Traffic signs

Signs giving orders

Signs with red circles are mostly prohibitive. Plates below signs qualify their message.


Entry to 20 mph zone


End of 20 mph zone


Maximum speed


National speed limit applies


School crossing patrol


Stop and give way


Give way to traffic on major road


Manually operated temporary STOP and GO signs


Manually operated temporary STOP and GO signs


No entry for vehicular traffic


No vehicles except bicycles being pushed


No cycling


No motor vehicles


No buses (over 8 passenger seats)


No overtaking


No towed caravans


No vehicles carrying explosives


No vehicle or combination of vehicles over length shown


No vehicles over height shown


No vehicles over width shown


Give priority to vehicles from opposite direction


No right turn


No left turn


No U-turns


No goods vehicles over maximum gross weight shown (in tonnes) except for loading and unloading


No vehicles over maximum gross weight shown (in tonnes)


Parking restricted to permit holders


No stopping during period indicated except for buses


No stopping during times shown except for as long as necessary to set down or pick up passengers


No waiting


No stopping (Clearway)


Signs with blue circles but no red border mostly give positive instruction.


Ahead only


Turn left ahead (right if symbol reversed)


Turn left (right if symbol reversed)


Keep left (right if symbol reversed)


Vehicles may pass either side to reach same destination


Mini-roundabout (roundabout circulation - give way to vehicles from the immediate right)


Route to be used by pedal cycles only


Segregated pedal cycle and pedestrian route


Minimum speed


End of minimum speed


Buses and cycles only


Trams only


Pedestrian crossing point over tramway


One-way traffic (note: compare circular ‘Ahead only’ sign)


With-flow bus and cycle lane


Contra-flow bus lane


With-flow pedal cycle lane


Warning signs


Mostly triangular


Distance to ‘STOP’ line ahead


Dual carriageway ends


Road narrows on right (left if symbol reversed)


Road narrows on both sides


Distance to ‘Give Way’ line ahead


Crossroads


Junction on bend ahead


T-junction with priority over vehicles from the right


Staggered junction


Traffic merging from left ahead

The priority through route is indicated by the broader line.


Double bend first to left (symbol may be reversed)


Bend to right (or left if symbol reversed)


Roundabout


Uneven road


Plate below some signs


Two-way traffic crosses one-way road


Two-way traffic straight ahead


Opening or swing bridge ahead


Low-flying aircraft or sudden aircraft noise


Falling or fallen rocks


Traffic signals not in use


Traffic signals


Slippery road


Steep hill downwards


Steep hill upwards

Gradients may be shown as a ratio i.e. 20% = 1:5


Tunnel ahead


Trams crossing ahead


Level crossing with barrier or gate ahead


Level crossing without barrier or gate ahead


Level crossing without barrier


School crossing patrol ahead (some signs have amber lights which flash when crossings are in use)


Frail (or blind or disabled if shown) pedestrians likely to cross road ahead


Pedestrians in road ahead


Zebra crossing


Overhead electric cable; plate indicates maximum height of vehicles which can pass safely


Available width of headroom indicated


Sharp deviation of route to left (or right if chevrons reversed)


Light signals ahead at level crossing, airfield or bridge


Miniature warning lights at level crossings


Cattle


Wild animals


Wild horses or ponies


Accompanied horses or ponies


Cycle route ahead


Risk of ice


Traffic queues likely ahead


Distance over which road humps extend


Other danger; plate indicates nature of danger


Soft verges


Side winds


Hump bridge


Worded warning sign


Quayside or river bank


Risk of grounding


Direction signs


Mostly rectangular


Signs on motorways - blue backgrounds


At a junction leading directly into a motorway (junction number may be shown on a black background)


On approaches to junctions (junction number on black background)


Route confirmatory sign after junction


Downward pointing arrows mean ‘Get in lane’ The left-hand lane leads to a different destination from the other lanes.


The panel with the inclined arrow indicates the destinations which can be reached by leaving the motorway at the next junction


Signs on primary routes - green backgrounds

Blue panels indicate that the motorway starts at the junction ahead. Motorways shown in brackets can also be reached along the route indicated. White panels indicate local or non-primary routes leading from the junction ahead. Brown panels show the route to tourist attractions. The name of the junction may be shown at the top of the sign. The aircraft symbol indicates the route to an airport. A symbol may be included to warn of a hazard or restriction along that route.


On approaches to junctions


At the junction


Route confirmatory sign after junction


On approaches to junctions


On approach to a junction in Wales (bilingual)


Primary route forming part of a ring road


Primary route forming part of a ring road


Signs on non-primary and local routes - black borders

Green panels indicate that the primary route starts at the junction ahead. Route numbers on a blue background show the direction to a motorway. Route numbers on a green background show the direction to a primary route.


On approaches to junctions


On approaches to junctions


At the junction


Direction to toilets with access for the disabled


Other direction signs


Picnic site


Ancient monument in the care of English Heritage


Direction to a car park


Tourist attraction


Direction to camping and caravan site


Advisory route for lorries


Route for pedal cycles forming part of a network


Recommended route for pedal cycles to place shown


Route for pedestrians


Symbols showing emergency diversion route for motorway and other main road traffic


Symbols showing emergency diversion route for motorway and other main road traffic


Symbols showing emergency diversion route for motorway and other main road traffic


Symbols showing emergency diversion route for motorway and other main road traffic


Diversion route


Information signs


All rectangular


Entrance to controlled parking zone


Entrance to congestion charging zone


End of controlled parking zone


Advance warning of restriction or prohibition ahead


Parking place for solo motorcycles


With-flow bus lane ahead which pedal cycles and taxis may also use


Lane designated for use by high occupancy vehicles (HOV) - see rule 142


Vehicles permitted to use an HOV lane ahead


End of motorway


Start of motorway and point from which motorway regulations apply


Appropriate traffic lanes at junction ahead


Traffic on the main carriageway coming from right has priority over joining traffic


Additional traffic joining from left ahead. Traffic on main carriageway has priority over joining traffic from right hand lane of slip road


Traffic in right hand lane of slip road joining the main carriageway has priority over left hand lane


Variable speed limit with camera enforcement sign.


‘Countdown’ markers at exit from motorway (each bar represents 100 yards to the exit). Green-backed markers may be used on primary routes and white-backed markers with black bars on other routes. At approaches to concealed level crossings white-backed markers with red bars may be used. Although these will be erected at equal distances the bars do not represent 100 yard intervals.


Motorway service area sign showing the operator’s name


Traffic has priority over oncoming vehicles


Hospital ahead with Accident and Emergency facilities


Tourist information point


No through road for vehicles


Recommended route for pedal cycles


Home Zone Entry


Area in which cameras are used to enforce traffic regulations


Bus lane on road at junction ahead


Road work signs


Road works


Loose chippings


Temporary hazard at road works


Temporary lane closure (the number and position of arrows and red bars may be varied according to lanes open and closed)


Slow-moving or stationary works vehicle blocking a traffic lane. Pass in the direction shown by the arrow.


Mandatory speed limit ahead


Road works 1 mile ahead


End of road works and any temporary restrictions including speed limits


Signs used on the back of slow-moving or stationary vehicles warning of a lane closed ahead by a works vehicle. There are no cones on the road.


Signs used on the back of slow-moving or stationary vehicles warning of a lane closed ahead by a works vehicle. There are no cones on the road.


Lane restrictions at road works ahead


One lane crossover at contraflow road works