Know Your Traffic Signs PDF (DfT)

e s al Know Your re Traffic r Signs fo t no This guide is for all road users  Know Your e al...

e s al Know Your re Traffic r Signs fo t no This guide is for all road users  Know Your e al TRAFFIC s re SIGNS r fo Official edition t no London: TSO 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 1 04/08/2023 12:14  Department for Transport Great Minster House 33 Horseferry Road London SW1P 4DR Telephone: 0300 330 3000 Website: www.gov.uk/dft Published with the permission of the Department for Transport on behalf of the Controller of His Majesty’s Stationery Office. e © Crown copyright 2023 All rights reserved al Copyright in the typographical arrangement rests with the Crown. s You may re-use this document/publication (not including logos) re free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or contact The National Archives at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/contact-us r Where we have identified any third-party copyright information, you will fo need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. ISBN 978 0 11 554113 1 First published 1975 t Sixth edition 2023 no Available from tsoshop.co.uk SD000063 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 2 04/08/2023 12:14  Contents Introduction 4 The signing system 9 Warning signs 10 Regulatory signs 16 e Speed limit signs 21 Low bridge signs Level crossing signs and signals s Tram signs, signals and road markings al 24 29 33 re Bus and cycle signs and road markings 35 Pedestrian zone signs 42 On-street parking control signs and road markings 44 r Road markings 74 fo Traffic calming 85 Motorway signs, signals and road markings 91 Direction signs on all-purpose roads 111 t no Direction signs for cyclists and pedestrians 131 Information signs 134 Traffic signals 140 Tidal flow lane control signs and signals 142 Pedestrian, cycle and equestrian crossings 143 Signs for road works and temporary situations 150 Miscellaneous signs 162 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 3 04/08/2023 12:14  Introduction Why know your traffic signs? Traffic signs play a vital role in directing, informing and controlling road users’ behaviour in an effort to make the roads as safe as possible for everyone. This makes a knowledge of traffic signs essential. Not just for new drivers or riders needing to pass e their theory test, but for all road users, including experienced professional drivers. al This book aims to illustrate and explain the most common traffic signs that the road user is likely to encounter and is an s accompaniment to The Highway Code. re Keeping up to date r We live in times of change. Society, technology and the economy all play their part in changing the way we travel. New traffic signs fo conveying new messages and in new formats are introduced from time to time, so all drivers and riders need to keep up to date or run the risk of failing to understand or comply with recently introduced signs. t no A few examples of events that called for new signs include: Britain’s first motorway air quality zones the reintroduction of trams advance stop lines vehicle-activated signs road-charging schemes. Having experience is all very well, but it’s not enough if your knowledge is out of date. 4 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 4 04/08/2023 12:14  introduction Responsibility for traffic signs Responsibility for the road network in the UK is split among: National Highways in England the Welsh Government in Wales the Scottish Government in Scotland the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland local or regional highway authorities. e The central administrations above are responsible for the UK’s strategic road network. Strategic roads are the highways that link and some ‘A’ roads are strategic roads. s al cities, areas of population, ports and airports. Most motorways Local or regional highway authorities are responsible for local re roads, and this includes a few motorways, all other ‘A’ roads and all other public roads. While responsibility for placing, erecting and maintaining traffic signs is split among these bodies, it is important that signs are consistent both in appearance and in the way they r are used. fo To ensure that the UK has a uniform traffic signing system, signs must conform to the designs prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (as amended) (TSRGD) or the equivalent in the devolved administrations, although some t signs may have been specially authorised by the Secretary of no State or similar in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Traffic signs remain the most effective method of communicating to all road users what they need to know to complete their journey safely, efficiently and within the law. The design of traffic signs and road markings, and their meanings and permitted variants, are generally similar but can vary in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You should refer also to the information published in those jurisdictions. The information in this book should not be taken as a definitive statement of the legislation. In the event of a disparity, TSRGD always takes precedence. 