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Road and Traffic Signs: all 42 questions and answers

Question 1

What shape is a 'give way' sign?

  1. Circular
  2. Triangular pointing upward
  3. Triangular pointing downward (inverted triangle)
  4. Rectangular

A 'give way' sign is an inverted triangle (pointing downward). This unique shape makes it recognisable even if it is covered in snow or dirt.

Question 2

What does a circular sign with a red border and no other marking indicate?

  1. Give way to oncoming traffic
  2. Speed limit ahead
  3. No vehicles
  4. Road closed

A white circular sign with a red border and no other markings means no vehicles are allowed. It prohibits both motor vehicles and bicycles from entering.

Question 3

What does a triangular road sign indicate?

  1. An order
  2. A warning
  3. Information
  4. A direction

Triangular signs are warning signs. They alert you to hazards ahead such as bends, junctions, or road narrows. They are usually bordered in red.

Question 4

What does a circular sign with a blue background generally indicate?

  1. A warning
  2. A prohibition
  3. A positive instruction (mandatory)
  4. Tourist information

Circular signs with a blue background give positive (mandatory) instructions, such as 'turn left' or 'minimum speed'. They tell you what you MUST do.

Question 5

What does a 'STOP' sign look like?

  1. Circular with a red border
  2. Octagonal with a red background and white text
  3. Triangular with a red border
  4. Rectangular with a red background

A STOP sign is a unique octagonal (8-sided) shape with a red background and white text. You MUST stop at the solid white line and wait until it is safe to proceed.

Question 6

You see a sign showing a red circle with a '30' inside. What does this mean?

  1. Minimum speed is 30 mph
  2. Maximum speed is 30 mph
  3. Recommended speed is 30 mph
  4. Average speed check of 30 mph

A red circle with a number inside indicates the maximum speed limit. You must not exceed 30 mph in this area.

Question 7

What do brown road signs indicate?

  1. Motorway information
  2. Primary route directions
  3. Tourist attractions or places of interest
  4. Warning of hazards ahead

Brown signs are used to direct drivers to tourist attractions and places of interest. They often include a symbol representing the attraction.

Question 8

What does a sign with a white 'H' on a blue background indicate?

  1. A hotel
  2. A hospital
  3. A helicopter landing pad
  4. A hostel

A blue sign with a white 'H' indicates a hospital ahead. This is an informational sign to help you find the hospital.

Question 9

What do green road signs on a primary route indicate?

  1. Tourist attractions
  2. Primary route directions
  3. Minor road directions
  4. Motorway directions

Green signs are used on primary routes (A-roads) to give directions. Motorway signs are blue, and tourist signs are brown.

Question 10

You see a sign showing two red arrows pointing towards each other. What does this mean?

  1. Two-way traffic crosses a one-way road
  2. Two-way traffic ahead
  3. Road narrows on both sides
  4. Dual carriageway ends

Two red arrows pointing towards each other on a warning sign indicate that the road narrows on both sides. Be prepared for the road to become narrower.

Question 11

What does a blue circular sign with a white number '30' mean?

  1. Maximum speed limit of 30 mph
  2. Minimum speed limit of 30 mph
  3. Advisory speed limit of 30 mph
  4. You are 30 miles from the motorway

A blue circular sign with a white number is a minimum speed limit sign. You must not drive slower than 30 mph unless road conditions make it unsafe to maintain that speed.

Question 12

You see a rectangular blue sign with white lettering on the motorway. What does it show?

  1. The distance to the next service area
  2. A tourist attraction
  3. Motorway information and directions
  4. The county boundary

Blue rectangular signs on motorways provide information and directions. They show destinations, junction numbers, route confirmations, and other motorway-specific information.

Question 13

What does this sign mean?

  1. River bank ahead
  2. Ford - water crossing the road
  3. Flood barrier ahead
  4. Car wash facility

The word 'Ford' warns that a stream or shallow water crosses the road ahead. Drive through slowly and test your brakes afterwards.

Question 14

What does this warning sign mean?

  1. Falling rocks or debris ahead
  2. Uneven road surface
  3. Quarry entrance
  4. Landslide - road closed

This triangular sign warns of falling or fallen rocks, often seen on roads passing cliffs or steep hillsides.

Question 15

What does this sign mean?

  1. Humpback bridge
  2. Bridge under repair
  3. Weak bridge with a weight limit
  4. Toll bridge ahead

This sign shows a maximum gross weight limit imposed because the bridge ahead is weak. Vehicles over the limit must not cross.

