UK road signs and their meanings

205 UK road signs: what each one means, where you see it and common mistakes.

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Regulatory signs

Signs that give orders. A red ring or circle tells you what you must not do, and a blue circle tells you what you must do. STOP and GIVE WAY are the exceptions. All regulatory signs

Speed limit signs

A number in a red ring is the maximum speed in mph. The white circle with a black stripe means the national speed limit applies. All speed limit signs

Warning signs

Signs that warn of a hazard ahead. Almost all are red-bordered triangles pointing up. All warning signs

Level crossing signs

Signs and signals at railway and tramway crossings. When the red lights flash, you must stop. All level crossing signs

Bus, cycle and tram signs

Lanes and routes for buses, cycles and trams, and when they operate. All bus, cycle and tram signs

Information signs

Rectangular signs that give information, from motorway markers to parking signs. All information signs

Motorway signs and signals

Blue motorway signs, the signals above the lanes and lane control signals. A red X means the lane below is closed. All motorway signs and signals

Road works signs

Temporary signs at road works, many of them red with white words. Obey every sign there, including temporary speed limits. All road works signs

Traffic lights and signals

Traffic lights, filter arrows, temporary lights at road works and the signals at pedestrian and toucan crossings. Amber means stop, unless you are so close that stopping might cause a crash. All traffic lights and signals

Road markings

Lines and patterns painted on the road. They can give orders, warn you or guide you, just like signs. All road markings

Try ten signs

Ten signs from the lists above. Pick the meaning to see if you are right, with the rule behind it. For all 41 questions, take the road signs quiz.

Ten road signs

Question 1 of 10

  1. What does this sign mean?

    A red octagon with the word STOP in white
    • Let traffic on the major road go first
    • Double broken white lines across a junction
    • A crossroads is ahead
    • Stop completely at the line, then give way Right

    The right answer is D: Stop completely at the line, then give way

    WhyStop sign. The stop sign means you must stop completely behind the white line at the junction, even if the road is clear, and wait for a safe gap.

    Source: The Highway Code, rule 171, GOV.UK, Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK, The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK, Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

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  2. What does this sign mean?

    A white circle with a red ring and the number 30 in black
    • Maximum speed 30 mph Right
    • Go at least this fast, if it is safe
    • Watch for children near a school
    • The national limit for the road and vehicle applies

    The right answer is A: Maximum speed 30 mph

    Why30 mph speed limit sign. The 30 mph sign means the maximum speed is 30 mph from that point. It is a limit, not a target, so drive slower when conditions need it.

    Source: The Highway Code, rule 124, GOV.UK, The Highway Code, rule 125, GOV.UK, Know your traffic signs: speed limit signs, GOV.UK, Know your traffic signs: information signs, GOV.UK, The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK, Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

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  3. What does this sign mean?

    A white circle with a red ring, showing a black motorcycle above a black car
    • No vehicles, except bicycles pushed by hand
    • A dead end for vehicles
    • No vehicles may go in from this side
    • Cars and motorcycles must not go in Right

    The right answer is D: Cars and motorcycles must not go in

    WhyNo motor vehicles sign. The no motor vehicles sign means motor vehicles, including cars and motorcycles, must not go past it. Pedal cycles are not motor vehicles, so it does not ban them.

    Source: The Highway Code, rule 109, GOV.UK, Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK, The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK, Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

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  4. What does this sign mean?

    A white circle with a red ring, a small red arrow pointing up and a large black arrow pointing down
    • Traffic ahead goes in both directions
    • Let traffic on the major road go first
    • Oncoming traffic goes first through the narrow part Right
    • You go first through the narrow part, with care

    The right answer is C: Oncoming traffic goes first through the narrow part

    WhyGive way to oncoming vehicles sign. This sign means oncoming traffic has priority. Where the road or bridge is too narrow for two vehicles, you must give way to vehicles coming the other way.

    Source: The Highway Code, rule 109, GOV.UK, Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK, The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK, Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

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  5. What does this sign mean?

    A white triangle with a red border and a black cross
    • Stop completely at the line, then give way
    • Your road ends at a T-junction ahead
    • A crossroads is ahead Right
    • Let traffic on the major road go first

    The right answer is C: A crossroads is ahead

    WhyCrossroads sign. The crossroads sign warns that a crossroads is ahead. The broader line on the sign shows which road has priority through the junction.

