Emergency telephone sign: what it means
An emergency telephone is ahead. On motorways, these phones connect you to the control centre for help.
What does the emergency telephone sign mean?
The sign tells you an emergency telephone is ahead. On motorways, marker posts show the way to the nearest one. Know your traffic signs says these phones connect you to the control centre for help after a breakdown or in an emergency.
Rule 277 says to face the traffic while speaking so you can watch for vehicles or debris coming towards you.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- A parking place.
- Leave the motorway at the next exit.
- An emergency telephone is ahead.
Show answer
C. An emergency telephone is ahead. This sign indicates an emergency telephone ahead (DfT traffic sign image details). Source: Know your traffic signs: motorway signs, signals and road markings, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 277, 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?
On the approach to an emergency telephone.
What should you do?
If you need help after a motorway breakdown, use the emergency telephone for advice and assistance. Face the traffic while speaking.
What do people get wrong?
Walking along the hard shoulder without knowing which way the nearest telephone is. Marker posts at the back of the hard shoulder point to it.
Common questions
Who answers a motorway emergency telephone?
Know your traffic signs says the telephone connects you to the control centre for help in an emergency or breakdown.
How do I find the nearest motorway emergency telephone?
Know your traffic signs says marker posts at the back of the hard shoulder show the direction to the nearest telephone.
Compare with
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 (motorway signs, signals and road markings), The Highway Code rule 277 and the Department for Transport’s image details list.
- Know your traffic signs: motorway signs, signals and road markings, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 277, 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.