UK warning signs and their meanings

The Highway Code says warning signs are mostly triangular. They do not give orders: they tell you what is coming, such as a junction, a bend, a crossing or a slippery road. Plates underneath can add details, such as the distance to the hazard or what kind of danger it is.

On junction warning signs, the broader line shows the road with priority through the junction (Know your traffic signs).

UK warning signs

• Crossroads signA crossroads is ahead.
• T-junction signYour road ends at a T-junction ahead.
• Roundabout ahead signA roundabout is ahead.
• Bend ahead signThe road bends ahead, here to the right.
• Two-way traffic signTraffic ahead goes in both directions.
• Traffic signals ahead signTraffic lights are ahead.
• Pedestrian crossing signA zebra or parallel crossing is ahead.
• Children going to or from school signWatch for children near a school.
• Slippery road signThe road surface ahead may be slippery.
• Other danger signA hazard ahead; the plate says what it is.
• Level crossing with barrier signA railway crossing with gates or barriers is ahead.
• Level crossing without barrier signA railway crossing with no gates or barriers is ahead.
• Road works signRoad works ahead.
• Double bend signTwo bends ahead, the first to the left.
• Junction on a bend signA side road joins on a bend ahead.
• Side road signA side road joins from one side ahead.
• Staggered junction signSide roads join on both sides, not opposite each other.
• Merging traffic signTraffic joins from the left ahead.
• Road narrows signThe road gets narrower ahead.
• Dual carriageway ends signThe dual carriageway ends ahead.
• Steep hill downwards signA steep hill down ahead.
• Steep hill upwards signA steep hill up ahead.
• Hump bridge signA humped bridge ahead.
• Road humps signRoad humps ahead.
• Tunnel signA tunnel ahead.
• Falling rocks signRocks may fall or have fallen ahead.
• Risk of ice signIce may be on the road ahead.
• Side winds signStrong side winds likely ahead.
• Low-flying aircraft signLow-flying aircraft or sudden noise ahead.
• Quayside or river bank signThe road leads to a quayside or river bank ahead.
• Frail pedestrians signOlder or disabled people may cross ahead.
• Pedestrians in road signPeople may be walking in the road ahead.
• Wild animals signWild animals, such as deer, may be on the road.
• Wild horses or ponies signWild horses or ponies may be on the road.
• Accompanied horses signHorse riders may be on or crossing the road.
• Maximum headroom signLow bridge ahead: the height shown is the clearance.
• Reduce speed now signSlow down now for the hazard ahead.
• Distance to STOP line signA STOP sign and line are this far ahead.
• Distance to GIVE WAY line signA give way line is this far ahead.
• Road narrows on one side signThe road gets narrower on one side ahead.
• Two-way traffic crossing ahead signA two-way road crosses the one-way road ahead.
• Uneven road signThe road surface ahead is uneven.
• Soft verges signThe verges beside the road are soft.
• Ford signThe road goes through water ahead.
• Try your brakes signTest your brakes before going on.
• Opening or swing bridge signA bridge ahead may open for boats.
• Traffic queues likely ahead signTraffic may be queuing ahead.
• Sheep signSheep may be in the road ahead.
• Cattle signCattle may be in the road ahead.
• Cattle grid signA cattle grid crosses the road ahead.
• Agricultural vehicles signTractors and farm vehicles may be in the road.
• Horse-drawn vehicles signHorse-drawn vehicles may be in the road.
• Fire station signals signStop when the lights show for fire engines.
• School crossing patrol ahead plateA school crossing patrol may be ahead.
• Blind summit plateA blind summit is ahead.
• Hidden dip plateA hidden dip is ahead.
• Road liable to flooding plateThe road ahead may flood.
• Accident plateThere is an accident ahead.
• Single file traffic plateTraffic goes in single file in each direction ahead.
• Distance to hazard plateShows the distance and direction to a hazard.

Test yourself

Every sign page has its own quick question. For more practice, try the Highway Code quizzes.

More signs and markings

• Regulatory signs
• Speed limit signs
• Level crossing signs
• Bus, cycle and tram signs
• Information signs
• Motorway signs and signals
• Road works signs
• Traffic lights and signals
• Road markings
• All road signs

Sources

(3)

1. Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK
2. Know your traffic signs: the signing system, GOV.UK
3. The Highway Code: traffic signs, 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.