This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/know-your-traffic-signs/motorway-signs-signals-and-road-markings

Marker posts, located at the back of the hard shoulder at approximately 100-metre intervals, show the direction to the nearest emergency telephone (housed in an orange box). You can use the telephone to contact the control centre in case of an emergency or breakdown.

Motorway service area signs may display placeholders that contain the corporate identifier of a franchise operating on the site.

This sign, with the motorway number in brackets on a blue background, but without the motorway symbol, indicates the route to take from a junction ahead in order to reach the motorway. The motorway is not accessed directly from this junction.

Most motorway signs have a blue background with white lettering, numbers and borders, although tourist destination signs, as on other roads, have brown backgrounds.

6.2.1.1 Infectious substances are substances which are known or are reasonably expected to contain pathogens. Pathogens are defined as micro-organisms (including bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites, fungi) and other agents such as prions, which can cause disease in

These advise of abnormal traffic conditions ahead (e.g. lane closures or fog) and may indicate a speed limit or provide journey time information. Where variable speed limit signs are mounted over individual lanes or at the side of the motorway and the speed limit is shown in a red circle, the limit is mandatory. Speed limits that are not shown in a red circle are the maximum speeds advised for the prevailing conditions.

Special traffic regulations govern the use of motorways. These include no stopping (except, in an emergency, on the hard shoulder or verge), no U-turns and no reversing. Goods vehicles and buses (where a bus is a vehicle constructed to carry more than 8 seated passengers) with a maximum laden weight of more than 7.5 tonnes, vehicles drawing trailers, and vehicles required to be fitted with a speed limiter, must not use the right-hand lane of a motorway that has 3 or more lanes. Motorways must not be used by certain classes of traffic: invalid carriages of less than 254 kg unladen weight, pedal cycles, motorcycles under 50 cc capacity, agricultural vehicles and vehicles incapable of attaining a speed of 25 mph on the level when unladen and not drawing a trailer. Pedestrians and animals are also prohibited.

Where a motorway has been widened but the original bridges retained, there may be no hard shoulder under or over the bridge. Where this occurs, signs will indicate the distance over which this applies. There will be hatched markings on the hard shoulder at the point where it comes to an end.

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Tourist destinations are shown on signs with brown backgrounds. On the main carriageway of a motorway, these are separate from the main direction signs and are usually sited ¾ mile and ¼ mile from the junction (although they do not show the distance to the junction). On exit slip roads and where the motorway ends at a roundabout, the main direction signs may show tourist destinations on a brown panel, in the same way that they show other destinations on green and white panels. However, separate brown signs are likely to be used at these locations to avoid putting too much information on a single sign.

Class 6poison examples

Red flashing light signals and a red ‘X’ on a sign identify a closed lane. You must follow the instructions on signs in advance of a closed lane to move safely to an open lane. You must not drive in a closed lane. A sign will inform you when the lane is no longer closed by displaying a speed limit or the word ‘END’.

3. An outer packaging of adequate strength for its capacity, mass and intended use, and with at least one surface having minimum dimensions of 100 mm × 100 mm;

An infectious substance which does not meet the criteria for inclusion in Category A. Infectious substances in Category B must be assigned to UN 3373.

Observation platforms are sometimes provided at the back of the hard shoulder. These are reserved for authorised vehicles, such as National Highways traffic officers, maintenance vehicles or the police.

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Where a motorway service area is situated on an all-purpose road, the sign off the motorway indicating the services should have a blue background. The geographical name of the services may be shown on this sign. The word ‘Services’ may be incorporated into other direction signs, including the sign on the exit slip road from the motorway.

To ensure that direction signs are absolutely clear to drivers travelling at motorway speeds, it is necessary to limit the number of destinations shown. Your destination might not appear on the motorway signs: when planning a journey, it is advisable before setting off to check the junction number of the exit you require. Junctions can be identified by the number shown on a black background in the bottom left-hand or top left-hand corner of motorway signs (or, in the case of overhead signs, in a separate panel also indicating the distance to the junction). Junction numbers are usually shown on road maps, so it is easy to check these before starting your journey. On the motorway, these numbers can be used as a guide to your location. However, not all junctions have an exit in both directions, so numbers may not be consecutive. Where new junctions have been constructed, the number may be followed by a letter (e.g. junction 23A).

6.2.6.1 A live animal that has been intentionally infected and is known or suspected to contain an infectious substance must not be transported by air unless the infectious substance contained cannot be consigned by any other means. Infected animals may only be transported under terms and conditions approved by the appropriate national authority.

1. The proper shipping name for UN 2814 is Infectious substance, affecting humans. The proper shipping name for UN 2900 is Infectious substance, affecting animals only.