    Source: The Highway Code, rule 170, GOV.UK, Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK, The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK, Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

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  6. What does this sign mean?

    A white triangle with a red border and two black arrows, one pointing up and one down
    • Traffic ahead goes in both directions Right
    • All traffic goes in the direction of the arrow
    • Oncoming traffic goes first through the narrow part
    • The line nearer to you decides if you may cross

    The right answer is A: Traffic ahead goes in both directions

    WhyTwo-way traffic sign. The two-way traffic sign warns that the road ahead carries traffic in both directions, for example where a one-way road or a dual carriageway ends.

    Source: The Highway Code, rule 160, GOV.UK, Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK, The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK, Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

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  7. What does this sign mean?

    A white triangle with a red border and a black car with skid marks behind it
    • The road bends ahead, here to the right
    • Road works ahead
    • The road surface ahead may be slippery Right
    • A hazard ahead; the plate says what it is

    The right answer is C: The road surface ahead may be slippery

    WhySlippery road sign. The slippery road sign warns that the road surface ahead may be slippery. Slow down and brake, steer and accelerate gently.

    Source: The Highway Code, rule 126, GOV.UK, The Highway Code, rule 227, GOV.UK, The Highway Code, rule 230, GOV.UK, The Highway Code, rule 231, GOV.UK, Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK, The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK, Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

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  8. What does this sign mean?

    A white triangle with a red border and a person digging
    • Diagonal stripes that separate traffic
    • Road works ahead Right
    • Oncoming traffic goes first through the narrow part
    • A hazard ahead; the plate says what it is

    The right answer is B: Road works ahead

    WhyRoad works sign. The road works sign warns of road works ahead. Take extra care, keep to any temporary speed limit and look for more signs telling you what to do.

    Source: The Highway Code, rule 288, GOV.UK, The Highway Code, rule 289, GOV.UK, Know your traffic signs: signs for road works and temporary situations, GOV.UK, The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK, Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

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  9. What does this sign mean?

    A blue rectangle with a large white arrow pointing up and a small red arrow pointing down
    • You go first through the narrow part, with care Right
    • Traffic ahead goes in both directions
    • All traffic goes in the direction of the arrow
    • Oncoming traffic goes first through the narrow part

    The right answer is A: You go first through the narrow part, with care

    WhyPriority over oncoming vehicles sign. This blue sign means traffic in your direction has priority over vehicles coming the other way through the narrow section ahead. Still go carefully.

    Source: The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK, Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK, Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

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  10. What do these markings mean?

    Along the middle of a road, the line nearer the left-hand lane is broken and the other line is solid
    • Do not overtake until the restriction ends
    • The road bends ahead, here to the right
    • Diagonal stripes that separate traffic
    • The line nearer to you decides if you may cross Right

    The right answer is D: The line nearer to you decides if you may cross

    WhyDouble white lines. With double white lines, the line nearer to you decides. If it is solid, you must not cross or straddle it except in a few cases. If it is broken, you may cross to overtake when it is safe.

    Source: The Highway Code, rule 128, GOV.UK, The Highway Code, rule 129, GOV.UK, The Highway Code, rule 240, GOV.UK, The Highway Code: road markings, GOV.UK, Know your traffic signs: road markings, GOV.UK

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How to learn them

Each sign page has the sign itself, what it means in plain English, where you see it, what to do, a common mistake and a one-question quiz. Every fact comes from The Highway Code or Know your traffic signs on GOV.UK, and the sign pictures are the Department for Transport’s own images (the road marking and traffic light diagrams are our own drawings). Short of time? Start with the guide to sign shapes and colours.

The theory test’s multiple-choice questions are based on The Highway Code, Know your traffic signs and Driving: the essential skills (GOV.UK). See how the theory test works.

Sources

(4)
  1. The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK
  2. The Highway Code: road markings, GOV.UK
  3. Know your traffic signs: the signing system, GOV.UK
  4. Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.

This text was written with AI help, checked against GOV.UK and approved by Fri Vei AS. The questions on this page are written by the editorial team at Fri Vei AS, with AI help. Last updated .

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