Question 16

What does this sign mean?

  1. Minimum width of road
  2. Distance to next junction
  3. No vehicles over the height shown
  4. No vehicles over the width shown

A red circle with a width figure and arrows prohibits vehicles wider than the dimension shown, often before narrow bridges or archways.

Question 17

What does this sign mean?

  1. No through road for vehicles
  2. One-way street
  3. Road closed for roadworks
  4. Level crossing ahead

The blue square with a red bar across a white 'T' shape indicates a dead end - there is no through route for vehicular traffic.

Question 18

What does this warning sign mean?

  1. Ferry terminal ahead
  2. Riverside walk
  3. Opening or swing bridge ahead
  4. Dock area - drive carefully

This sign warns of an opening or swing bridge ahead, which may be raised or swung open to let boats pass. Be prepared to stop.

Question 19

What does this sign mean?

  1. Slippery road
  2. Loose chippings on the road
  3. Falling rocks
  4. Mud on road

This sign warns of loose chippings, often after resurfacing. Slow down and keep your distance to avoid damage from flying stones.

Question 20

What does this warning sign mean?

  1. Military zone - no entry
  2. Airport parking ahead
  3. Gliding site only
  4. Low-flying aircraft or sudden aircraft noise

This triangular sign warns of low-flying aircraft or sudden aircraft noise, usually near airfields. Don't be startled by the noise.

Question 21

What does this sign mean?

  1. Soft verges - don't drive on the edge of the road
  2. Grass cutting in progress
  3. No stopping on the verge
  4. Cattle grid ahead

This sign warns that the verges alongside the road are soft. Driving or parking on them could cause your vehicle to sink or lose control.

Question 22

What does this warning sign mean?

  1. Humpback bridge
  2. Hidden dip in the road ahead
  3. Uneven road surface
  4. Steep hill downwards

A hidden dip can conceal oncoming or slow vehicles. Don't overtake when approaching one, as the road ahead may not be clear.

Question 23

What does this sign mean?

  1. Slow-moving vehicles ahead
  2. Bus queue ahead
  3. Parking area ahead
  4. Traffic queues likely ahead

This sign warns that traffic queues are likely on the road ahead. Be prepared to slow down and stop.

Question 24

What does this sign mean on a narrow single-track road?

  1. Parking bay
  2. Bus stop
  3. Passing place - use it to let oncoming traffic pass
  4. Emergency phone point

On single-track roads, passing places allow vehicles to pass each other. Pull into one, or stop opposite one, to let oncoming vehicles through.

Question 25

What does this sign mean?

  1. No vehicles carrying explosives
  2. Goods vehicles only
  3. No goods vehicles over the weight shown
  4. Loading restricted to goods vehicles

This red-bordered circle prohibits goods vehicles exceeding the maximum gross weight shown on the lorry symbol.

Question 26

What type of crossing does this sign refer to?

  1. Zebra crossing
  2. Pegasus crossing
  3. Pelican crossing
  4. Toucan crossing - pedestrians and cyclists cross together

A toucan crossing is a signal-controlled crossing shared by pedestrians and cyclists. Cyclists are allowed to ride across ('two can' cross).

Question 27

What does this sign mean?

  1. School crossing patrol ahead
  2. Pedestrian zone
  3. Playground ahead
  4. Elderly people crossing

This sign warns of a school crossing patrol ahead. Be prepared to stop when the patrol officer signals with their 'stop' sign.

Question 28

Which shape of sign is used for the 'stop' sign, and why?

  1. Triangle - to match other junction signs
  2. Circle - because it gives an order
  3. Octagon - so it can be recognised even if obscured by snow
  4. Rectangle - for maximum visibility

The stop sign is the only octagonal road sign, so its unique shape can be recognised from the back or when partly covered, for example by snow.

Question 29

Generally, what do triangular road signs do?

  1. Give warnings
  2. Give orders
  3. Give directions
  4. Show tourist information

By convention, triangular signs warn of hazards ahead, circular signs give orders, and rectangular signs give information or directions.

Question 30

What is the difference between circular signs with red borders and those with blue backgrounds?

  1. Red-bordered signs are warnings; blue signs are for motorways
  2. Red-bordered signs tell you what you must not do; blue circles give positive instructions
  3. Red-bordered signs apply to cars only; blue signs to all vehicles
  4. There is no difference - both are advisory

Circular signs give orders. Those with red borders are mostly prohibitive (what you must not do), while blue circles give mandatory positive instructions, such as 'turn left ahead'.