This sign is used on the approach to the junction (usually 1 mile and ½ mile in advance) and at the start of the deceleration lane. Destinations and route numbers are shown for both the exit and the motorway ahead. Countdown markers are normally provided for the deceleration lane.

The right-hand lane of the slip road joins the main carriageway as a merge with an acceleration lane. This is followed by the left-hand lane which joins the main carriageway as a lane gain. Chevron road markings normally separate the 2 lanes on the slip road. The distance may be omitted.

Examples of specimens which may be transported under this paragraph include the blood or urine tests to monitor cholesterol levels, blood glucose levels, hormone levels, or prostate specific antigens (PSA); those required to monitor organ function such as heart, liver or kidney function for humans or animals with non-infectious diseases, or therapeutic drug monitoring; those conducted for insurance or employment purposes and are intended to determine the presence of drugs or alcohol; pregnancy test; biopsies to detect cancer; and antibody detection in humans or animals.

These apply to the carriageway as a whole and are either located on the central reservation or mounted above the hard shoulder in combination with variable signs that display information about road works, congestion and diversions ahead. The amber lights flash in pairs from top to bottom.

Class 6 toxiclabel

Note: Toxins from plant, animal or bacterial sources which do not contain any infectious substances or toxins that are not contained in substances which are infectious substances should be considered for classification in Division 6.1 and assigned to UN3172.

6.2.2.1 Infectious substances must be classified in Division 6.2 and assigned to UN2814, UN2900, UN 3291 or UN3373, as appropriate.

6.2.2.3.2 Substances containing microorganisms which are non-pathogenic to humans or animals are not subject to these Regulations unless they meet the criteria for inclusion in another class.

Where it is not practicable to provide tourist destination signs within 1 mile of a junction or there are more destinations than can be accommodated on the signs, this sign may be used in advance of the main 1 mile direction sign for the junction. It may also be used when the junction layout is complex; ‘leave at Junction 24’ is then varied to ‘follow’ plus a destination.

6.2.2.3.3 Substances in a form that any present pathogens have been neutralized or inactivated such that they no longer pose a health risk are not subject to these Regulations unless they meet the criteria for inclusion in another class.

A road other than a motorway is called an ‘all-purpose road’. At the point where you join a motorway, a special symbol is used to indicate the start of motorway regulations. A direction sign on an all-purpose road will normally use this symbol to indicate a motorway slip road or the beginning of a motorway. Where a sign shows a motorway route number on a blue background without the symbol, the route indicated will normally be an all-purpose road that you should follow to reach the motorway.

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All lanes closed (signs for carriageways with 4, 3 or 2 lanes). Do not enter the motorway when the red lights are flashing in pairs from side to side.

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This overhead sign indicates a junction that has 2 exits. The first exit has a deceleration lane and is indicated by the upper part of the sign. The second exit is a lane drop. Traffic continuing along the motorway should use the centre and right-hand lanes.

Some motorways may have special chevron markings in the centre of the traffic lanes. These are spaced 40 metres apart, and keeping 2 marks between your vehicle and the one in front will provide a safe driving distance at 70 mph. There will be signs advising you to check your distance, keep 2 chevrons apart and keep your distance.

6.2.5.2 Medical or clinical wastes which are reasonably believed to have a low probability of containing infectious substances must be assigned to UN3291. Note: The proper shipping name for UN3291 is Clinical waste, unspecified, n.o.s. or (Bio) Medical waste, n.o.s. or Regulated medical waste, n.o.s..

Note: Some licensed biological products may present a biohazard only in certain parts of the world. In that case, competent authorities may require these biological products to be in compliance with local requirements for infectious substances or may impose other restrictions.

2. The following table is not exhaustive. Infectious substances, including new or emerging pathogens, which do not appear in the table, but which meet the same criteria must be assigned to Category A. In addition, if there is doubt as to whether or not a substance meets the criteria it must be included in Category A.

Where 2 junctions are very close, they may both be shown on the same sign, together with the distances and junction numbers. The sign that is located where the deceleration lane starts for the first exit will normally show the second exit place names and route number with the ahead destinations.

This sign is normally located 1 mile and ½ mile before the junction and shows the appropriate lanes to use for various destinations. In this example, the left-hand lane leads directly to the exit slip road; the centre and right-hand lanes continue through the junction.

