The signs are almost always used alongside (or within) rectangular yellow signs which show details of enforcement hours.

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This triangular sign is one of the most frequently seen on UK roads and is used to warn you of a junction ahead. Traffic on the road you will be joining has priority, so you must wait for a safe gap before continuing.

Driving in stop-start traffic could potentially cause your engine to overheat, so it’s always advisable to have breakdown cover just in case.

Road sign

It also warns you when there’s a high risk of vehicles pulling out from parking spaces or driveways that would increase the risk of a head-on collision.

The percentage shown refers to the tangent of the angle ahead and is sometimes expressed as a ratio on older signs. You may find that the gradient of a hill becomes steeper as you drive so look out for new signs at all times.

This is one of the most commonly misunderstood signs, and many drivers have fallen foul of the law by parking on a clearway.

This sign appears in a red triangle with arrows at the top and bottom, and features two measurements. The equivalent imperial and metric measurements let drivers know that vehicles over a certain height should avoid a route – the signs should appear well in advance of the bridge or restriction up ahead.

There are several reasons why you might see this sign – it is often displayed when the road has poor visibility or if it’s too narrow for safe overtaking.

Another warning sign in a red triangle, these are used to alert drivers of hills on the road ahead. Steep hills downward show a decline to the right of the sign, while steep hills upward show an incline to the right of the sign.

‘No waiting’ signs are easily confused with ‘no stopping’ signs. Rather than displaying a red cross they feature a single diagonal red stripe on the same blue background.

UStraffic signs

You should keep to the left-hand side of the road and be aware of oncoming traffic. If they’re horizontal, it indicates that you’ll have to turn either left or right to join the two-way road ahead.

Or to give this sign it's full title: ‘area in which cameras are used to enforce traffic regulations’ sign. These will often appear with national speed limit signs and maximum speed signs.

A sign showing the silhouette of an adult and child holding hands lets drivers know that pedestrians might be present on the road ahead. Like other warning signs it appears in a red triangle.

These low clearance signs are also used in red circles, usually on the low bridge itself or a short distance ahead of it:

There are hundreds of different road signs, each with their own meaning. However, most fall into one of three categories based on their shape. The general rule is:

When you see a rectangular blue sign with a large white arrow and small red arrow pointing in opposite directions, it means you have priority over vehicles travelling from the other way. Drivers are often confused by this as it’s not always clear who has right of way.

You might notice a very similar sign on your travels, with arrows at the left and right. These indicate that vehicles over a certain width should avoid a narrow route.

If you want to pass your theory test, it's a good idea to learn what each road marking means with an interactive app. Driving Theory Test UK is a great place to start, with all necessary learning materials, hazard perception clips and Highway Code info included. You can download it here:

The T-junction sign shouldn’t be confused with the ‘no through road’ sign, which is a blue square with a red and white T shape on it.

The ‘dual carriageway ends’ sign appears in a red triangle. It shows two carriageways coming together to indicate two-way traffic will continue ahead on a single carriageway road.

Trafficlight

In some instances, restrictions may only apply at certain times of the day. You tend to see this sign on major commuter roads, such as Red Routes, or outside schools.

You’ll commonly see this sign when a road or bridge becomes very narrow, or as part of traffic calming measures where there is only room for one vehicle to pass. If there’s another vehicle travelling towards you that is already in the narrow area, wait for it to pass.

Many drivers believe an exclamation mark in a red triangle is solely used to warn of a hidden dip in the road. However, the sign can indicate any temporary and permanent hazards that aren’t easily represented using symbols.

This ‘bottleneck’ sign looks very similar to the ‘dual carriageway ends’ sign, except for one key difference; the vertical lines remain separate despite coming closer together.

This sign means that you must not drive any motor vehicle down a road where this is displayed. It could be that the area is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists only.

Sometimes you’ll see a red triangular sign with two black arrows pointing in opposite directions. These are used to make you aware that you’re about to leave a separated one-way street and enter a two-way road.

One of the most common road signs you’ll encounter – it displays the maximum speed permitted on a road within a red circle.

If you see a triangular sign with a row of cars on it, it’s warning you that you’re approaching a congested area, so be prepared to stop.

Of course, even when the national speed limit applies, it might not always be safe to drive at that speed, so use your common sense on this.

You’ll notice that the triangle is upside down compared with other warning signs. That’s so it can still be recognised if it gets defaced by snow, for example.

Road hump signs show a humped surface in a red warning triangle. They can be used to indicate a single road hump or a series of humps. The signs must be used with a second plate to indicate the distance road humps cover on a road, or the distance to a road hump.

It’s especially important if you’re recently passed your test, as you won’t have direct experience of every different type of road layout.

Only pay for the cover you need until you’ve passed your test. Get learner driver insurance so you can practice outside of your lessons.

A black camera symbol appears on a white background on sections of road covered by speed cameras and average speed cameras.

A white circular sign with a single black diagonal stripe through it tells you that the national speed limit applies on the upcoming stretch of road. It supersedes any previous speed limit signs you may have had to adhere to, such as passing through temporary roadworks. But what are the national speed limits?

Drivers of larger vehicles should look out for signposted diversions once they see the triangular warning sign before they get confronted by the circular restriction sign.

There are two types of Give Way sign – either with distance in yards to the junction under the sign, or with the words written in the middle of the sign.

A T-junction is a place where a minor road joins a major one without crossing it, forming the shape of the letter T. The T-junction sign is often placed in busy areas to warn you to be careful as vehicles may be stopping to turn. It can be particularly useful if you’re driving on dark roads at night to let you know you’re approaching a busy junction.

The safer you are, the more you can potentially save on new driver insurance too, so it actually pays to know your road signs. Let’s start with the basics.

Trafficsign

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It will often appear with the word ‘ZONE’ written underneath with a local authority-selected image, to show you’re entering a local speed zone.

The queues ahead might be hidden, so make sure you’re aware of vehicles behind you that could be following too closely. If you brake sharply they could run into the back of you, so when you see the sign, start slowing down gradually and brake smoothly.

A red cross over a blue background indicates a clearway, which means you’re not allowed to stop – not even to set down or pick up passengers.

The sign is often accompanied by a plate reading “For X miles” to prepare you for the full length of a tricky road. Show caution, as traffic authorities are encouraged to use these signs sparingly so their message isn’t undermined.

This no motor vehicles sign showing a motorbike over a car is sometimes misunderstood to mean only cars and motorcycles are permitted. Nor does it mean motorcycle stunts aren’t allowed - you can be reasonably confident that they aren’t anyway!

You’ll also see the sign as you leave a local speed zone. Look out for the words ‘ZONE ENDS’ and a diagonal stripe through the speed limit zone you’re leaving.

It’s important to reduce your speed when driving over humps. Some motorists are tempted to speed up between them, but such erratic driving can lead to premature damage to brake pads and suspension.

Dead end or ‘no through road’ signs are easily recognised by their horizontal red stripe sat on top of a vertical white stripe. The t-shape appears on a blue background.

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This guide looks at all the ones that you will see in your theory test – but if you have any questions, then let us know in the comments below.