Home Road signs Information signs SOS Emergency area
Emergency area Meaning. A marked refuge for use in an emergency on a motorway without a hard shoulder.
What you must do. Use only in an emergency. Park as far left as possible, leave by the nearside doors, and call for help using the phone provided.
Remember it
Orange tarmac and SOS: this is your target if something goes wrong.
On the road. If you have a warning light or a soft tyre, aim for the next emergency area rather than waiting to see what happens.
Shape rectangle
Colours Blue face, white text; the surface itself is orange
Where you see it Smart motorways
Often confused with
Lay-by — A lay-by is on ordinary roads and may be used for rest stops; an emergency area is for emergencies only. No through road Meaning. The road ahead is a dead end.
What you must do. Do not use this road as a through route. Expect to have to turn round.
Remember it
A road with a red bar across the end: it stops.
On the road. Reversing out of a dead end onto a main road is one of the manoeuvres you most want to avoid. Read the sign.
Shape rectangle
Colours Blue face, white panel, red bar
Where you see it Cul-de-sacs, Residential estates
Often confused with
No entry for vehicular traffic — No entry is a red circle and prohibits entry altogether; this simply tells you the road does not go anywhere. One-way traffic Meaning. Traffic flows one way, in the direction of the arrow.
What you must do. Position for your exit rather than for oncoming traffic — right-hand lane to turn right, left-hand lane to turn left.
Remember it
Rectangle informs; circle orders.
On the road. On a one-way street there is no oncoming traffic, so lane choice follows your destination, not the usual convention.
Shape rectangle
Colours Blue face, white arrow
Where you see it Town centres, Gyratory systems
Often confused with
Ahead only — Ahead only is a blue circle with an upward arrow and is an order to go straight on. P
Parking Meaning. Parking is available.
What you must do. Read any accompanying plate for restrictions, charges and permitted hours.
Remember it
Blue rectangle with a P: information, not an order.
On the road. The sign says parking exists. The plate says who may use it, when, and for how long.
Shape rectangle
Colours Blue face, white letter
Where you see it Car parks, On-street parking areas
Often confused with
No waiting — The blue circle with a red diagonal prohibits waiting; the blue rectangle with a P provides parking. M Motorway
Start of motorway Meaning. Motorway regulations apply from this point.
What you must do. Check that your vehicle is permitted, keep left unless overtaking, and do not stop except in an emergency.
Remember it
Blue rectangle: motorway. Green: primary route. White: local.
On the road. Pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, mopeds under 50 cc and certain slow vehicles must not pass this sign.
Shape rectangle
Colours Blue face, white symbol
Where you see it Motorway entry slip roads
Often confused with
End of motorway — End of motorway shows the same symbol with a diagonal bar through it. Test yourself on these All sign categories