legal
guide to UK motoring, sections for law enforcement, Driver licensing,
learner and new drivers, buying and selling, speeding fines, owning a
vehicle, wheel clamping, traffic information
There are three basic types of traffic sign: signs that give
orders,signs that warn and signs that give information. Each
type has adifferent shape. A further guide to the function of
a sign is itscolour. All triangular signs are red.
Circles
Give Orders
Triangles
warn
Rectangles
inform
Blue
circles generally give a mandatory instruction,such as
"turn left", or indicate a route available only to particular
classes of traffic, e.g. buses and cycles only
Red rings or circles tell you what you must not
do, e.g. you must not exceed 30 mph, no vehicles over
the height shown may proceed
Blue
rectangles are used for information signs except on motorways
where blue is used for direction signs
Green
rectangles are used for direction signs on primary routes
White
used for direction signs on non-primary routes, or for
plates used in combination with warning and regulatory
signs
There
are a few exceptions to the shape and colour rules, to
give certain signs greater prominence. Examples are the
"STOP" and "GIVE WAY" signs
The words "must" or "must not", when used in the descriptionsthat
follow, refer to legal requirements that have to be obeyed.
