Road signs ยท Regulatory

Right Lane Must Turn Right Sign: Meaning and What to Do

The white square reading RIGHT LANE MUST TURN RIGHT converts the right lane into a mandatory turn lane at the intersection ahead. A driver in that lane may not continue straight; the lane exists to move turning traffic out of the through lanes.

Right Lane Must Turn Right Sign (R3-7R), official design
The sign

Right Lane Must Turn Right Sign

  • MUTCD R3-7R
  • Square
  • White with black legend
  • Regulatory sign

The word version and the arrow-with-ONLY version say the same thing. The sign is posted far enough in advance that a through driver has room to move left, which is the whole point: the decision is made before the lane fills up.

What to do

What to do when you see the right lane must turn right sign

If you plan to go straight, move out of the right lane as soon as you read the sign, signaling and checking your blind spot first. If you reach the intersection still in the right lane, turn right; do not stop and try to force your way left, and do not go straight from the turn lane.

The signs it is confused with

Tests contrast it with Right Turn Only, which marks the lane at the intersection with an arrow, and with the Keep Right sign, which tells you which side of an obstruction to pass on. The words MUST TURN describe the lane's required movement, not a side of the road.

Try it

Signs are one topic of ten on every test

Every state practice test covers signs, signals, and markings among its ten topics, with every answer explained. Pick your state and see how its exam asks about signs like this one; it is free, with no sign-up.

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Questions

Questions about the right lane must turn right sign

What does right lane must turn right mean?

Every vehicle in the right lane must turn right at the intersection ahead. The lane is a mandatory turn lane, not a through lane.

When should I change lanes if I am going straight?

As soon as you see the sign and can do it safely. It is posted in advance for exactly that reason.

Is it the same as a right turn only arrow sign?

Yes in effect. One uses words, the other an arrow with ONLY. Both make the movement mandatory.

Does the same sign exist for the left lane?

Yes. LEFT LANE MUST TURN LEFT is the mirror image and works the same way.

How does this sign appear on the written test?

As a lane-choice scenario: you are in the right lane and want to go straight. The correct answer is to change lanes early or make the turn.