5 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 5 04/08/2023 12:14  A brief history of traffic signs It was probably the Romans who first used ‘traffic signs’ in Britain. They marked off road distances at one thousand paces (about one mile) with stones called ‘milliaries’. Most early signposts were erected by private individuals at their own expense. A law passed in 1697 allowed magistrates to direct that inscribed stones or posts be erected e at junctions between highways, but al it was not until after the General Turnpike Act 1773 that these ‘guide posts’ or ‘fingerposts’ became s more common. re During the second half of the nineteenth century, bicycles became more popular. Steep hills and sharp bends were very r dangerous for early cyclists, and fo ‘danger’ and ‘caution’ signs were erected at the top of steep hills. Signs showing a skull and crossbones were erected at the most dangerous places. Local authorities and t cycling organisations installed an estimated 4000 warning signs. no The year 1896 heralded the era of the motor car, and some motoring associations took up the business of placing signs. The Motor Car Act 1903 made local authorities responsible for placing certain warning and prohibitory signs. The signs were for crossroads, steep hills and dangerous bends. ‘A’ and ‘B’ numbering of roads was introduced in 1921, and these numbers were shown on fingerpost-style signs alongside the destination and distance. Town or village name signs and warning signs for schools, level crossings and double bends were introduced at the same time. 6 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 6 04/08/2023 12:14  introduction e al The main task of signposting our roads during the 1920s and 1930s still fell on the motoring organisations, but in 1931 a s committee chaired by Sir Henry Maybury was asked to recommend improvements to the signing then in use, and by 1933 re further new signs began to appear, including ‘No entry’ and ‘Keep left’ signs and warning signs for narrow roads and bridges, low bridges, roundabouts and hospitals. Other signs followed during the 1930s, including ‘Halt at major road ahead’. These formed the r basis of our traffic signing until the early 1960s. fo It was not until after 1918 that white lines began to appear on British roads, and during the 1920s their use spread t rapidly. In 1926, the first Ministry of no Transport circular on the subject laid down general principles on the use of white lines. In the 1930s, white lines were used as ‘stop’ lines at road junctions controlled by either police or traffic lights. Reflecting road studs (often referred to as ‘cat’s eyes’) first came into use in 1934. By 1944, white lines were also being used to indicate traffic lanes and define the boundary of the main carriageway at entrances to side roads and lay-bys, and in conjunction with ‘halt’ signs. In 1959, regulations came into effect to control overtaking by the use of double white lines. 7 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 7 04/08/2023 12:14  It was realised that the old system of signing would not be adequate for motorways, and the Anderson Committee was set up in 1958 to consider new designs. It recommended much larger signs, with blue backgrounds. Then, in 1961, the Worboys Committee began to review the complete system of traffic signing. It concluded that the UK e should adopt the main principles of the European system, with the message expressed as a symbol within al a red triangle (for warning signs) or a red circle (for prohibitions). Work began on the conversion of British signs in 1965, and this is still the basic system in use today. s re Later developments include the use of yellow box markings at busy road junctions, special signs and r road markings at pedestrian crossings, mini-roundabouts fo and bus lanes. Regulations published in 1994 included new regulatory and warning t signs, and simplified the yellow line system of waiting restrictions that was originally introduced in the 1950s. Further regulations no have been published in the period since. More use is being made of new technology to provide better information to road users on hazards, delays, diversions and traffic control. The future will undoubtedly see more developments in traffic signing to keep pace with the changing traffic demands on our roads. 