Information signs
Updated 5 December 2023
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
© Crown copyright 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/know-your-traffic-signs/information-signs
Information about the road ahead
Distance to the beginning of a dual carriageway road ahead.
A section of dual carriageway road begins directly ahead.
A short length of dual carriageway road begins directly ahead.
Motorway.
Primary route.
Non-primary route.
These signs indicate the loss of the right-hand lane on a dual carriageway road or one-way street. The signs may be reversed to indicate the loss of the left-hand lane. The number of ahead lanes is varied as appropriate. The signs are often used at the end of a climbing lane and may include a distance (as shown for the motorway sign).
No through road for vehicular traffic.
‘No through road’ sign incorporated in a street nameplate.
No through road for vehicular traffic in the direction indicated from junction ahead.
Route unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles.
Narrow road ahead with passing places at intervals.
Passing place on a narrow road.
Route unsuitable for type of vehicle indicated. In addition to the signs above, the legend may be varied to indicate other types of vehicles.
Signs for lay-bys and parking areas
Distance ahead to a parking place.
Location of parking place (may include an arrow to indicate the entrance to a parking area).
Distance ahead to a parking place with an emergency telephone.
Location of parking place with an emergency telephone (may include an arrow).
Distance ahead to a parking place for emergency use only.
Location of parking place for emergency use only (may include an arrow).
Boundary signs
Signs indicating county, town or village boundaries may include a crest or logo, a message of welcome, a phrase about a local geographical or historical feature, or the names of twin towns. They may be any shape or colour. The town and village signs may also include tourist attraction symbols and road safety messages. A speed limit sign may be placed in combination with a boundary sign at a village gateway. Some boundary signs may include a photographic image representing a feature of the area. Other signs may show the name of a river, inland waterway, bridge or tunnel.
Hospital signs
Hospitals with accident and emergency departments or urgent treatment centres are indicated by red signs. The words ‘not 24 hrs’ are omitted when facilities are available at all times.
Blue signs indicate hospitals without accident and emergency facilities.
The route to a hospital may be indicated on direction signs by the ‘H’ symbol on a red or blue patch, denoting whether accident and emergency facilities are available or not.
Signs for pedestrians
Stepped entrance to a subway.
Ramped entrance to a subway.
Ramped approach to a footbridge.
Stepped approach to a footbridge.
Direction and distance to an emergency exit from a road tunnel.
This sign advises pedestrians crossing the road that traffic is one-way in the direction shown information signs.
Signs for vehicle checks
Temporary signs are put out when vehicles are to be stopped for an excise licence check or vehicle inspection. These signs may apply to specific types of vehicle such as goods vehicles or buses, and they may indicate which lanes to use.
Examples of temporary signs for vehicle checks
Leave motorway at next exit.
The type of vehicle indicated may be varied to a bus, or lorry and bus together.
Police signs
These temporary signs are put out by the police to warn of potential danger or an accident ahead and the need to proceed with caution.
In an emergency, drivers maybe diverted onto the hard shoulder and told when to rejoin the main carriageway.
Parking area reserved for police vehicles (the sign might say ‘Police vehicles only’) or additionally, when varied to ‘Authorised vehicles only’, vehicles such as those of National Highways traffic officers.
Area where, from time to time, police carry out checks on the speed of vehicles.
Signs for traffic surveys
These temporary signs are used when traffic surveys are taking place. Vehicles may be directed to stop at the census point.
Other information signs
The depth of water at a ford may be shown in both metric and imperial units, or in imperial units only.
Signs used where there are separate entry and exit points to and from a car park, private access road or private property
Signs for drivers leaving the public road.
Signs for drivers joining the public road.
Where a road is physically closed part-way along its length to prevent its use by through traffic, this sign may be erected at the closure point. Vehicles should not be parked in a manner that would obstruct any gateway or opening that allows access for emergency vehicles.
A temporary sign may be provided for up to three months following a permanent change to the road layout ahead. The sign may be varied to indicate the nature of the change, such as a new roundabout, or that the operation of traffic signals has been changed.