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Road Signs

 



3 - Regulatory signs





(other than those for low bridges, railway and tramway levelcrossings, bus and pedal cycle facilities and road works)

Most regulatory signs are circular. A RED RING or RED CIRCLEindicates a prohibition. A BLUE CIRCLE generally gives a positive(mandatory) instruction or indicates a route for use only byparticular classes of vehicle (see sections on tram signs and busand cycle signs).

Two notable exceptions are:


 
The "STOP" sign androad markings: you muststop before crossing thetransverse line on theroad and ensure the wayis clear before enteringthe major road.



 
The "GIVE WAY" sign androad markings: you mustgive way to traffic on themajor road (the uprightsign or both the sign andthe triangle on the roadmight not be used atjunctions where there isrelatively little traffic).


No entry for vehicular traffic, including pedal cycles (usually indicates theend of aone-way road where all trafficis travelling in the other direction) No vehicles except pedal cycles being pushed by hand Alternative plates used with the "no vehicles" sign, indicating times when vehicles are prohibited, except for access


No motor vehicles
No motor vehicles except solo motorcycles
No solo motorcycles
No towed caravans


No pedestrians
No ridden or accompanied horses
No horse-drawn vehicles
No articulated vehicles


No goods vehicles over maximum gross weight shown in tonnes
End of goods vehicles restriction
No vehicles or combinations of vehicles over maximum length shown
No vehicles carrying explosives


No vehicles over maximum width shown (width shown in metric and imperial units)
No vehicles over maximum width shown (width shown in imperial units)
No vehicles over the maximum gross weight shown in tonnes. The bottom plate is used where empty vehicles are exempt


Plates used to indicate exemptions from prohibition signs

Where a road or bridge is very narrow, priority must be given to traffic from the other direction (there will usually be a "give way" line indicating where to wait)


Except for access to premises or land adjacent to the road, where there is no other route. Other exemptions may be shown
Except for loading and unloading by goods vehicles


Where changes of direction are prohibited, a red bar across the sign is used in addition to the red circle


NoU-turn
No right turn
No left Turn
Exemption plate


Vehicles must not go beyond the sign where displayed by a school crossing patrol Vehicles must not go beyond the sign where displayed by a police officer or traffic warden
Specified traffic must not use verge maintained in mown or ornamental condition



Proceed in direction indicated by the arrow
Turn left ahead (right if symbol is reversed)
Vehicles may pass either side to reach the same destination
Keep left (right if symbol reversed)



Plates supplementing "turn" signs
Mini-roundabout (give way to traffic from the immediate right)
One-way traffic


Nature of and distance to a prohibition, restriction or requirement
Weight restriction ahead (may show a different restriction)
Location of weight restriction ahead with indication of an alternative route (may show a different restriction)