8 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 8 04/08/2023 12:14  the signing system The signing system There are three basic types of traffic sign: signs that give orders, signs that warn and signs that give information. Each type has a different shape. A further guide to the function of a sign is its colour. All triangular signs are red. e Circles Triangles Rectangles give orders warn s al inform Blue circles generally give a mandatory instruction, such as ‘turn left’, or indicate a route available only to particular classes of traffic, e.g. buses and cycles only re Red rings or circles tell you what you must not do, e.g. you must not exceed 30 mph, no vehicles over r the height shown may proceed fo t no Blue rectangles are Green rectangles White rectangles used for information are used for are used for direction signs except on direction signs on signs on non-primary motorways, where primary routes routes, or for plates blue is used for used in combination direction signs with warning and regulatory signs There are a few exceptions to the shape and colour rules, to give certain signs greater prominence. Examples are the ‘STOP’ and ‘GIVE WAY’ signs The words ‘must’ or ‘must not’, when used in the descriptions that follow, refer to legal requirements that have to be obeyed. 9 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 9 04/08/2023 12:14  Warning signs (other than those for low bridges, railway and tramway level crossings, bus and pedal cycle facilities, traffic calming and road works) e Traffic signals ahead Distance to STOP line Distance to GIVE WAY line s al Traffic signals that operate only at certain times re r fo Crossroads T-junction Side road Staggered junction The priority through the junction is indicated by the broader line t no Traffic merges Traffic merges Roundabout Bend to right from the left onto main (left if symbol carriageway reversed) Double bend Junction on a bend Plate used with first to the left (symbols may be reversed) ‘roundabout’ (right if symbol or ‘bend’ signs reversed) 10 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 10 04/08/2023 12:14  warning signs Sharp deviation of route to the left (right if chevrons reversed) (alternative designs) Risk of lorries overturning on bend to the left e (right if symbol reversed) s al re Plate used with warning Road narrows Road narrows signs where on both sides on right (left if a reduction symbol reversed) in speed is r necessary fo Plates used with ‘road narrows’ signs t no Single-file Road wide enough traffic in each for only one line of direction vehicles End of dual Two-way Two-way traffic carriageway traffic on route crossing ahead Near-side edge of carriageway or obstruction near that edge (alternative shapes). White markers are used on the off-side edge and amber ones on the off-side edge of a dual carriageway 11 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 11 04/08/2023 12:14  Worded Try brakes Steep hill Steep hill warning. ‘Ford’ after crossing downwards upwards may be varied a ford or before (10% is (20% is to ‘Flood’, descending a equivalent equivalent ‘Gate’, ‘Gates’ steep hill to 1:10) to 1:5) or ‘No smoking’ e al Plates used with ‘steep hill’ signs s re Sign used with ‘steep hill’ or ‘try Opening or Quayside or your brakes’ signs swing bridge river bank r fo Water course t alongside road i End of bridge parapet, no abutment wall, tunnel Soft verges for mouth etc. distance shown Tunnel Hump bridge Uneven road Slippery road Distance to Distance and Distance over Side winds hazard direction to which hazard hazard extends 12 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 12 04/08/2023 12:14  warning signs Low-flying Low-flying Risk of falling aircraft or helicopters or fallen rocks sudden Gliders likely or sudden aircraft noise helicopter noise e Slow-moving military s vehicles likely al Risk of ice. Traffic queues to be in or Slow-moving ‘Ice’ may re likely ahead crossing vehicles for be varied to the road distance shown ‘Snowdrifts’ r fo t Warning of signals (see page 141). no ‘FIRE’ may be varied Other danger. The to ‘AMBULANCE’ plate indicates the or ‘POLICE’ nature of the hazard Zebra or Frail parallel pedestrians crossing likely to cross Pedestrians in Disabled road for distance pedestrians. shown ‘Disabled’ may be varied to ‘Blind’ 13 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 13 04/08/2023 12:14  Lights warning of Children going Alternative plates used children likely to be to or from with ‘school’ sign crossing the road school on their way to or from school (used with ‘school’ sign) e s al re Horse-drawn Accompanied Wild horses vehicles likely horses or or ponies to be in the ponies likely road to be in or Pedestrians likely crossing the r to be crossing a road high-speed road fo where there is no formal crossing point t no Wild animals Small wild Wild fowl Migratory animals toad crossing Sheep Area infected by animal disease Agricultural vehicles 14  warning signs Pedal cycle route crossing or joining the road ahead e Plates used with ‘cycle route ahead’ sign s al re Part-time advisory 20 mph speed limit at or near a school r fo t no Cattle Supervised Cattle grid with cattle crossing indication of ahead bypass for horse-drawn vehicles and Supervised animals