Road signs
Shape and colour carry the meaning before you have read a word. Learn those first and the individual signs become much easier.
The three rules that cover most signs
Triangles warn. Something is coming that you need to know about.
Circles order. Red border prohibits, solid blue instructs.
Rectangles inform. Blue motorway, green primary, white local.
Browse by category
18 signs
Warning signs
Red-bordered triangles. They tell you what is coming, not what to do.
16 signs
Signs giving orders
Circles. Red border prohibits, solid blue instructs.
2 signs
Direction signs
Rectangles. Colour tells you the class of road at a glance.
5 signs
Information signs
Rectangles telling you what is available rather than what you must do.
2 signs
Roadworks signs
Temporary warnings, usually on a yellow backing board.
7 signs
Road markings
The paint carries as much meaning as the signposts.
3 signs
Traffic signals
Light signals, including motorway gantry signals and the red X.
Signs learners confuse most
Almost every sign mistake in a theory test comes from one of these pairs. Look at them side by side and name the single feature that separates them.
No waiting
No stopping (clearway)
The difference: No stopping has two red diagonals forming a cross, and prohibits stopping at all.
National speed limit applies
Minimum speed
The difference: The blue minimum speed sign sets a lowest permitted speed, and looks nothing like this once you know it.
Crossroads ahead
Staggered junction ahead
The difference: A staggered junction has the side roads offset, so vehicles emerge at two separate points rather than one.
Slippery road
Loose chippings
The difference: Loose chippings shows stones flying from the wheels; slippery road shows wavy skid lines.
Stop and give way
Give way
The difference: Give way is an inverted triangle and does not require you to stop if the road is clear.
Hazard warning line
Ordinary centre line
The difference: An ordinary centre line has short marks and long gaps — the opposite proportions.
All signs
- 30 mph speed limit
- Accompanied horses or ponies
- Ahead only
- Bend to the right
- Box junction
- Bus lane
- Children crossing
- Crossroads ahead
- Cycle route ahead
- Double bend
- Double white lines, solid nearest you
- Emergency area
- Give way
- Give way markings
- Hazard warning line
- Height limit
- Keep left
- Level crossing with barrier or gate
- Local route direction sign
- Loose chippings
- Mini-roundabout
- Minimum speed
- National speed limit applies
- No entry for vehicular traffic
- No motor vehicles
- No overtaking
- No right turn
- No stopping (clearway)
- No through road
- No U-turns
- No waiting
- One-way traffic
- Ordinary centre line
- Other danger
- Parking
- Pedestrians in road ahead
- Primary route direction sign
- Queues likely ahead
- Red and amber together
- Red traffic light
- Red X — lane closed
- Road narrows on both sides
- Roadworks ahead
- Roundabout ahead
- Slippery road
- Staggered junction ahead
- Start of motorway
- Steep hill downwards
- Stop and give way
- Traffic signals ahead
- Two-way traffic ahead
- Wild animals
- Zig-zag lines at a crossing