Road Signs & Markings

What does a red circular sign with a white background indicate?

• AInformation
• BMandatory instruction
• CWarning
• DProhibition or restriction✓

Answer: Red circular signs with white bars or symbols indicate prohibitions or restrictions (e.g., no entry, speed limits, no parking). These are mandatory regulations.

What does a triangular sign with a red border usually mean?

• AA warning of a hazard ahead✓
• BInformation
• CA mandatory instruction
• DA regulatory sign

Answer: Triangular signs with red borders are warning signs. They alert you to hazards ahead like slippery road, pedestrians, curves, animals, etc.

What does a blue rectangular sign indicate?

• AMandatory instruction (must obey)
• BA warning
• CA prohibition
• DInformation, direction, or service information✓

Answer: Blue rectangular signs provide information like directions to towns, service areas, facilities, and instructions for mandatory actions. Follow these signs to find services and directions.

What does a white dashed line down the centre of a road mean?

• AIt means the road ends a short distance ahead and you must prepare to turn
• BYou cannot cross it
• CIt is a parking space marker showing where you may leave the machine overnight
• DYou may cross it to overtake if safe✓

Answer: A white dashed line indicates you may cross it to overtake (pass) another vehicle, provided it's safe to do so. The dashed line means the restriction is not absolute.

What does a solid white line down the centre of a road indicate?

• AYou cannot cross it
• BIt is only a guide line, and not a rule
• CIt's safe to overtake
• DYou must not cross it except in certain circumstances✓

Answer: A solid white line nearest to you means you must not cross or straddle it except in the situations Highway Code rule 129 allows: to turn into or out of a side road or property, to pass a stationary vehicle, or to overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle travelling at 10 mph or less - and only when it is safe.

What does a double solid white line mean?

• AParking is allowed alongside it at any time of the day or of the night
• BYou must not cross or straddle it except in limited cases, such as passing a stationary vehicle✓
• CYou can cross from your side whenever the road ahead looks clear to you
• DIt is only a guide, and carries no more weight than a broken centre line

Answer: Highway Code rule 129: where the line nearer to you is solid you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. If the road is clear you may also cross it to pass a stationary vehicle, or to overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle travelling at 10 mph or less. With both lines solid this applies to traffic from both directions. Rule 240 also bans stopping or parking on a road marked with double white lines, except to pick up or set down passengers or to load or unload goods.

What do white parallel lines on the road indicate?

• AA cycle lane
• BA pedestrian crossing
• CA no overtaking area
• DA parking area (bay markings)✓

Answer: White parallel lines on the road mark parking bays. Don't park outside these lines, and don't park where there are no lines even if it looks available.

What does a sign showing 'Motorcycles Prohibited' look like?

• AA white rectangle
• BA blue sign
• CAn orange triangle with a motorcycle on it
• DA red circular sign with a motorcycle symbol crossed out✓

Answer: A red circular sign with a motorcycle symbol crossed through indicates motorcycles are prohibited from entering that road or area. You must not proceed.

What should you do at a sign showing 'Give Way'?

• ASound your horn as you approach, then join the main road at your usual speed
• BStop at the line and put a foot down, as you would at a Stop sign
• CThe other traffic should wait for you, since traffic on the smaller road has priority
• DSlow down and give priority to other traffic; stop if needed✓

Answer: At a 'Give Way' sign, you must let other traffic pass first. Slow down, check for traffic, and stop if necessary. You have the secondary priority.

What does a red circular sign with 'No Entry' (red bar) indicate?

• ACaution ahead
• BInformation
• COptional restriction
• DYou must not enter that road✓

Answer: A red circular sign with a white horizontal bar means 'No Entry.' You must not proceed in that direction. This often guards one-way streets or restricted areas.

What does a sign showing a speed limit inside a red circle mean?

• AMinimum speed, below which you must not travel on that stretch of road
• BMaximum speed limit (mandatory)✓
• CIt's optional
• DRecommended speed, which you may exceed when the road ahead is clear

Answer: Speed limits in red circular signs are mandatory maximum speeds. You must not exceed this speed on that road. Speed limit signs have red circles in most European countries.

What does an amber/yellow flashing light at a pedestrian crossing mean?

• ANo pedestrians are crossing
• BYou can accelerate
• CYou must stop
• DProceed with caution; pedestrians may be crossing✓

Answer: Amber/yellow flashing lights at crossings mean proceed with caution. Pedestrians may be crossing, so be prepared to stop. Never assume they'll wait.

What does a 'Clearway' sign indicate?

• ANo stopping during the hours shown, except to pick up or set down passengers
• BYou can stop anywhere along the road provided you switch on your hazard lights
• CIt is clear to park at any time, which is what gives the sign its name
• DNo stopping on the main carriageway at any time, even to set down passengers✓

Answer: The Clearway sign (a red cross on a blue background with a red border) means no stopping on the main carriageway at any time, for any purpose, including picking up or setting down passengers. You may stop in a lay-by unless signs say otherwise. The time-limited restriction that still lets you pick up or set down passengers is the urban clearway, which has its own sign showing the hours. Highway Code rule 240 lists a clearway among the places where you must not stop or park.