6.2.5.3 6.2.6 Infected Animals 6.2.6.1 A live animal that has been intentionally infected and is known or suspected to contain an infectious substance must not be transported by air unless the infectious substance contained cannot be consigned by any other means. Infected animals may only be transported under terms and conditions approved by the appropriate national authority. 6.2.6.2 Unless an infectious substance cannot be consigned by any other means, live animals must not be used to consign such a substance. 6.2.6.3 Animal carcasses affected by pathogens of category A or which would be assigned to category A in cultures only, must be assigned to UN 2814 or UN 2900 as appropriate. Other animal carcasses affected by pathogens included in Category B must be transported in accordance with provisions determined by the competent authority. 6.2.7 Patient Specimens Patient specimens must be assigned to UN 2814, UN 2900 or UN 3373 as appropriate except if they comply with 6.2.2.3

Each lane has its own signal; each signal has 2 pairs of amber lights that flash from top to bottom. You should obey the signal for your lane.

6.2.1.2 Biological products are those products derived from living organisms which are manufactured and distributed in accordance with the requirements of appropriate national authorities, which may have special licensing requirements, and are used either for prevention, treatment, or diagnosis of disease in humans or animals, or for development, experimental or investigational purposes related thereto. They include, but are not limited to, finished or unfinished products such as vaccines.

6.2.2.3.5 Dried blood spots, collected by applying a drop of blood onto absorbent material, or faecal occult blood screening tests and blood or blood components which have been collected for the purposes of transfusion or for the preparation of blood products to be used for transfusion or transplantation and any tissues or organs intended for use in transplantation are not subject to these Regulations.

Note: The proper shipping name of UN 3373 is Diagnostic specimens or Clinical specimens or Biological substance, category B. On 1 January 2007, it is anticipated that the use of the shipping names Diagnostic specimens and Clinical specimens will no longer be permitted.

Blue direction signs, with the motorway symbol and large route numbers, indicate that a motorway or motorway slip road leads directly from a junction with an all-purpose road. The motorway junction number, shown on the black background, may not always be included.

HazardClass6.1 label

placed between the primary receptacle(s) and the secondary packaging so that, during transport, any release or leak of a liquid substance will not reach the outer packaging and will not compromise the integrity of the cushioning material;

A confirmatory sign may be provided just after the point where the slip road has separated from the main carriageway. It is used where signs on the approach to the junction are either overhead or located at the side of the motorway.

6.2.6.2 Unless an infectious substance cannot be consigned by any other means, live animals must not be used to consign such a substance.

Signals and variable message signs may apply to individual lanes when mounted overhead or, when located on the central reservation or at the side of the motorway, to the whole carriageway. They are normally blank but, when they indicate a restriction, the reason may not always be obvious. There may have been an accident ahead, so take no chances and obey the signals. When red lights are flashing above your lane, you must stop unless you can move safely to a lane where red signals are not showing.

Bacillus anthracis (cultures only) Infectious substance Brucella abortus (cultures only) Brucella melitensis (cultures only) Brucella suis (cultures only) Burkholderia mallei – Pseudomonas mallei – Glanders (cultures only) Burkholderia pseudomallei – Pseudomonas pseudomallei (cultures only) Chlamydia psittaci – avian strains (cultures only) Clostridium botulinum (cultures only) Coccidioides immitis (cultures only) Coxiella burnetii (cultures only) Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus Dengue virus (cultures only) Eastern equine encephalitis virus (cultures only) Escherichia coli, verotoxigenic (cultures only) Ebola virus Flexal virus Francisella tularensis (cultures only) Guanarito virus Hantaan virus Hantavirus causing hemorragic fever with renal syndrome Hendra virus Hepatitis B virus (cultures only) Herpes B virus (cultures only) Human immunodeficiency virus (cultures only) Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (cultures only) Japanese Encephalitis virus (cultures only) Junin virus Kyasanur Forest disease virus Lassa virus Machupo virus Marburg virus Monkeypox virus Mycobacterium tuberculosis (cultures only) Nipah virus Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus Poliovirus (cultures only) Rabies virus Rickettsia prowazekii (cultures only) Rickettsia rickettsii (cultures only) Rift Valley fever virus Russian spring-summer encephalitis virus (cultures only) Sabia virus Shigella dysenteriae type 1 (cultures only) Tick-borne encephalitis virus (cultures only) Variola virus Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus West Nile virus (cultures only) Yellow fever virus (cultures only) Yersinia pestis (cultures only) African swine fever virus (cultures only) Avian paramyxovirus Type 1 – Velogenic Newcastle disease virus (cultures only) Classical swine fever virus (cultures only) Foot and mouth disease virus (cultures only) Goatpox virus (cultures only) Lumpy skin disease virus (cultures only) Mycoplasma mycoides – Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia(cultures only) Peste des petits ruminants virus (cultures only) Rinderpest virus (cultures only) Sheep-pox virus (cultures only) Swine vesicular disease virus (cultures only) Vesicular stomatitis virus (cultures only)

NOTE: In determining whether a patient specimen has a minimum likelihood that pathogens are present, an element of professional judgment is required to determine if a substance is exempt under this paragraph. That judgment should be based on the known medical history, symptoms and individual circumstances of the source, human or animal, and endemic local conditions.

