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Driving safety guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
One Way and Divided Highway Signs Explained
ONE WAY signs, Divided Highway Crossing signs, Keep Right signs and the yellow Divided Highway warning signs all help you tell which way traffic moves and which side of a median to use. Here is what the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) says about each one.
R6-1 / R6-2the two ONE WAY sign designs
2 cornersnear right and far left: where ONE WAY signs go at an unsignalized intersection
R6-3Divided Highway Crossing sign for a four-leg intersection (R6-3a at a T)
W6-1yellow warning: Divided Highway ahead
The short answer
A ONE WAY sign marks a road where traffic moves only in the direction of the arrow; it is placed parallel to the one-way street at every alley and road that meets it. At a divided highway, the Divided Highway Crossing sign advises side-street drivers that they are approaching an intersection with a divided highway, and ONE WAY or Keep Right signs are installed at the crossing. Yellow Divided Highway and Divided Highway Ends signs warn that a median starts or ends ahead.
ONE WAY signs
What they mean: the MUTCD says the ONE WAY (R6-1 or R6-2) sign shall be used to indicate streets or roadways on which vehicular traffic is allowed to travel in one direction only. Regulatory signs like this one are rectangular unless the MUTCD says otherwise.
Two designs: the MUTCD sign size table lists the R6-1 sign at 36 by 12 inches and the R6-2 sign at 24 by 30 inches on a single-lane conventional road, with larger sizes for multi-lane roads, expressways and freeways.
Where they can be left off: ONE WAY signs may be omitted on the one-way roadways of divided highways where the design of the interchanges shows the direction of traffic on the separate roadways.
Begin and end: a BEGIN ONE WAY (R6-6) sign may mark where a one-direction restriction starts, and an END ONE WAY (R6-7) sign may mark where it ends.
Bicycles: an EXCEPT BICYCLES (R3-7bP) plaque may be used with a ONE WAY sign when counter-flow bicycle traffic is allowed.
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 2B.02 and 2B.49 and Table 2B-1, read November 4, 2026.
Where ONE WAY signs are placed
The MUTCD sets these placements for ONE WAY signs:
| Location | Where the signs go |
|---|---|
| Every alley and road that meets a one-way roadway | Placed parallel to the one-way street. |
| Unsignalized intersection with a one-way street | On the near right and far left corners, facing traffic entering or crossing the one-way street. |
| Signalized intersection with a one-way street | Near the signal faces, on the signal poles, on the mast arm or span wire, or at the same corners used at unsignalized intersections. |
| Unsignalized T-intersection where the top of the T is one-way | On the near right and the far side of the intersection, facing traffic on the stem approach. |
| Roundabout central island (where signs fit) | May be used to direct traffic counter-clockwise around the island; the MUTCD says they should be mounted at least 4 feet high. |
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Section 2B.49, read November 4, 2026. Joining a divided highway from a ramp? See how to merge onto a highway.
Divided highway crossings
Two kinds of crossing: where a road crosses a divided highway, the crossing can work as two separate intersections (one with each directional roadway) or as a single intersection. The signs differ.
Two separate intersections: ONE WAY signs shall be placed on the near right and far left corners of each intersection with the directional roadways, visible to each crossroad approach.
A single intersection: Keep Right (R4-7) signs and/or ONE WAY signs shall be installed. Keep Right signs go as close as practicable to the approach ends of the medians; ONE WAY signs go on the near right and far left corners.
Extra sign: at either kind of crossing, a ONE WAY sign may also be placed on the far right corner.
Divided Highway Crossing sign (R6-3, R6-3a): on unsignalized side-street approaches from which both left and right turns are allowed onto a divided highway, at a crossing that works as two separate intersections, this sign shall be used to advise drivers that they are approaching an intersection with a divided highway. It may be omitted where the divided highway carries fewer than 400 vehicles a day (AADT) and has a speed limit of 25 mph or less, and it may also be used on signalized approaches.
Which version: the R6-3 sign is used at a four-leg intersection and the R6-3a sign at a T-intersection. It goes on the near right corner, beneath a STOP or YIELD sign or on its own support, and a second one may be added on the left side of the approach.
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 2B.49 and 2B.50, read November 4, 2026.
Keep Right and Keep Left signs
Keep Right (R4-7): may be used where traffic must pass only to the right-hand side of a roadway feature or obstruction. The MUTCD says it should be used where it is not readily apparent that traffic must keep to the right.
