Mandatory Signs — Meaning and Full List
What are mandatory signs?
Mandatory signs require the driver to take a specific action: go straight ahead, pass an obstacle on a given side, use snow chains, or drive on a lane reserved for a certain type of vehicle. They are circular with a blue background, which clearly sets them apart from prohibitory signs. Complying with these signs is not optional — failing to do so is a traffic offense, just like with prohibitory signs. In the IMT theory test they often come up alongside questions about priority and direction of travel, so it's worth memorizing each symbol carefully.
Full list of mandatory signs (33)
Driving straight ahead or turning left mandatory
Passing left compulsory
End of the divided path for pedestrians and cyclists
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Driving faster than indicated compulsory (minimum speed)
Mandatory lights off
Turning left or right mandatory
Mandatory lane for trucks
End of the path for pedestrians
Mandatory lights on
Left turn mandatory
Path for cyclists and pedestrians divided is compulsory
Mandatory left
Mandatory path for cattle
End of the shared path for pedestrians and cyclists
End of the path for equestrians
Turning right compulsory
Mandatory lane for buses
Pedestrians move use mandatory path
End of the minimum speed
Cyclist must use mandatory path
Direction of traffic on roundabout
Ahead Only
Mandatory path for equestrians
Mandatory shared path for pedestrians and cyclists
Removing snow chains mandatory
Pass on right only
End of the path for cyclists
Turning right compulsory
End of the lane for buses
End of the lane for trucks
Driving straight ahead or turning right mandatory
Snow chains mandatory
End of the path for cattle
Exam tips: mandatory signs
A blue circle is always a command, never just information — if an answer says "it is recommended" instead of "it is mandatory", it's wrong.
Notice the difference between an arrow pointing in a direction (direction of travel, applies to the road) and an arrow with a "turn" pictogram (requires a maneuver from the driver at that specific point).
"End of obligation" signs show the same pictogram crossed out by a diagonal bar — don't confuse them with a new prohibitory sign, which has a white background instead of blue.
Mandatory lanes for trucks or buses do not apply to regular cars — it's a common mistake to assume the rule applies to every vehicle.
Common mistakes with mandatory signs
Mixing up lights on with lights off
"Mandatory lights on" and "Mandatory lights off" have opposite meanings and very similar pictograms. This is one of the most common mistakes under time pressure in the exam.
Confusing direction with a mandatory maneuver
"Mandatory left direction" indicates the direction the road takes from that point on; "Mandatory left turn" requires the driver to make the maneuver right there. Mixing the two up leads to wrong answers about where the action applies.
Assuming "end of" cancels every rule
"End of minimum speed" only cancels the minimum speed requirement — it doesn't mean other speed or traffic rules on the road no longer apply.
Frequently confused signs in mandatory signs
These pairs show up side by side in the exam precisely because they look alike — compare them closely.
Mandatory lights on
Mandatory lights off
The headlight pictogram is the same — the difference is small light-ray marks around it, present in one and absent in the other.
Left turn mandatory
Mandatory left
Both use a left-pointing arrow, but the arrow's curve and position change depending on whether it's a one-off maneuver or the road's general direction.
Ahead Only
Driving straight ahead or turning left mandatory
The second sign has an extra arrow pointing left in addition to the vertical arrow — easy to miss at a quick glance.
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