Common Road Signs in Normal Use
Disabled badge holder notice road sign
 
Why know your traffic signs?
Traffic signs play a vital role in directing, informing and controlling road users' behaviour in an effort to make the roads as safe as possible for everyone. This makes a knowledge of traffic signs essential. Not just for new drivers or riders needing to pass their theory test, but for all road users, including experienced professional drivers. Drivers are expected to be familiar with the Highway Code, which states that the presence of streetlights not more than 185m apart indicates the existence of a 30mph speed limit, unless signs show a different limit.
 
The Highway Code gives examples of the most common signs in normal use. Signs are grouped into four types.
  • Warning signs draw the driver's attention to possible dangers on the road ahead. This could be where they need to slow down or to highlight something such as a low bridge or a level crossing. They are the same across the country so they can always be recognised.
  • Regulatory signs such as speed-limit signs are in place to let drivers know what traffic restrictions there are and help to enforce these restrictions.
  • Directions signs show how to get to a place. They have the same basic layouts across the country so drivers can always understand them. The council decides which place names are put on signs, apart from those on trunk roads and motorways which are dealt with by the Highways Agency.
  • Other information signs include signs for local facilities, such as recycling sites.
 
  
Keeping up to date
New road signs conveying new messages and in new formats are introduced from time to time, so drivers or riders who passed their driving test a few years ago need to keep up to date or run the risk of failing to understand or comply with recently introduced signs.
   
 
For further information the Department For Transport has published Know your Traffic Signs, which provides detailed information and guidance on the current traffic signs and markings.
 

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