cattle crossing 15 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 15 04/08/2023 12:14  Regulatory signs (other than those for low bridges, railway and tramway level crossings, bus and pedal cycle facilities and road works) Most regulatory signs are circular. A RED RING or RED CIRCLE indicates a prohibition. A BLUE CIRCLE generally gives a positive (mandatory) instruction or indicates a route for use only by particular classes of vehicle (see sections on tram signs and bus and cycle signs). e Two notable exceptions are: s al re The ‘STOP’ sign and road markings: you must stop before crossing the transverse line on the road r and ensure the way is fo clear before entering the major road. t no The ‘GIVE WAY’ sign and road markings: you must give way to traffic on the major road (the upright sign or both the sign and the triangle on the road might not be used at junctions where there is (alternative in relatively little traffic). Wales) 16 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 16 04/08/2023 12:14  regulatory signs No entry for vehicular traffic. No vehicles Where there is except pedal an exception for cycles being buses or cycles, Alternative plates used with the pushed by the sign may ‘no vehicles’ sign, indicating hand be used with a times when vehicles are e supplementary prohibited, except for access plate (shown below) s al re No motor No motor No solo vehicles vehicles motorcycles except solo r motorcycles fo t no No towed No No ridden or No horse- caravans pedestrians accompanied drawn horses vehicles No articulated No goods End of goods vehicles vehicles over vehicles maximum restriction No vehicles gross weight carrying shown in explosives tonnes 17 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 17 04/08/2023 12:14  Tunnel Category Dartford C Tyne D Clyde D Mersey D Vehicles carrying Blackwall E dangerous goods with the restriction code Limehouse E indicated by the sign are Rotherhithe E prohibited from the tunnel. East India Dock Road E See table for codes that Heathrow Airport Between 4 am and 11 pm: have been assigned to Category E e tunnels in the UK At other times: Category C s al re No vehicles over maximum width shown (width shown r in metric and imperial units) No vehicles or fo combinations No vehicles over the of vehicles maximum gross weight over maximum shown in tonnes. The length shown bottom plate is used t where empty vehicles are exempt no Plates used to indicate exemptions from prohibition signs Except for access to premises or land adjacent to the road, where there Except for loading is no other route. Other and unloading by exemptions may be shown goods vehicles 18  regulatory signs Where a road or bridge is very narrow, priority must be given to traffic from the other direction (there will usually be a ‘give way’ No line indicating where to wait) overtaking Where changes of direction are prohibited, a red bar across the sign is used in addition to the red circle e s al A time plate used with a ‘no right turn’ or ‘no No U-turn No right turn No left turn left turn’ sign re indicates a part-time prohibition r fo Vehicles must Vehicles must not go beyond not go beyond t the sign where the sign where Specified traffic displayed by a displayed by a no must not use verge school crossing police officer or maintained in mown or patrol traffic warden ornamental condition Proceed in Turn left Vehicles Keep left direction ahead (right may pass (right if indicated by if symbol either side symbol the arrow reversed) to reach reversed) the same destination 19 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 19 04/08/2023 12:14  Mini-roundabout One-way Vehicles must Plates (give way to traffic not go beyond supplementing traffic from the the sign where ‘turn’ signs immediate right) displayed during a cycle event e Nature of and s al distance to a re prohibition, Weight restriction restriction or ahead (may show a requirement different restriction) Location of weight restriction ahead r with indication fo of an alternative route (may show a different restriction) t no 20 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 20 04/08/2023 12:14  speed limit signs Speed limit signs In areas of street lighting (other than on motorways), a speed limit of 30 mph applies unless signs show otherwise. In Wales, this limit is 20 mph. A larger sign indicates the start of a speed limit. Smaller repeater signs act as reminders. Repeater signs for a 30 mph limit are e The maximum The national used only on roads with no speed, in miles speed limit for street lighting. Repeater per hour, at which traffic may travel, if it is safe to do so the type of road and class of traffic applies s alsigns for the national speed limit are used only on roads with street lighting (other than motorways) re r fo Road marking used Entrance to a End of 20 mph t in conjunction with 20 mph zone zone and start upright signs to in which of 30 mph no indicate