Cheat sheet

Road Signs & Markings

Warning, regulatory and information signs, road markings and traffic signals -- worked out from shape and colour.

The facts to remember, in one place. Drill them with mock exams and spaced repetition in Car Theory Test.

UK road signs explained

◆ Warning signs: triangular with a red border -- alert you to a hazard ahead.
◆ Regulatory signs: circular -- tell you what you must or must not do.
◆ Red rings or circles tell you what you must NOT do; blue circles give a positive (mandatory) instruction.
◆ Information signs: mostly rectangular (blue for motorways, green for primary routes, white for minor roads).
◆ Stop sign: red octagon -- you must stop completely. Give way: inverted (downward) triangle.

◆ The longer the white line, the greater the hazard -- short lines mean lower risk.
◆ A solid white centre line means you must not cross or straddle it except in limited cases.
◆ A broken white centre line means you may overtake when it is safe.
◆ Single yellow lines at the kerb mean waiting is restricted at certain times; double yellow means no waiting at any time.
◆ Hatched areas bordered by a solid white line should not be entered.

◆ You must not enter a box junction unless your exit road or lane is clear.
◆ The only exception is when turning right: you may wait in the box if you are stopped only by oncoming traffic.
◆ You must not wait in the box if you are blocked by traffic in front when going straight on or turning left.
◆ Box junctions are marked by yellow criss-cross lines on the road.
◆ They are used at busy junctions to stop traffic from blocking the way across.

◆ Red means stop and wait at the stop line.
◆ Red and amber together mean stop -- do not go until the light turns green.
◆ Green means you may go on if the way is clear.
◆ Amber alone means stop, unless you have already crossed the line or are so close that stopping might cause a collision.
◆ A green filter arrow lets you move only in the direction the arrow points.