Road liable to flooding plate: what it means
The road ahead may flood. The plate identifies flooding as the hazard beneath the other danger warning triangle.
What does the road liable to flooding plate mean?
This plate warns that the road ahead is liable to flooding. It names the hazard beneath the other danger triangle, as explained in Know your traffic signs.
If you have driven through deep water, your brakes may work less effectively. Rule 121 says to test them gently at the first safe opportunity.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- The road goes through water ahead.
- The road leads to a quayside or river bank ahead.
- The road ahead may flood.
Show answer
C. The road ahead may flood. The plate identifies a risk of flooding on the road ahead (Know your traffic signs). Source: Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 121, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 146, 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 a road liable to flooding, below the other danger warning triangle.
What should you do?
Adapt your driving to the road conditions. If you have driven through deep water, test your brakes gently at the first safe opportunity.
What do people get wrong?
Do not assume the road must be flooded whenever you see this plate. It warns that the road is liable to flooding.
Common questions
Does Road liable to flooding mean the road is flooded now?
The plate warns that the road ahead may flood. Its wording does not say that flooding is happening now.
Should I test my brakes after driving through deep water?
Yes. Rule 121 says to test them at the first safe opportunity by pressing the brake pedal gently.
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 (warning signs), The Highway Code rules 121 and 146 and the Department for Transport’s image details list.
- Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 121, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 146, 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.