Question 31

What does a single broken white line with long markings and short gaps along the centre of the road mean?

  1. Lane closed ahead
  2. You may cross it at any time
  3. Hazard warning line - a hazard is ahead
  4. Edge of the carriageway

When the centre line's white markings become longer with shorter gaps, it is a hazard warning line. Don't cross it unless you can see the road is clear well ahead.

Question 32

You see double white lines along the centre of the road, and the line nearest you is solid. What does this mean?

  1. You may overtake if the road is clear
  2. You must not cross or straddle the line except in limited circumstances
  3. Parking is not allowed on either side
  4. The road is one-way

Where the line nearest you is solid, you must not cross or straddle it except when it is safe and necessary, such as to pass a stationary vehicle or overtake a cyclist, horse or roadworks vehicle travelling at 10 mph or less, or to enter premises or a side road.

Question 33

What do yellow criss-cross lines painted on a junction (a box junction) mean?

  1. No parking at any time
  2. Give way to traffic from the right
  3. Buses and taxis only
  4. Do not enter the box unless your exit road is clear

You must not enter a box junction until your exit road or lane is clear. You may wait in the box only when turning right and prevented from doing so by oncoming traffic.

Question 34

What do double yellow lines painted along the edge of the road mean?

  1. No waiting at any time
  2. No waiting during working hours only
  3. No overtaking
  4. Loading bay for goods vehicles

Double yellow lines mean no waiting at any time, unless signs indicate seasonal restrictions. A single yellow line means restrictions apply during times shown on nearby plates.

Question 35

At traffic lights, what does the amber light shown on its own mean?

  1. Speed up to clear the junction
  2. Stop, unless you have already crossed the stop line or stopping might cause a collision
  3. Give way to pedestrians
  4. Lights are out of order - proceed with caution

Amber means stop at the stop line. You may only continue if you have already crossed it or are so close that pulling up might cause a collision.

Question 36

What does a red and amber traffic light showing together mean?

  1. Go if the way is clear
  2. Lights about to turn red - clear the junction
  3. Stop and wait - do not pass until green shows
  4. Proceed with caution

Red and amber together mean stop. They indicate the lights are about to change to green, but you must not pass or start until green shows.

Question 37

What do flashing red lights at a level crossing mean?

  1. Cross quickly before the barrier lowers
  2. Slow down and look both ways
  3. Trains are delayed - proceed
  4. You must stop and wait

Flashing red lights at a level crossing mean you must stop. Wait until the lights stop flashing before crossing, even if the barriers rise, as another train may be coming.

Question 38

On the approach to some junctions, you may see countdown markers with diagonal bars. What do they indicate?

  1. The distance to the next exit or concealed level crossing
  2. The number of lanes ahead
  3. The speed limit reducing in stages
  4. Distance markers for emergency phones

Countdown markers show the distance remaining to a motorway or primary route exit, or to a concealed level crossing. Each bar represents roughly 100 yards.

Question 39

A police officer is directing traffic and gives an arm signal facing you with their hand held up, palm towards you. What must you do?

  1. Slow down and proceed
  2. Turn left immediately
  3. Stop
  4. Flash your headlights to acknowledge

When a police officer or other authorised person faces you with a raised palm, you must stop and wait until signalled to proceed. Their signals override traffic lights.

Question 40

What colour are the direction signs on non-primary local routes?

  1. Blue with white text
  2. White with black borders and text
  3. Green with yellow route numbers
  4. Brown with white text

Local, non-primary route direction signs are white with black borders. Motorway signs are blue, primary routes are green, and tourist signs are brown.

Question 41

Which statement about reflective road studs on a motorway is correct?

  1. Amber studs mark the left edge of the road
  2. Green studs mark the centre of the road
  3. Red studs mark the left edge of the carriageway
  4. White studs mark lay-by entrances

Reflective studs help at night: red studs mark the left edge of the carriageway, amber studs the right edge (by the central reservation), white studs the lane lines, and green studs mark lay-bys and slip roads.

Question 42

You see 'SLOW' painted in large white letters on the road surface. What is this?

  1. A marking warning of a hazard ahead where you should reduce speed
  2. A mandatory 20 mph limit
  3. An indication of a speed camera
  4. A marking used only outside schools

'SLOW' road markings warn of a hazard ahead, such as a bend or junction, where you should reduce speed. They reinforce warning signs but do not set a specific limit.

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