What does a yellow 'no waiting' line (single or double) mean?

• ANo waiting or parking during the times shown✓
• BYellow means it is a suggestion only and carries no penalty if you ignore it
• CYou can wait but not park, so long as you stay with the machine the whole time
• DLoading and unloading only, at any time

Answer: Yellow lines mark waiting restrictions: you MUST NOT wait or park on them during the times shown on nearby time plates (Highway Code rule 238). Double yellow lines mean no waiting at any time, unless signs show seasonal restrictions.

What does a broken white line at the side of the road indicate?

• AYou can stop there at any time
• BIt's a guide line; you can cross if safe✓
• CNo overtaking
• DParking is allowed

Answer: Broken white lines on the edges are guide lines that show lane boundaries. You can cross them if safe. They're more flexible than centre white lines.

What should you do at a 'Give Way' sign at a junction?

• ACome to a complete stop every time regardless
• BOther traffic must wait for you, because the sign warns them that you are joining
• CSlow down, check for traffic, and only proceed when it's safe✓
• DContinue at the same speed, since the sign is only a warning of the junction ahead

Answer: At a Give Way sign, traffic on the major road has priority. Slow down, look carefully for traffic, and proceed only when it is safe. Be prepared to stop if necessary.

What does a red traffic light indicate?

• AYou can proceed with caution
• BLook left and right then proceed
• CYou must stop✓
• DIt's optional to stop

Answer: A red traffic light means you must stop. Don't proceed unless authorised by another signal or officer. Never 'jump' a red light—wait for green.

What does a green traffic light with a green arrow indicate?

• AYou can ride on without checking, because the arrow stops pedestrians and other traffic
• BProceed in the direction shown by the arrow (turning traffic has priority)✓
• CProceed straight ahead, whatever direction the arrow on the signal is pointing
• DTraffic in each direction can proceed, with priority decided by who arrived first

Answer: A green arrow indicates you can proceed in that direction with priority over other traffic. However, always check that other traffic has stopped before proceeding.

What does a sign showing 'Pedestrian Crossing Ahead' warn you of?

• AThere will definitely be pedestrians waiting to cross when you reach the crossing
• BThe crossing is controlled by traffic lights
• CYou can accelerate to get across quickly before anybody steps onto the crossing
• DA crossing is coming; reduce speed and be prepared to stop✓

Answer: A pedestrian crossing warning sign alerts you that a crossing is ahead. Reduce speed and be prepared to stop for pedestrians. Never assume they'll wait.

What does a 'School' warning sign indicate?

• ASchool ahead; reduce speed and watch for children✓
• BSchool is closed
• CYou must stop before the school and wait for a crossing patrol to wave you on
• DNo hazard

Answer: A school warning sign indicates a school is ahead. Reduce speed significantly and be alert for children crossing unexpectedly, buses stopping, and heavy traffic.

What does an arrow on a road sign pointing upward indicate?

• ATurn right at the next junction you come to after passing the sign
• BThe road continues ahead (straight)✓
• CStop ahead, which is why the arrow is drawn pointing up towards the sky
• DA one-way street begins here

Answer: An upward-pointing arrow on a direction sign indicates the road continues straight ahead in that direction. Follow the arrow's direction.

What does a 'Slippery Road' warning sign indicate?

• AReduce speed; the road surface may have reduced grip due to ice, gravel, or water✓
• BThe road is always dangerous and should be avoided by motorcycles and cyclists altogether
• CThe road is wet, so the sign is taken down again as soon as the surface has dried out
• DThe road has just been resurfaced with new tarmac

Answer: A 'Slippery Road' sign warns that the surface has reduced grip due to ice, loose gravel, water, or wet leaves. Reduce speed and be extra cautious with braking and cornering.

What does a sign showing a motorcycle with a skid mark indicate?

• AMotorcycles are unsafe here and are prohibited from using this stretch of road
• BSkidding risk for motorcycles; reduced grip ahead✓
• CStunt riders are expected, so be ready for machines being ridden on one wheel
• DA racing circuit entrance is ahead

Answer: A motorcycle skid warning indicates conditions ahead are particularly hazardous for motorcycles (loose surface, poor grip, etc.). Be especially cautious and reduce speed significantly.

What does a solid yellow line at the kerb indicate?

• ATemporary parking is allowed for up to twenty minutes at any time of the day or night
• BNo parking at any time (if double line) or during peak hours (if single line)✓
• CFree parking
• DParking is allowed

Answer: A solid yellow kerb line indicates parking restrictions. A single line means no parking during specific hours; a double line means no parking anytime. Check the sign for times.

What does a 'Two-way Traffic Ahead' warning sign indicate?

• AYou can overtake freely
• BThe road divides; prepare for oncoming traffic in your lane✓
• CThere is traffic on both sides of the road
• DTraffic is light

Answer: A 'Two-way Traffic Ahead' sign warns that the road has changed from a divided road to one with traffic in both directions. Be extra cautious; never overtake unless absolutely safe.