Regulatory road signs are road signs that give orders. The majority of regulatory signs are circular with a red outer ring or red circle which indicates a prohibition.
Other familiar signs consist of a blue circle that give mandatory instruction. Blue circular road signs often are used to indicate a route to be taken by arrows or that only particular classes of vehicles may use a route. There are two exceptions for the regulatory order road signs shapes. These are the ‘STOP’ and ‘GIVE WAY’ road signs as illustrated below.
This section provides pictures and meaning for the most frequently used regulatory UK road signs.
Understanding these order road signs is essential in passing the theory test and the practical driving test. Once you have revised road signs for the theory test, take the theory test quiz for UK road signs.
Road signs theory test quiz
Once you have studied these regulatory order road signs and the various other types of road signs and feel confident in your ability to know them, take the road sign test quiz
Stop road sign
See Stop signs and lines law for driver and cyclists. Why are there stop signs and do you need to stop at a stop sign.
![Stop road sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/stop-sign.jpg)
Give Way sign
See give way signs, rules, road markings and lines for further information.
![Give way sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/giveway-sign.jpg)
No entry sign
No entry for motor vehicles and including pedal cycles.
![No entry sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-entry-road-sign.jpg)
No vehicles sign
No vehicles except pedal cycles being pushed by hand sign.
![No vehicles sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-vehicles-sign.jpg)
NO VEHICLES SIGN
No vehicles at specified times show on sign, except for access. The sign may be accompanied by an additional plate.
![No vehicles at specified times sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-vehicles-times-shown.jpg)
![Except for access road sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/except-for-access-road-sign.jpg)
![Except buses and cycles exemption sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/except-buses-and-cycles-sign.jpg)
![Except for loading sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/except-for-loading-andunloading-sign.jpg)
Other Order Road Signs
These are common road signs that give you orders
![No motor](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-motorvehicles-sign.jpg)
![No solo motorcycles sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-solo-motorcycles-sign.jpg)
![No towed caravans sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-towed-caravans-sign.jpg)
![No pedestrians sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-pedestrians-sign.jpg)
![No motor vehicles except solo motorcycles sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-vehicles-except-motorbikes.jpg)
![No ridden or accompanied horses sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-horses-sign.jpg)
![No goods vehicles over maximum gross weight shown in tonnes sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-goods-vehicles-weight-on-sign.jpg)
![End of goods vehicles restriction sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/end-of-goods-vehicles-restriction-sign.jpg)
![No horse-drawn vehicles sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-horse-drawn-vehicles-sign.jpg)
![No articulated vehicles sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-articulated-vehicles-sign.jpg)
![No cyclists sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-cyclists.jpg)
![Clearway Road Sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/clearway-road-sign.jpg)
No local buses allowed sign
No local buses or vehicles designed to carry more than 8 passengers (excluding driver) allowed sign.
![No buses allowed sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-buses-allowed-sign.jpg)
National speed limit road sign
Usually found on single carriageway ‘A’ roads. The national speed limit is the fastest legal speed limit for that particular road where the sign is located.
![National speed limit road sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/national-speed-limit-sign.jpg)
Low bridge sign
Low bridge regulatory order road sign. Maximum height displayed in metric and imperial units. See low bridge signs for further information.
![No vehicles or combinations of vehicles over maximum length shown sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-vehicles-over-length-on-sign.jpg)
![No vehicles over maximum width shown sign (width shown in metric and imperial units)](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-vehicles-over-max-width-on-sign.jpg)
![Weak bridge road sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-vehicles-over-max-gross-weight-on-sign.jpg)
![Low bridge road sign metres](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/low-bridge-sign-metres.jpg)
No waiting sign
A no waiting sign allows for a driver to for example, briefly stop the vehicle to allow a passenger to exit or enter the car. Any longer periods may be deemed as waiting. See no stopping and no waiting signs for further information.
![No waiting sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-waiting-sign.jpg)
No overtaking sign
See no overtaking signs and road markings for details on when it is legal to overtake and when it is illegal. A solid white line in the centre of the road may also be in place where no overtaking road signs are placed.
![No overtaking sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-overtaking-sign.jpg)
Give priority to oncoming vehicles sign
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)
![Give way to oncoming vehicles sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/give-way-to-oncoming-vehicles-sign.jpg)
Multiple Order Signs on One Plate
Sometimes you may find multiple order road signs on a single white rectangular plate
![Do not use verge road sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/do-not-use-verge-sign.jpg)
School crossing patrol sign
Vehicles must not go beyond the sign where displayed by a school crossing patrol person.
![School crossing patrol sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/school-crossing-patrol-sign.jpg)
Stop Police sign
Vehicles must not go beyond the sign where displayed by a police officer or traffic warden.
![Stop police sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/stop-police-sign.jpg)
No Turning sign
This signs tell the driver that they must not turn
![No U-turn sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-u-turn-sign.jpg)
![No right turn sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-right-turn.jpg)
![No left turn sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/no-left-turn-sign.jpg)
What do blue road signs mean?
Blue circles generally give a mandatory instruction, such as ‘turn right’ or to provide information on lanes. Often they are used to indicate a route available only to particular classes of traffic, e.g. buses and cycles only. Blue rectangular road signs are used for informational purposes except on motorways where blue is used for direction signs. See blue road signs for further information.
![Proceed in direction indicated by the arrow sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/direction-arrow-sign.jpg)
![Turn left ahead sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/turn-left-ahead-sign.jpg)
![Vehicles may pass either side to reach the same destination sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/vehicles-may-pass-either-side-sign.jpg)
![Keep left road sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/keep-left-sign.jpg)
![Mini-roundabout sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/blue-mini-roundabou-signt.jpg)
![One-way traffic sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/one-way-traffic-sign.jpg)
![Route for pedal cycles only road sign](https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/images/route-for-pedal-cycles-only-sign.jpg)
Road signs test quiz
Once you have studied these regulatory order road signs and the various other types of road signs and feel confident in your ability to know them, take the road sign test quiz
OTHER TYPES OF ROAD SIGNS
- Warning Road Signs
- Order Road Signs
- Blue road signs
- Brown Road Signs
- White Road Signs
- Speed Limit Signs
- Direction Signs
- Low Bridge Signs
- Parking and No Parking Signs
- Bus Lane and Bus Stop Signs
- Road Works and Temporary Signs
- Road Markings and Lines
- Road Sign Theory Test Quiz
- Road Markings Theory Test Quiz