Road Warning Signs and Meanings

Warning signs often take the shape of an equilateral triangle and are used to warn a driver of an impending hazard that might otherwise not be obvious whilst driving.

Both the colour and thickness of the border vary from country to country. A large part of the theory test is designated to road signs.

Warning signs are used to to bring your attention to any hazards, or a particular traffic condition or obstacle that may be up ahead.

This section is detailing the warning signs used on UK roads complete with pictures and meanings. It is important to understand road signs for safety reasons and to aid in passing the driving theory test and practical driving test.


Road signs test quiz

Once you have studied the road signs and feel confident in your ability to recognise them and to understand their meanings, take the road sign test quiz

Road sign test quiz 1Road sign test quiz 2Road sign test quiz 3


Dual carriageway ends sign
Dual carriageway ends sign
Road narrows sign
Road narrows on right sign
Road narrows both sides sign
Road narrows on both sides sign
Distance to give way line ahead sign
Distance to give way line ahead sign
Stop line ahead road sign
Distance to STOP line ahead sign
Crossroads sign
Crossroads ahead road sign
Junction on bend sign
Junction on bend ahead sign
Staggered junction sign
Staggered junction sign
T-junction with priority over vehicles from the right sign
T-junction with priority over vehicles from the right sign (The priority is indicated by the broader line)
Traffic merging from left sign
Traffic merging from left sign (Traffic merging from right if sign reversed)

 

Bends in road sign
Double bend first to left sign
Bend to right sign
Bend to right sign (Bend to left if symbol reversed)
Roundabout sign
Roundabout sign
Uneven road sign
Uneven road sign
Reduce speed now sign
Reduce speed now plate below sign
Two way traffic road sign
Two-way traffic crosses one-way road sign
Two-way traffic straight ahead sign
Two-way traffic straight ahead sign
Opening or swing bridge ahead sign
Opening or swing bridge ahead sign
Airplane signs
Low-flying aircraft or sudden aircraft noise sign
Falling rocks sign
Falling or fallen rocks sign

 

Traffic signals not in use sign
Traffic signals not in use sign
Traffic signals sign
Traffic signals sign
Slippery road sign
Slippery road sign
Steep hill downwards sign
Steep hill downwards sign
Steep hill upwards sign
Steep hill upwards sign
Tunnel ahead sign
Tunnel ahead sign
Trams crossing sign
Trams crossing ahead sign
Level crossing sign
Level crossing with barrier or gate ahead sign
Level crossing without barrier or gate ahead sign
Level crossing without barrier or gate ahead sign
Level crossing without barrier sign
Level crossing without barrier sign
School crossing patrol sign
School crossing patrol ahead sign
Frail pedestrians likely to cross road sign
Frail pedestrians likely to cross road ahead sign
Pedestrians in road sign
Pedestrians in road ahead sign
Zebra crossing sign
Zebra crossing sign
Overhead electric cable sign
Overhead electric cable sign
Low bridge sign
Low bridge ahead sign
Chevron sign
Chevron to the left sign (Sharp deviation to the right is markings reversed)
Light signals sign
Light signals ahead sign
Warning lights at level crossing sign
Warning lights at level crossing sign
Cattle road sign
Cattle road sign
Wild animals road sign
Wild animals road sign
Wild horses sign
Wild horses or ponies
Accompanied horses or ponies sign
Accompanied horses or ponies sign
Cycle route sign
Cycle route ahead sign
Risk of ice road sign
Risk of ice road sign

 

Traffic queues likely sign
Traffic queues likely ahead sign
Road humps sign
Road humps sign with distance of humps sign
Danger road sign
Danger road sign. Plate indicates danger
Soft verges road sign
Soft verges road sign
Risk of grounding road sign
Risk of grounding road sign
Side winds road sign
Side winds road sign
Hump bridge road sign
Hump bridge road sign
Warning road sign
Worded warning road sign
Quayside or river bank road sign
Quayside or river bank road sign
Giveway sign
Give way sign
Queues likely road sign
Queues likely road sign
Loose chippng road sign
Loose chippng road sign
Road works sign
Road works sign
Height restriction warning sign with metric units
Height restriction warning sign. Sign may display metric (as shown) or imperial units.

Road signs test quiz

Once you have studied the road signs and feel confident in your ability to recognise them and to understand their meanings, take the road sign test quiz.

Road sign test quiz 1Road sign test quiz 2Road sign test quiz 3


Other UK road signs

Below details other types of UK road signs typically asked on the theory test.

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