Regulatory signs

Do you know your
road signs?

Road Signs

The signing system	On-street parking control signs and road markings
Warning signs	Road markings
Regulatory signs	Traffic calming
Speed limit signs	Motorway signs, signals and road markings
Low bridge signs	Information signs
Level crossing signs and signals	Traffic signals
Tram signs, signals and road markings	Miscellaneous signs
Bus and cycle signs and road markings	Pedestrian zone signs
Signs for traffic diversions	Roundabouts

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