No U-Turn

No U-Turn signs appear at junctions and road sections where 180-degree turns create extreme danger including Dublin's M50 slip roads and junctions, along O'Connell Street Dublin where central median barriers prevent U-turns physically but gaps exist, at busy Cork city junctions on Patrick Street and South Mall, on dual carriageways throughout Ireland where U-turns would cross multiple lanes, near Luas crossings where U-turns would create tram collision risks, and at junctions with restricted visibility.

The signs prevent dangerous maneuvers requiring crossing oncoming traffic lanes with inadequate visibility or stopping distance.

U-turns (reversing direction by making a 180-degree turn) are absolutely prohibited.

The prohibition exists where U-turns would: cross multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic, require stopping in traffic flow creating rear-end collision risks, occur at junctions with inadequate visibility of oncoming traffic, or interfere with tram operations.

Even at quiet times with no visible traffic, U-turns remain prohibited—the sign indicates geometric or visibility constraints make the location inherently dangerous for direction reversals.

Continue to the next roundabout, junction, or designated turning point.

The prohibition applies 24 hours.

Illegal U-turns violate Road Traffic Act provisions on dangerous maneuvers: €80 Fixed Charge Notice and 3 penalty points.

U-turns causing collisions with oncoming traffic result in dangerous driving charges due to the inherent risk of the maneuver: fines to €5,000, 5 penalty points, imprisonment up to 6 months, and full civil liability for resulting crashes.

U-turns on motorways or at Luas crossings result in automatic dangerous driving charges with maximum penalties due to extreme collision risks.

Practical test violations result in immediate Grade 3 failure.

Insurance may be voided where prohibited U-turns cause collisions.

U-turn regulations and No U-Turn sign recognition feature in theory test questions testing maneuver safety knowledge.

Questions cover situations where U-turns are always illegal (motorways, one-way streets, limited visibility locations, areas with continuous solid white lines) and understanding that No U-Turn signs indicate locations where geometric constraints make U-turns particularly dangerous.

Practical tests rarely require U-turns, but examiners assess understanding that three-point turns and U-turns are distinct—U-turns are single continuous maneuvers while three-point turns involve forward-reverse-forward movements.

Attempting U-turns at prohibited locations during tests results in immediate Grade 3 failure demonstrating dangerous judgment.