Signs with a red circle are mostly prohibitive — they tell you what you must not do. Small plates fixed below a sign qualify its message (for example, the distance, vehicle type, or time it applies to).
Entry to 20 mph zone
End of 20 mph zone
Maximum speed
National speed limit applies
School crossing patrol
Stop and give way
Give way to traffic on major road
Manually operated temporary STOP and GO signs
No entry for vehicular traffic
Give priority to vehicles from opposite direction
No vehicles except bicycles being pushed
No cycling
No motor vehicles
No buses
No overtaking
No towed caravans
No vehicles carrying explosives
No vehicles over length shown
No vehicles over height shown
No vehicles over width shown
No right turn
No left turn
No U-turns
No goods vehicles over maximum gross weight shown (in tonnes) except for loading and unloading
Give priority to vehicles from opposite direction
Note:
Although The Highway Code shows many of the signs commonly in use, a comprehensive explanation 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 signs the road user is likely to encounter.
The signs illustrated in The Highway Code are not all drawn to the same scale. In Wales, bilingual versions of some signs are used including Welsh and English versions of place names. Some older designs of signs may still be seen on the roads.
No vehicles over maximum gross weight shown (in tonnes)
Parking restricted to permit holders
No stopping during period indicated except for buses
No stopping during times shown except for as long as necessary to set down or pick up passengers
No waiting
No stopping (Clearway)
Ahead only
Turn left ahead (right if symbol reversed)
Turn left (right if symbol reversed)
Keep left (right if symbol reversed)
Vehicles may pass either side to reach same destination
(roundabout circulation - give way to vehicles from the immediate right)
Route to be used by pedal cycles only
Segregated pedal cycle and pedestrian route
Minimum speed
End of minimum speed
With-flow bus and cycle lane
Contra-flow bus lane
With-flow pedal cycle lane
No right turn
No left turn
No U-turns
No goods vehicles over maximum gross weight shown (in tonnes) except for loading and unloading
Give priority to vehicles from opposite direction
Note:
Although The Highway Code shows many of the signs commonly in use, a comprehensive explanation 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 signs the road user is likely to encounter.
The signs illustrated in The Highway Code are not all drawn to the same scale. In Wales, bilingual versions of some signs are used including Welsh and English versions of place names. Some older designs of signs may still be seen on the roads.
No vehicles over maximum gross weight shown (in tonnes)
Parking restricted to permit holders
No stopping during period indicated except for buses
No stopping during times shown except for as long as necessary to set down or pick up passengers
No waiting
No stopping (Clearway)
Ahead only
Turn left ahead (right if symbol reversed)
Turn left (right if symbol reversed)
Keep left (right if symbol reversed)
Vehicles may pass either side to reach same destination
(roundabout circulation - give way to vehicles from the immediate right)
Route to be used by pedal cycles only
Segregated pedal cycle and pedestrian route
Minimum speed
End of minimum speed
With-flow bus and cycle lane
Contra-flow bus lane
With-flow pedal cycle lane
Distance to ‘STOP’ line ahead
Dual carriageway ends
Road narrows on right (left if symbol reversed)
Road narrows on both sides
Distance to ‘Give Way’ line ahead
Crossroads
Dual carriageJunction on bend aheadway ends
T-junction with priority over vehicles from the right
Staggered junction
Traffic merging from left ahead
Double bend first to left (symbol may be reversed)
Bend to right (or left if symbol reversed)
Roundabout
Uneven road
Plate below some signs
Two-way traffic crosses one-way road
Two-way traffic straight ahead
Opening or swing bridge ahead
Low-flying aircraft or sudden aircraft noise
Falling or fallen rocks
Traffic signals not in use
Traffic signals
Slippery road
Steep hill downwards
Steep hill upwards
Tunnel ahead
Trams crossing ahead
Level crossing with barrier or gate ahead
Level crossing without barrier or gate ahead
Level crossing without barrier
Primary route forming part of a ring road
On approaches to junctions
At the junction
Direction to toilets with access for the disabled
Green 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.
