Traffic rules and road signs
Traffic rules and road signs form the legal base of Category B driving in Norway. The exam checks whether you can read sign shape and colour quickly, apply road markings, and choose the correct action rather than merely recognise a symbol.
Sign families and markings
- Warning signs are red-bordered triangles; they tell you to adjust speed and look for a specific hazard.
- Prohibition and restriction signs are red circles; mandatory signs are blue circles; information signs are blue or green rectangles.
- A yellow diamond marks a priority road; a red octagon means stop, and an inverted triangle means yield.
- Road markings reinforce signs: continuous lines restrict crossing, broken lines allow it when safe, and pedestrian crossings give pedestrians priority once they are on or entering.
Speed and positioning
Unless signed otherwise, the general limit is 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside. Motorway signs may raise this to 90, 100 or 110 km/h. Keep right, use lanes correctly, and signal before changing position. Overtaking must be completed safely and is forbidden where signs or lines prohibit it.
Worked example
You approach an intersection on a priority road marked by a yellow diamond. A car waits at the side road. You may continue, but you must still slow enough to stop if the other driver misjudges your speed, and you must yield to pedestrians crossing or about to cross.
Traps
Do not treat a priority sign as immunity: emergency vehicles, pedestrians and unexpected obstructions still take precedence. Do not confuse a warning triangle with a yield sign; shape and context matter. A speed-limit sign is a maximum for good conditions, not a target.