The first 2 signs on the approach to a junction show the destination and the route number for the exit only. The distance shown (usually 1 mile or ½ mile) is the distance to the exit (start of the deceleration lane). The junction number is shown on the black background.

If you need to stop in an emergency on a motorway with no hard shoulder, you should use the emergency area whenever possible. These are spaced regularly and are painted orange. Blue signs featuring an SOS telephone symbol indicate the distance to the next emergency area.

6.2.1.5 Medical or clinical wastes are wastes derived from the medical treatment of animals or humans or from bio-research.

The slip road joins the main carriageway as a lane gain to increase the number of lanes from 2 to 3. A distance panel may be added.

Where red flashing light signals and closure of all lanes are shown on a sign, the road is closed. You must not go beyond the sign in any lane or use the hard shoulder to avoid the road closure unless directed to do so by a police or traffic officer.

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6.2.1.4 Patient specimens are those collected directly from humans or animals, including, but not limited to, excreta, secreta, blood and its components, tissue and tissue fluid swabs, and body parts being transported for purposes such as research, diagnosis, investigational activities, disease treatment and prevention.

Sign indicating a motorway truckstop where parking, refreshments, toilets and fuel are available 24 hours a day throughout the year.

If you need to stop in an emergency on a motorway with a hard shoulder, pull into an emergency area or move left onto a hard shoulder and try to stop near an emergency telephone.

A route confirmatory sign is provided after most junctions. This shows the motorway number and the distances to the main destinations ahead.

Known to be toxic to humans so as to afford a hazard to health during transportation or is presumed to be toxic to humans because it falls within a toxic category when tested on laboratory animals.

Red flashing light signals and a red ‘X’ on a sign identify a closed lane. You must not drive in a closed lane. You must not exceed 40 mph in advance of the incident.

This sign is located before the 1 mile advance sign for a junction ahead. It is used where it is not practicable to sign a goods vehicle route at the junction itself.

Lane-drop junctions do not use the countdown markers, as there is no deceleration lane for drivers to move into. A special road marking is used at lane drops between the main carriageway and the lane that leads to the exit slip road. This marking usually commences at the ½ mile advance sign.

On some motorways, particularly in Scotland, you may encounter this type of signal mounted at the side of the carriageway. Flashing amber lights indicate that there is a hazard ahead. You should not exceed a speed of 30 mph until you have passed this hazard motorway signs, signals and road markings.

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Note: An exposure occurs when an infectious substance is released outside of the protective packaging, resulting in physical contact with humans or animals.

6.2.2.3.6 Patient specimens for which there is minimal likelihood that pathogens are present are not subject to these Regulations if the specimen is packed in a packaging which will prevent any leakage and which is marked with the words "Exempt human specimen" or "Exempt animal specimen", as appropriate. The packaging must meet the following conditions:

(b) Assignment to UN 2814 or UN 2900 must be based on the known medical history and symptoms of the source human or animal, endemic local conditions, or professional judgement concerning individual circumstances of the source human oranimal.

Sign indicating a place with several tourist attractions. It is located at the side of the main carriageway on the approach to a junction.

6.2.2.3.1 Substances which do not contain infectious substances or substances which are unlikely to cause disease in humans or animals are not subject to these Regulations unless they meet the criteria for inclusion in another class.

Sign on all-purpose road indicating that no services are available on motorway ahead. The motorway number may include a compass point (e.g. ‘M 41(N)’) if services are available in one direction but not the other.

About ½ mile before the service the junction direction area (further if the services are at a junction), a sign informs drivers of the facilities available, and may include both the name of the operator and the geographical name. The price of fuel, if shown, is usually for a litre of unleaded petrol, indicated by the green pump symbol. The ‘vehicle and plug’ symbol means that facilities for recharging electric vehicles are available; the ‘i’ symbol refers to an information point; the bed symbol indicates overnight accommodation.

6.2.6.3 Animal carcasses affected by pathogens of category A or which would be assigned to category A in cultures only, must be assigned to UN 2814 or UN 2900 as appropriate. Other animal carcasses affected by pathogens included in Category B must be transported in accordance with provisions determined by the competent authority.

6.2.4.1 Genetically modified micro-organisms not meeting the definition of an infectious substance must be classified according to Subsection 3.9.

