A “One Way” sign means that traffic on that particular road flows only in one direction. If you see a One Way sign with an arrow, it indicates the direction in which traffic is allowed to move. For example, a One Way sign with an arrow pointing to the right means that all traffic on that street must travel to the right (and if you go left, you’d be going against traffic).
In practical terms:
If you’re turning onto a street and you see a One Way sign, you can only turn in the direction of the arrow. If the arrow points left, it’s a one-way street going left, so you cannot turn right onto that street.
If you’re driving on a one-way street, you’ll see One Way signs periodically to remind you (and to warn intersecting traffic) that it’s one-way. All vehicles should be going the same direction.
If you encounter a One Way sign facing you at an intersection (and you’re on a cross street), it means you cannot go that way because traffic is coming from the opposite direction. You’ll often also see a Do Not Enter sign on the opposite end.
One way streets are common in city grids to help traffic flow, and highway entrance/exit ramps often have one-way signs to indicate the proper direction.
It’s crucial to follow One Way signs because going the wrong way on a one-way street can lead to head-on collisions. You also risk getting a ticket if you go the wrong way. Usually, pavement markings (like arrows on the road) and the position of parked cars (they’ll all be facing the same way on a one-way street) can help clue you in as well.
So, One Way sign = traffic only moves in the direction indicated. Always travel in that direction and never against it. If you need to go the opposite way, you’ll have to find an alternate route around the block or follow signs to where two-way traffic resumes.