the speed limit traffic-calming speed limit measures may be encountered Start of motorway regulations, including the national speed Start of a speed limit at the limit (unless a different boundary of a town or village speed limit is signed) 21 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 21 04/08/2023 12:14  Point on a road with street lighting where an existing 30 mph limit originally ended but has subsequently been extended (temporary sign). This sign alerts drivers that a previous higher limit has been replaced by a 30 mph limit by the removal of speed limit signs e End of road works Area where and any temporary speed limit through those works (may be supplemented speed cameras are in use s al Length of road where two cameras are used to measure the average speed by a sign indicating of a vehicle between re the permanent two points speed limit beyond the road works) r fo Reminder that enforcement cameras are in t use (may be supplemented by no a speed limit sign) Speed camera Speed camera nearby on a lit nearby on an unlit road with a road subject to the 30 mph speed national speed limit limit (i.e. where (i.e. where there there are no are no speed limit speed limit repeater signs) repeater signs) 22 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 22 04/08/2023 12:14  speed limit signs Maximum speed Minimum speed End of advised, in miles per permitted, in miles minimum speed hour, at a bend (the per hour, unless it requirement plate may be used with is impracticable or e other warning signs) unsafe to comply s al re Start of variable speed limit on r a length of road End of variable speed limit. The national speed limit for fo where enforcement cameras are in use the type of road and class of traffic now applies t no 23 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 23 04/08/2023 12:14  Low bridge signs Each year there are hundreds of incidents in which bridges are struck by vehicles too high to pass under them. Both rail and road users have been killed in these incidents. Look out for signs in this section and e make sure that you are not a bridge basher. s al All bridges with a clearance of less than 16 feet 6 inches (about 5 metres) are normally signed. Both regulatory roundels and re warning triangles can be used, depending on the type of bridge. Bridges particularly at risk from strikes r may have a variable message sign that fo is activated by high vehicles passing through an infra-red beam. When the sign is activated, four amber lights flash, the top pair alternating with the t bottom pair. no Regulatory signs At non-arch bridges mandatory signs may be used; it is unlawful for an overheight vehicle to pass one of these. They are placed on the bridge and at the side of the road in front of No vehicles the bridge. over the height shown may pass the sign Some height restrictions may still show imperial (height shown units of measurement only. These signs will be in metric and replaced when they reach the end of their life. imperial units) 24 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 24 04/08/2023 12:14  low bridge signs Advance warning of a mandatory height restriction ahead; the sign may include an Location of mandatory e arrow, if the restriction height restriction is on a side road ahead, with indication Warning signs s al of an alternative route A warning sign indicates the maximum re headroom under a bridge or other overhead obstruction, in metric and imperial units. This sign may be sited well in advance of a bridge, with the distance (in either yards or r miles) shown on a plate; this may have an fo arrow to indicate that the bridge is on a side road at a junction ahead. Older signs not displaying metric and imperial units in one panel will be replaced t when they reach the end of their life. no Chord markings used indicate the points between which different headrooms over different parts of an arch bridge are available. 25 780115541131 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_1.indd 25 04/08/2023 13:25  e s al The maximum safe headroom at an arch bridge is shown on the triangular warning signs. Road markings guide high vehicles through the highest part of the arch. Drivers of all vehicles should re give way to oncoming high vehicles in the middle of the road when there is insufficient room to pass. Drivers of cars and other low vehicles may keep to the left-hand side of the road, crossing the road markings, where this would enable them to pass oncoming r vehicles in safety. fo t no To make a bridge more conspicuous, black and yellow bands may be added to the arches or beams and to the abutments. Where reduced headroom over a road is due to an overhanging building or structure, a plate may be added below the warning triangle to indicate this (‘building’ may be varied to ‘buildings’ or ‘structure’). 