Traffic Signs - THE HIGHWAY CODE

Traffic signsSigns giving ordersSigns with red circles are mostly prohibitive.Plates below signs qualify their message.MaximumspeedEntry to20 mph zoneStop andgive wayGive priority tovehicles fromoppositedirectionSchool crossingpatrolEnd of20 mphzoneGive way totraffic onmajor roadManually operated temporarySTOP and GO signsNo entry forvehicular trafficNo cyclingNo motorvehiclesNo buses(over 8passengerseats)NoovertakingNo vehiclescarryingexplosivesNo vehicle orcombination of vehiclesover length shownNo vehiclesoverheight shownNo vehiclesoverwidth shownNo right turnNo left turnNoU-turnsNo vehiclesexcept bicyclesbeing pushedNotowedcaravansNational speedlimit appliesNo goods vehiclesover maximumgross weightshown (in tonnes)except for loadingand unloadingNote: Although The Highway Code shows many of the signs commonly in use, a comprehensiveexplanation of our signing system is given in the Department’s booklet Know Your Traffic Signs,which is on sale at booksellers. The booklet also illustrates and explains the vast majority of signsthe road user is likely to encounter. The signs illustrated in The Highway Code are not all drawn tothe same scale. In Wales, bilingual versions of some signs are used including Welsh and Englishversions of place names. Some older designs of signs may still be seen on the roads.

Parking restrictedto permit holdersNo vehiclesover maximumgross weightshown(in tonnes)No waitingNo stopping duringperiod indicatedexcept for busesNo stopping duringtimes shownexcept for as longas necessary to setdown or pick uppassengersNo stopping(Clearway)Signs with blue circles but no red border mostly givepositive instruction.Ahead onlyTurn left ahead(right if symbolreversed)Turn left(right if symbolreversed)Keep left(right if symbolreversed)Vehiclesmay passeither side toreach on give way tovehicles from theimmediate right)Route to beused by pedalcycles onlySegregatedpedal cycleand pedestrianrouteMinimum speedEnd of minimumspeedBuses andcyclesonlyWith-flow bus andcycle laneTrams onlyPedestriancrossingpoint overtramwayContra-flow bus laneOne-way traffic(note: comparecircular ‘Aheadonly’ sign)With-flow pedal cycle lane

Warning signsMostly triangularDualcarriagewayendsRoad narrowson right (left ifsymbol reversed)Roadnarrows onboth sidesDistance to‘Give Way’line aheadDistance to‘STOP’ lineaheadCrossroadsJunction onbend aheadT-junction withpriority overvehicles fromthe rightStaggeredjunctionTraffic mergingfrom left aheadThe priority through route is indicated by the broader line.Double bend firstto left (symbolmay be reversed)Bend to right(or left if symbolreversed)RoundaboutUneven roadPlate belowsome signsTwo-waytraffic crossesone-way roadTwo-way trafficstraight aheadOpening orswing bridgeaheadLow-flying aircraftor suddenaircraft noiseFalling orfallen rocksTraffic signalsSlippery roadSteep hilldownwardsSteep hillupwardsTraffic signalsnot in useTunnel aheadGradients may be shown as a ratio i.e. 20% 1:5TramscrossingaheadLevel crossingwith barrier orgate aheadLevel crossingwithout barrieror gate aheadLevel crossingwithout barrier

Warning signs - continuedSchool crossingpatrol ahead(some signshave amberlights which flashwhen crossingsare in use)Frail (or blind ordisabled if shown)pedestrians likely tocross road aheadZebracrossingPedestriansin road aheadOverhead electriccable; plateindicatesmaximum heightof vehicles whichcan pass safelyAvailable width ofheadroom indicatedSharp deviation ofroute to left (or right ifchevrons reversed)Light signalsahead at levelcrossing, airfieldor bridgeMiniature warning lightsat level crossingsCattleWild animalsWild horsesor poniesAccompaniedhorses orponiesCycle routeaheadRisk of iceTraffic queueslikely aheadDistance overwhich roadhumps extendOther danger;plate indicatesnature ofdangerSoft vergesSide windsHump bridgeWorded warningsignQuayside orriver bankRisk ofgrounding