Keep Left (R4-8): may be used where traffic must pass only to the left-hand side of a feature or obstruction.
Placement: if Keep Right signs are installed at the start of a median or at a median opening, they shall be placed as close as practicable to the approach ends of the medians, be visible to traffic on the divided highway, and be angled toward the applicable crossroad approach. The MUTCD also says a Keep Right sign should be mounted on the face of, or just in front of, a pier or other obstruction separating opposite directions of traffic, so drivers pass to the right of it.
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Section 2B.39, read November 4, 2026.
Divided highway warning signs
Warning signs are diamond-shaped with a black legend and border on a yellow background unless the MUTCD says otherwise. These three warn of medians that start or end and of two-way traffic ahead:
| Sign | When it is used |
|---|---|
| Divided Highway (W6-1) | Should be used on the approaches to a section of highway (not an intersection or junction) where opposing traffic is separated by a median or other physical barrier. It shall not be used instead of a Keep Right sign on the approach end of a median island. |
| Divided Highway Ends (W6-2) | Should be used in advance of the end of a physically divided section (not an intersection or junction) as a warning of two-way traffic ahead. |
| Two-Way Traffic (W6-3) | Should be used to warn of a change from a multi-lane divided section to a two-lane, two-way road. With an AHEAD plaque, it should be used where a one-way street becomes a two-lane, two-way road. |
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 2C.02, 2C.20, 2C.21 and 2C.51, read November 4, 2026. The MUTCD size table lists the W6-1 and W6-2 signs at 36 by 36 inches on conventional roads and 48 by 48 inches on expressways and freeways.
Keep your lights, tires and brakes ready
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 4, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
One way and divided highway sign FAQ
What does a ONE WAY sign mean?
It marks a street or roadway on which vehicles are allowed to travel in one direction only, the direction the arrow points. The MUTCD requires ONE WAY signs for that purpose, except that they may be left off the separate roadways of divided highways where the design of the interchanges shows the direction of traffic.
Where are ONE WAY signs placed?
Parallel to the one-way street at every alley and roadway that meets it. At an unsignalized intersection they go on the near right and far left corners, facing traffic entering or crossing the one-way street. At a signal they go near the signal faces, on the signal poles, on the mast arm or span wire, or at the same corners.
Why are there two ONE WAY signs at a divided highway crossing?
Where a road crosses a divided highway and the crossing works as two separate intersections, the MUTCD requires ONE WAY signs on the near right and far left corners of each intersection with the directional roadways, visible to each crossroad approach. An additional ONE WAY sign may also go on the far right corner.
What does the Divided Highway Crossing sign mean?
The Divided Highway Crossing (R6-3 or R6-3a) sign tells drivers on a side street that they are approaching an intersection with a divided highway. The MUTCD requires it on unsignalized side-street approaches where both left and right turns are allowed at a crossing that works as two separate intersections, with an exception for low-volume, low-speed divided roads.
What is the difference between the Divided Highway sign and the Keep Right sign?
The yellow Divided Highway (W6-1) sign is a warning sign used on the approach to a section of road where the opposing directions are separated by a median or barrier. The Keep Right (R4-7) sign is a regulatory sign that tells you to pass only to the right of a feature such as a median. The MUTCD says the W6-1 sign shall not be used instead of a Keep Right sign on the approach end of a median island.
What does the Divided Highway Ends sign mean?
It warns that the physically divided section is ending and two-way traffic is ahead. The MUTCD says it should be used in advance of the end of a divided section, and a Two-Way Traffic (W6-3) sign should be used to warn of the change to a two-lane, two-way road.
Can bicycles ride both ways on a one-way street?
Only where counter-flow bicycle traffic is allowed. The MUTCD says an EXCEPT BICYCLES plaque may be used with a ONE WAY sign when counter-flow bicycle traffic is allowed.
What does The Works at Michigan City Ford include?
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Book a routine checkup
Book The Works, which includes a brake inspection, tire rotation and pressure check, and battery test, at Michigan City Ford.
Sources
Sign descriptions are from the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition with Revision 1 (Revision 1 dated December 2025), read November 4, 2026. This page is a plain-language summary of national standards, not legal advice; state law sets the rules of the road where you drive. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1 (Sections 2B.02, 2B.39, 2B.49, 2B.50, 2C.02, 2C.20, 2C.21, 2C.51; Tables 2B-1 and 2C-1), Federal Highway Administration, Revision 1 dated December 2025 (PDF updated February 12, 2026), read November 4, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 4, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 4, 2026