Rest areas are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, provide free parking (up to 2 hours) and toilets, and are accessible to disabled people. Other facilities, including fuel, refreshments, telephones, motels and tourist information, may also be provided but are not mandatory.

(b) those which do not fall under paragraph (a) and are known or reasonably believed to contain infectious substances and which meet the criteria for inclusion in Category A or Category B. Substances in this group must be assigned to UN2814, UN2900 or UN3373, as appropriate.

(a) Infectious substances meeting these criteria which cause disease in humans or both in humans and animals must be assigned to UN 2814. Infectious substances which cause disease only in animals must be assigned to UN 2900.

Class 6dangerous goods examples

Class 6 toxicand infectious substances examples

Red lights flashing from side to side in pairs, together with a red cross displayed on a sign at the side of the motorway, mean ‘do not proceed in the lane to which the sign relates’. A previous signal may direct you into an adjacent lane (see below). More than one lane may be closed to traffic.

An infectious substance which is transported in a form that, when exposure to it occurs, is capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals. Indicative examples of substances that meet these criteria are given in Table 3.6.D.

6.2.2.3.4 Environmental samples (including food and water samples) which are not considered to pose a significant risk of infection are not subject to these Regulations unless they meet the criteria for inclusion in another class.

(a) those which are manufactured and packaged in accordance with the requirements of appropriate national authorities and transported for the purposes of final packaging or distribution, and use for personal health care by medical professionals or individuals. Substances in this group are not subject to these Regulations

Where there are more destinations than can be accommodated on the direction signs at a junction, a sign such as this may be used in advance of the 1 mile direction sign. It advises drivers of the route to be followed (or junction to leave at) for destinations that cannot be accommodated on the main junction sign.

6.2.1.3 Cultures are the result of a process by which pathogens are intentionally. This definition does not include patient specimens as defined in 6.2.1.4.

6.2.5.1 Medical or clinical wastes containing Category A infectious substances must be assigned to UN2814 or UN2900, as appropriate. Medical or clinical wastes containing infectious substances in Category B, must be assigned to UN3291.

This sign is located at the start of the deceleration lane and includes destinations reached by staying on the motorway.

On the approach to a junction, direction signs are usually located 1 mile and ½ mile in advance, and at the exit point. Where junctions are close together, these distances may be reduced, normally to ⅔ mile and ⅓ mile respectively. The signs may be mounted at the side of the road or overhead.

(c) When multiple fragile primary receptacles are placed in a single secondary packaging, they must be either individually wrapped or separated to prevent contact between them..

On the approach to a junction with a motorway, a direction sign on an all-purpose road has blue panels that include the motorway symbol. The panels may include the junction number on a black background. The name in capital letters is a regional destination.

Alternative signs indicating the entrance to a service area accessed directly from a motorway. May be used to indicate the direction to a motorway service area located on an all-purpose road.

class6.1:toxicsubstances examples

Sign on motorway indicating that no services are available ahead. Drivers should leave the motorway if service facilities are required.

On most motorways, service areas are provided at intervals of not more than 30 miles, half an hour at normal motorway driving speeds. These service areas are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and provide fuel, free parking (up to 2 hours), refreshments, toilets and disabled access. Other facilities, including telephones, motels and tourist information, may also be provided. Some motorway service areas are accessed directly from the main carriageway, others via junctions with other roads, where they will also be available to non-motorway traffic.

Some junction layouts may be more complex and designed to allow a heavier flow of traffic to leave the motorway. A traffic lane may be shared by traffic both continuing ahead and leaving the motorway. This shared lane has a deceleration lane separated from a lane drop by chevron road markings. In the example, the left-hand lane is used for the exit slip road only, the centre lane is the shared lane, and the right-hand lane is for ahead traffic only. A sign mounted at the side of the motorway shows the road layout. An overhead sign shows the appropriate lanes to use for each destination.

6.2.7 Patient Specimens Patient specimens must be assigned to UN 2814, UN 2900 or UN 3373 as appropriate except if they comply with 6.2.2.3

Red lights flashing from side to side in pairs, together with a red cross, mean ‘do not proceed in the traffic lane directly below’. These signals are mounted above the carriageway: there is a signal for each traffic lane. A previous signal may direct you into an adjacent lane. More than one lane may be closed to traffic.

About 1 mile in advance of a service area, a sign may inform drivers of the availability of services ahead, including the names of the operators. It will normally show the next 2 services, and include services on other motorways if the junctions with those motorways are reached before the second service area. Where the first services are located at a junction, this sign is likely to be used about 2 miles in advance; the word ‘Services’ may be added to the junction direction.