Theory Mastery

Sign C3: One-way road: mandatory direction shown by the arrow.

C3 – One-way road: mandatory direction shown by the arrow.

Series: C -- Closed to traffic

Legal meaning

One-way road.

Source: RVV 1990 annex 1 · checked 2026-10-23

Shape and colour

Blue rectangular sign with a white arrow: indicates a one-way road, not a prohibition in itself.

Where the sign stands

At the start of the one-way road, about 3 m past the junction, on the right in the direction of travel.

What the exam asks about this sign

The question is what this sign tells you about the road: all traffic moves in the same direction, so you may park on the left as well as the right and need not expect oncoming traffic. Trap: cyclists may sometimes ride against the flow (plate under C2), so still look both ways. Turning round is not forbidden by the sign, but you would then drive against the direction, which is not allowed.

Exam question on this sign

About One-way streets, narrow single carriageways, separated carriageways and service roads: which statements are correct? (multiple answers possible)

  1. On a one-way street you may reverse along the carriageway to a turning you missed.
  2. C4 = one-way road: traffic in the SIDE STREET drives in the arrow's direction — a rectangular information sign about that street, not a command for your direction; commands are round (D series).
  3. On narrow single-carriageway roads outside the built-up area: watch out for a sharp road edge and/or lower verge; if your right-hand wheels leave the road, you quickly lose control of the steering.
  4. Sign C4 means the side street is closed; the arrow shows which way the diversion goes.
Show the answer

Correct answer: C4 = one-way road: traffic in the SIDE STREET drives in the arrow's direction — a rectangular information sign about that street, not a command for your direction; commands are round (D series).; On narrow single-carriageway roads outside the built-up area: watch out for a sharp road edge and/or lower verge; if your right-hand wheels leave the road, you quickly lose control of the steering.

C3/C4 are the open side of the one-way road: entering is allowed, in the arrow's direction; the closed end carries the round C2

Why learners get this wrong: On a one-way street you may reverse along the carriageway to a turning you missed.

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Often confused with

Signs in the same series

Topics that use this sign

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