Direction signsMostly rectangularSigns on motorways - blue backgroundsAt a junction leading directlyinto a motorway (junctionnumber may be shownon a black background)On approaches tojunctions (junction numberon black background)Route confirmatorysign after junctionDownward pointing arrows mean ‘Get in lane’The left-hand lane leads to a different destination from the other lanes.The panel with the inclined arrow indicates the destinations which can be reachedby leaving the motorway at the next junctionSigns on primary routes - green backgroundsAt the junctionOn approachesto junctionsOn approaches to junctionsRoute confirmatorysign after junctionOn approach to a junctionin Wales (bilingual)Blue panels indicate that the motorway starts at the junction ahead.Motorways shown in brackets can also be reached along the route indicated.White panels indicate local or non-primary routes leading from the junction ahead.Brown panels show the route to tourist attractions.The name of the junction may be shown at the top of the sign.The aircraft symbol indicates the route to an airport.A symbol may be included to warn of a hazard or restriction along that route.

Green background signs - continuedPrimary route formingpart of a ring roadSigns on non-primary and local routes - black bordersAt the junctionOn approaches to junctionsDirection to toiletswith access for thedisabledGreen panels indicate that the primary route starts at the junction ahead.Route numbers on a blue background show the direction to a motorway.Route numbers on a green background show the direction to a primary route.Other direction signsPicnic siteAncient monument in the careof English HeritageDirection to a car parkDirection to campingand caravan siteAdvisory route for lorriesRecommended route forpedal cycles to place shownRoute for pedestriansTourist attractionRoute for pedalcycles forming partof a networkSymbols showing emergency diversionroute for motorway and other main road trafficDiversion route

Information signsAll rectangularEnd of controlledparking zoneEntrance tocontrolledparking zoneParking place forsolo motorcyclesEnd of motorwayTraffic on the maincarriageway comingfrom right has priorityover joining trafficEntrance to congestioncharging zoneWith-flow bus laneahead which pedalcycles and taxismay also useLane designatedfor use by highoccupancyvehicles (HOV) see rule 142Start of motorwayand point fromwhich motorwayregulations applyAdditional traffic joining from leftahead. Traffic on main carriagewayhas priority over joining traffic fromright hand lane of slip road‘Countdown’ markers at exit from motorway (each barrepresents 100 yards to the exit). Green-backed markersmay be used on primary routes and white-backedmarkers with black bars on other routes. At approaches toconcealed level crossings white-backed markers with redbars may be used. Although these will be erected at equaldistances the bars do not represent 100 yard intervals.Advance warningof restriction orprohibition aheadVehicles permittedto use an HOVlane aheadAppropriate traffic lanes atjunction aheadTraffic in right handlane of slip road joiningthe main carriagewayhas priority over lefthand laneMotorway service area signshowing the operator’s name

Information signs - continuedHospital ahead withAccident andEmergency facilitiesNo through roadfor vehiclesTouristinformationpointTraffic has priority overoncoming vehiclesRecommended routefor pedal cyclesHome Zone EntryArea in whichcameras areused to enforcetraffic regulationsBus lane on road atjunction aheadRoad works signsRoad worksSlow-moving orstationary worksvehicle blocking atraffic lane. Pass inthe direction shownby the arrow.LoosechippingsMandatoryspeedlimit aheadSigns used on the back of slow-moving orstationary vehicles warning of a lane closedahead by a works vehicle. There are nocones on the road.Temporary hazardat road worksTemporary lane closure(the number and positionof arrows and red barsmay be varied accordingto lanes open and closed)Road works1 mile aheadLane restrictions atroad works aheadEnd of road works andany temporary restrictionsincluding speed limitsOne lane crossoverat contraflowroad works

Signs with blue circles but no red border mostly give positive instruction. One-way traffic (note: compare circular ‘Ahead only’ sign) Ahead only Turn left ahead (right if symbol reversed) Turn left (right if symbol reversed) Keep left (right if symbol reversed) Route to be used by pedal cycles only Segregated pedal cycle and pedestrian route Minimum speed End of minimum speed Mini .