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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
School crossing patrol
Maximum speed
National speed limit applies
Stop and give way
No overtaking
Give priority to vehicles from opposite direction
No towed caravans
No motor vehicles
Manually operated temporary STOP and GO signs
No buses (over 8 passenger seats)
No cycling
No vehicles carrying explosives
No vehicle or combination of vehicles over length shown
No vehicles over height shown
No vehicles over width shown
No goods vehicles over maximum gross weight shown (in tonnes) except for loading and unloading
No entry for vehicular traffic
No right turn No left turn No U-turns
Give way to traffic on major road
No vehicles except bicycles being pushed
Note: Although The Highway Code shows many of the signs commonly in use, a comprehensive explanation of our signing system is given in the Department’s booklet Know Your Traffic Signs, which is on sale at booksellers. The booklet also illustrates and explains the vast majority of signs the road user is likely to encounter. The signs illustrated in The Highway Code are not all drawn to the same scale. In Wales, bilingual versions of some signs are used including Welsh and English versions of place names. Some older designs of signs may still be seen on the roads.
No vehicles over maximum gross weight shown (in tonnes)
No stopping (Clearway)
No waiting
Parking restricted to permit holders No stopping during times shown except for as long as necessary to set down or pick up passengers
No stopping during period indicated except for buses
Signs with blue circles but no red border mostly give
positive instruction.
One-way traffic (note: compare circular ‘Ahead only’ sign)
Ahead only Turn left ahead (right if symbol reversed)
Turn left (right if symbol reversed)
Keep left (right if symbol reversed)
Route to be used by pedal cycles only
Segregated pedal cycle and pedestrian route
Minimum speed End of minimum speed
Mini-roundabout (roundabout circulation - give way to vehicles from the immediate right)
Vehicles may pass either side to reach same destination
Buses and cycles only
Trams only
Pedestrian crossing point over tramway
With-flow bus and cycle lane
Contra-flow bus lane With-flow pedal cycle lane
Sharp deviation of route to left (or right if chevrons reversed)
Warning signs - continued
Frail (or blind or disabled if shown) pedestrians likely to cross road ahead (^) Pedestrians in road ahead
Traffic queues likely ahead
Cycle route ahead
Zebra crossing
School crossing patrol ahead (some signs have amber lights which flash when crossings are in use)
Side winds Hump bridge Worded warning sign
Risk of ice
Risk of grounding
Light signals ahead at level crossing, airfield or bridge
Cattle Wild animals Wild horses or ponies
Accompanied horses or ponies
Quayside or river bank
Available width of headroom indicated
Overhead electric cable; plate indicates maximum height of vehicles which can pass safely
Distance over Soft verges which road humps extend
Miniature warning lights at level crossings
Other danger; plate indicates nature of danger
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
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.
Signs on primary routes - green backgrounds
On approaches to junctions
Route confirmatory sign after junction
At the junction
On approaches to junctions
On approach to a junction in Wales (bilingual)
End of controlled parking zone
Information signs
All rectangular
Start of motorway and point from which motorway regulations apply
End of motorway
Parking place for solo motorcycles
Advance warning of restriction or prohibition ahead
Motorway service area sign showing the operator’s name
Appropriate traffic lanes at junction ahead
‘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.
Entrance to controlled parking zone
With-flow bus lane ahead which pedal cycles and taxis may also use
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
Entrance to congestion charging zone
Lane designated for use by high occupancy vehicles (HOV) - see rule 142
Vehicles permitted to use an HOV lane ahead
Area in which cameras are used to enforce traffic regulations
Traffic has priority over oncoming vehicles
No through road Hospital ahead with for vehicles Accident and Emergency facilities
Tourist information point
Recommended route for pedal cycles
Bus lane on road at junction ahead
Information signs - continued
Road works Loose chippings
Road works signs
Road works 1 mile ahead
End of road works and any temporary restrictions including speed limits
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)
Lane restrictions at road works ahead (^) One lane crossover at contraflow road works
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.
Slow-moving or stationary works vehicle blocking a traffic lane. Pass in the direction shown by the arrow.
Mandatory speed limit ahead
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