Traffic Signs, Signals and Road Markings
Domain overview
The traffic signs, signals and road markings section checks whether you can read the road quickly: recognising a sign by shape and colour before you can read its text, obeying light and police signals in the correct order, and understanding lane markings. Questions often pair a sign with a driving situation rather than asking for a definition.
Sign families
- Mandatory signs: red circle, usually on a white background - commands or prohibitions such as stop (octagonal), give way (inverted triangle), no entry (red circle with white bar), speed limit, no overtaking, compulsory turn.
- Cautionary signs: red triangle with white background - warnings such as school ahead, hump, narrow bridge, slippery road, steep ascent, pedestrian crossing, railway crossing.
- Informatory signs: blue or green rectangles - guidance such as parking, hospital, petrol pump, one-way and bus stop.
Signals
Steady red means stop before the stop line. Amber means stop, unless you are so close that stopping sharply would be unsafe. Green means proceed only if the junction is clear. Flashing signals and police hand signals override the light; a police officer's raised arm means stop.
Markings
A solid white centre line must not be crossed; a broken white line may be crossed to change lanes when safe; double solid yellow means no crossing. A zebra crossing belongs to pedestrians, a stop line marks where to halt, and a yellow box junction must be kept clear.
Worked example
A red circle containing “50” is a mandatory maximum speed of 50 km/h, not a recommendation. A red triangle showing children is a cautionary “school ahead” sign: slow down and prepare to stop. Reading the shape first prevents confusing the two.
Traps
Amber is not a signal to accelerate. “Give way” (inverted triangle) is not “stop” (octagon). Broken and solid lines have opposite meanings. Markings and signals are easily missed if you only memorise sign pictures.