG WAY (R5-2) and DO NOT ENTER signs.
Free official resource — opens official government website
Free official resource — opens official government website
Free official resource — opens official government website
Free official resource — opens official government website
Educational reference only. This is not an official Caltrans, FHWA, or local agency publication and is not legal or engineering advice. Always verify sign selection, size, placement, spacing, and application against the current CA MUTCD 2026, Caltrans sign specifications, Standard Plans, project documents, and the reviewing agency’s requirements.
To understand the bigger picture around permits, agency review, lane closures, and pedestrian access for work zones using R5-2 Wrong Way, visit WorkZoneCompliance.com.
Public Ready can help with R5-2 Wrong Way — including sign rental or purchase, work-zone signs, TCP sign legends, and permit coordination, and agency-review support for Caltrans District 7, the City of Los Angeles, and LA County.
