Circles. Red border prohibits, solid blue instructs.
Meaning. The maximum speed is 30 mph.
What you must do. Do not exceed 30 mph, and drive more slowly where conditions require it.
Remember it
Red ring around a number: maximum. Blue circle: minimum.
On the road. Street lights usually mean 30 even with no repeater signs. Repeaters appear when the limit is something else.
Often confused with
Meaning. You must proceed straight ahead.
What you must do. Do not turn left or right at this point.
Remember it
Blue circle, straight arrow: no choice but forward.
On the road. Easy to confuse with the rectangular one-way sign at a glance. Shape first, then arrow.
Often confused with
Meaning. Give way to traffic on the major road.
What you must do. Slow down, look, and be prepared to stop. Do not make traffic on the major road slow or swerve.
Remember it
The only upside-down triangle in the system.
On the road. Emerging without stopping is fine only when you can genuinely see the road is clear — which is rarely as early as drivers assume.
Often confused with
Meaning. Vehicles over the height shown must not proceed.
What you must do. Check your vehicle height, including any roof load, before continuing.
Remember it
Metres and a decimal point: height. A T: tonnes.
On the road. Roof boxes and bikes change your height. Bridge strikes are almost always avoidable.
Often confused with
Meaning. You must pass to the left of the sign.
What you must do. Keep left of the island or obstruction.
Remember it
Blue circle: a positive instruction you must obey.
On the road. Often the first blue circle a learner meets, and a useful anchor for the whole mandatory series.
Often confused with
Meaning. A mini-roundabout is here; give way to traffic from the immediate right.
What you must do. Give way to the right and pass round the central marking. Do not make a U-turn.
Remember it
Blue circle means you are at it. Red triangle means it is coming.
On the road. Everything happens in a few metres, so signal early and look right before you arrive, not as you arrive.
Often confused with
Meaning. You must not drive slower than the speed shown, unless it is unsafe to comply.
What you must do. Maintain at least the speed shown while conditions allow.
Remember it
Blue circle: you must. So blue plus number means keep up.
On the road. Used where slow vehicles would create a hazard, such as in a long tunnel.
Often confused with
Meaning. The national speed limit applies from this point.
What you must do. Apply the national limit for your vehicle and road: for a car, 60 mph on a single carriageway and 70 mph on a dual carriageway or motorway.
Remember it
Black slash: the limit is national, and the number depends on the road.
On the road. A narrow lane with a national limit sign is legally 60 mph. It is almost never a safe 60 mph.
Often confused with
Meaning. Vehicles must not pass this sign.
What you must do. Do not enter. Find another route.
Remember it
Solid red disc with a white bar: the boldest sign on the road, for the worst mistake.
On the road. Passing one usually puts you head-on into a one-way street. Sat-nav errors are no defence.
Often confused with
Meaning. Motor vehicles are prohibited.
What you must do. Do not enter with a motor vehicle. Cycles and pedestrians are not affected.
Remember it
A car and a motorcycle crossed out: engines not welcome.
On the road. Common in town centres where cycling is still permitted. Read the plate for exemptions such as access or loading.
Often confused with
Meaning. Overtaking is prohibited from this point.
What you must do. Stay behind the vehicle in front until the restriction ends.
Remember it
Red car passing black car, inside a red ring: don't.
On the road. Used where the view, the width or the junctions ahead make an overtake dangerous even when it looks possible.
Often confused with
Meaning. Turning right is prohibited.
What you must do. Continue straight on or turn left where permitted.
Remember it
Right-angled arrow with a red diagonal through it.
On the road. Often placed where a right turn would cross a bus lane, a cycle lane or a tram route.
Often confused with
Meaning. You must not stop at all, even briefly, during the times shown.
What you must do. Keep moving. Do not stop to drop off, pick up, load or wait.
Remember it
A red cross means no exceptions.
On the road. Stopping on a clearway causes the congestion the restriction exists to prevent, and is enforced.
Often confused with
Meaning. U-turns are prohibited.
What you must do. Continue and find another way to turn round.
Remember it
U-shaped arrow crossed out.
On the road. Used where a U-turn would block a junction or cross fast-moving traffic.
Often confused with
Meaning. You must not wait or park here during the times shown.
What you must do. Do not park or wait. You may stop briefly to set down or pick up passengers.
Remember it
One line: don't wait. Two lines: don't even stop.
On the road. The single most confused pair of signs in the sign system. Count the diagonals.
Often confused with
Meaning. You must stop completely at the line, every time, then give way.
What you must do. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop at the solid white line, look properly, then emerge only when clear.
Remember it
The only eight-sided sign, so you can recognise it from any angle.
On the road. Used where a rolling look would not be enough. Stopping is the point — it buys you the time to look twice.
Often confused with