Road narrows sign: what it means
The road narrows sign warns that the road gets narrower ahead, here on both sides. A similar sign shows the road narrowing on one side only.
What does the road narrows sign mean?
Know your traffic signs lists “road narrows on both sides” and “road narrows on right (left if symbol reversed)”. Plates below may say there is single-file traffic or room for only one line of vehicles.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- Oncoming traffic goes first through the narrow part.
- You go first through the narrow part, with care.
- The road gets narrower ahead.
Show answer
C. The road gets narrower ahead. The road narrows ahead (Know your traffic signs). Source: Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 153, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Where will you see it?
Before narrow bridges, road works, pinch points in villages and traffic-calming narrowings.
What should you do?
Slow down and check for oncoming traffic, cyclists and pedestrians. Where there is room for only one vehicle, be ready to wait. In traffic calming, give way to oncoming road users where signs tell you to (rule 153).
What do people get wrong?
Driving into the narrow part at the same time as an oncoming lorry. Slow down early so you can wait if needed.
Common questions
Who goes first where the road narrows?
This sign does not say. If there are priority signs, follow them; otherwise be ready to give way.
Do cyclists need extra room at a narrowing?
Yes. Do not try to squeeze past a cyclist at a narrowing. The Highway Code asks you to allow cyclists room at traffic-calming features (rule 153).
Compare with
Give way to oncoming vehicles signOncoming traffic goes first through the narrow part.
Priority over oncoming vehicles signYou go first through the narrow part, with care.
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 3 November 2026 against Know your traffic signs (warning signs) and The Highway Code rule 153.
- Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 153, 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.