Traffic calmed area sign: what it means

Traffic calmed area sign: a blue rectangle with the words Traffic calmed area in white
Image: Crown copyright, OGL

The traffic calmed area sign marks the entrance to an area with features such as road humps and narrowings that slow traffic down.

Take the free road signs quiz

What does the traffic calmed area sign mean?

Know your traffic signs describes it as the entrance to a traffic-calmed area; the name of the area may be shown. Rule 153 says reduce your speed for these features and do not overtake other moving road users in these areas.

Quick quiz

What does the sign at the top of this page mean?

  1. A 20 mph limit with traffic calming ahead.
  2. Road humps ahead.
  3. An area with humps or narrowings to slow you.

Show answer

C. An area with humps or narrowings to slow you. It marks the entrance to a traffic-calmed area (Know your traffic signs). Source: Know your traffic signs: traffic calming, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 153, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Where will you see it?

At the entrance to residential areas, villages and town centres with traffic calming.

What should you do?

Slow down and keep a low speed through the whole area. Let cyclists and motorcyclists through narrowings.

What do people get wrong?

Speeding up between the humps. Rule 153 says keep a reduced speed along the whole stretch.

Common questions

Can I overtake in a traffic calmed area?

Rule 153 says you should not overtake other moving road users in these areas.

Is it the same as a 20 mph zone?

No. A 20 mph zone sets a 20 mph limit with traffic calming. This sign marks traffic calming without setting a speed limit.

Compare with

Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.

Sources

Checked on 4 November 2026 against Know your traffic signs (traffic calming) and The Highway Code rule 153.

  1. Know your traffic signs: traffic calming, GOV.UK
  2. The Highway Code, rule 153, GOV.UK
  3. 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. Last updated .

Last checked against the sources: · Report a mistake