Accident plate: what it means
The plate warns of an accident ahead. Stay alert for hazards and keep your attention on the road when passing the scene.
What does the accident plate mean?
The plate warns of an accident ahead. Below the other danger triangle, it identifies the hazard, as described in Know your traffic signs.
When passing the scene, stay alert for debris or slow-moving vehicles. Rule 282 says to keep your attention on the road ahead and avoid slowing down unnecessarily.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- There is an accident ahead.
- Road works ahead.
- The road layout ahead has changed.
Show answer
A. There is an accident ahead. The plate identifies an accident as the hazard ahead (Know your traffic signs). Source: Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 281, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 282, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images: image details (spreadsheet), Department for Transport, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Where will you see it?
Before an accident scene, below the other danger warning triangle.
What should you do?
Stay alert for hazards and focus on the road ahead when passing. Follow any directions from police or traffic officers about passing the incident.
What do people get wrong?
Do not slow down unnecessarily to look at the scene. Rule 282 says to focus on the road ahead.
Common questions
What does Accident below a warning triangle mean?
It warns of an accident ahead. The plate names the hazard.
What should I do when driving past an accident?
Rule 282 says to stay alert for hazards and focus on the road ahead. Follow any directions from police or traffic officers about passing the incident, as required by rule 281.
Compare with
Other danger signA hazard ahead; the plate says what it is.
Traffic queues likely ahead signTraffic may be queuing ahead.
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 5 November 2026 against Know your traffic signs (warning signs), The Highway Code rules 281 and 282 and the Department for Transport’s image details list.
- Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 281, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 282, GOV.UK
- Traffic sign images: image details (spreadsheet), Department for Transport, GOV.UK
- 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.