UK road sign shapes and colours

You can understand most UK road signs before you read a word, just from the shape and the colour.

Take the timed practice quiz

This text was written with AI help, checked against GOV.UK and approved by Fri Vei AS. Last updated .

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Contents
  1. Three basic shapes
  2. Red circles and blue circles
  3. The two big exceptions
  4. Colours on direction signs
  5. A way to practise
  6. Quick check

Three basic shapes

Know your traffic signs, the government’s guide to UK signs, says there are three basic types of sign: signs that give orders, signs that warn and signs that give information.

  • 30 mph speed limit sign: a white circle with a red ring and the number 30 in black
    Circle: an order
  • Bend to the right warning sign: a white triangle with a red border and a black line bending to the right
    Triangle: a warning
  • No through road sign: a blue rectangle with a white upright bar topped by a short red bar
    Rectangle: information
  • Circles give orders. For example, a 30 in a red circle means you must not go faster than 30 mph.
  • Triangles warn. They tell you about something ahead, such as a bend or a junction.
  • Rectangles inform. They give directions and information.

Red circles and blue circles

  • No entry sign: a red circle with a white horizontal bar across the middle
    Red: you must not
  • Keep left sign: a blue circle with a white arrow pointing down to the left
    Blue: you must
  • Red rings or circles tell you what you must not do, such as going over 30 mph.
  • Blue circles generally tell you something you must do, such as “turn left”, or show a route only for certain traffic, such as buses and cycles.

The two big exceptions

A few signs break the shape and colour rules on purpose, so that they stand out. The best-known examples are STOP and GIVE WAY.

  • Stop sign: a red octagon with the word STOP in white
    STOP: eight sides
  • Give way sign: a white triangle pointing down, with a red border and the words GIVE WAY
    GIVE WAY: triangle pointing down
  • STOP is eight-sided.
  • GIVE WAY is a triangle pointing down. Even though it is a triangle, it gives an order: give way to traffic on the major road.

Colours on direction signs

Background colours of direction signs (The Highway Code)
ColourWhere you see it
BlueMotorways. Elsewhere, blue rectangles are used for information signs.
GreenPrimary routes
WhiteLocal or non-primary routes
BrownRoutes to tourist attractions

A way to practise

When you’re a passenger, name each sign’s shape before you read it: order, warning or information. Then check what it actually says. It turns a car journey into a quiz.

Quick check

  1. What do circular signs generally do?

    • Give orders
    • Warn
    • Show tourist routes

    Show answer

    A. Give orders. Circles give orders. Source: Know your traffic signs: the signing system, GOV.UK (updated 5 December 2023)

  2. Which sign is a triangle pointing down?

    • STOP
    • GIVE WAY
    • National speed limit

    Show answer

    B. GIVE WAY. GIVE WAY is one of the exceptions to the shape rules. Source: Know your traffic signs: the signing system, GOV.UK (updated 5 December 2023)

  3. What colour are direction signs on primary routes?

    • Brown
    • White
    • Green

    Show answer

    C. Green. Primary routes have green backgrounds. Source: Know your traffic signs: the signing system, GOV.UK (updated 5 December 2023)

Sources

(2)
  1. Know your traffic signs: the signing system, GOV.UK (updated 5 December 2023)
  2. The Highway Code, traffic signs, GOV.UK

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Next guide: stopping distances in the Highway Code