26 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 26 04/08/2023 12:14  low bridge signs Location of a low bridge e ahead, with indication of an alternative route al Signs incorporating height restriction s roundels and warning triangles re r fo t no Roundels or warning triangles will sometimes be incorporated into directional signs that may also indicate an alternative route to take to avoid the low bridge. 27 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 27 04/08/2023 12:14  Roundels may also be incorporated into road works signs to indicate temporary height restrictions. e s al Sign indicating a reduction in headroom re Temporary or permanent reduction in bridge headroom ahead (temporary sign) r fo t no 28 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 28 04/08/2023 12:14  level crossing signs and signals Level crossing signs and signals Before the crossing e Level crossing with a gate or barrier Plate used with level crossing warning signs: advance s al Electrified overhead cable and the safe height beneath it (usually associated with an overhead electrified warning of light railway or tramway). On the signals at a level re approach to a junction, the crossing with or plate may include an arrow Level crossing without a gate or to indicate the direction of without a gate barrier the level crossing or barrier r fo Bells suspended over the road at a railway crossing to give t an audible warning to drivers of vehicles that exceed the no safe height beneath electrified overhead cables Long low vehicles may be at risk of grounding; drivers of such vehicles must phone before crossing At automatic level crossings, drivers of large or slow vehicles must phone before and after crossing 29 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 29 04/08/2023 12:14  Countdown markers may be provided on the approach to a crossing. These divide the distance between the advance warning sign and the stop line into three equal parts; each sloping bar does not necessarily represent a distance of 100 yards New method of controlling traffic at a crossing ahead (temporary sign) e At the crossing al Some crossings have flashing red road traffic signals; these mean s STOP (and this applies to pedestrians too). A steady amber light re shows before the red lights begin to flash, as at ordinary road traffic signals; this means STOP unless it is unsafe to do so. If the red lights flash for more than three minutes without a train arriving (other than at crossings with full barriers), or any barrier is lowered without r the lights flashing, phone the signal operator. When the barriers rise, do not proceed until the signals go out. If your vehicle breaks fo down or stalls on a crossing, get yourself and your passengers out of the vehicle as soon as possible. Phone the signal operator and follow the instructions given. Stand well clear of the crossing if the alarm sounds, the signals show or the barriers lower. t no Location of phone Direction to phone Flashing pedestrian signals used at some level crossings indicate that it is not safe to Road traffic signals at a cross: pedestrians level crossing should stop at the pedestrian stop line 30  level crossing signs and signals Name of level crossing and phone number for contacting the railway operator (at level crossings without a dedicated phone) e Yellow box markings indicate an area of carriageway at a level crossing that must be kept clear. Do not enter the box if other stationary traffic s al may cause you to stop with Place where drivers of large re any part of your vehicle or slow vehicles should park within the box near a level crossing while contacting the signal operator Automatic half-barrier level crossings r fo t no Amber lights and audible warnings followed by flashing red lights warn that a train is approaching and that the barriers are about to come down. You must STOP. The red lights flash all the time the barriers are down, but the audible warning might stop. If another train is approaching, the barriers will stay down; the lights will continue to flash and, if there is an audible warning, the sound will change. 31 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 31 04/08/2023 12:14 Level crossings with miniature warning lights These level crossings have gates or barriers but no attendant. The miniature red and green lights are operated by an approaching train. Full directions e for using these crossings are given on roadside signs. You must stop even if Red Green STOP Clear IF NO LIGHT al the gates or barriers have been left open. Always close the gates or barriers after crossing. s PHONE SIGNALMAN re Open level crossings r The St Andrew’s cross is used at level crossings where there are no gates or barriers. At automatic crossings, you must always fo STOP when the traffic light signals show. At crossings with ‘give way’ signs, always look out for and give way to trains. t no If there is more than one railway line over an automatic crossing, this signal will also flash and the Automatic open level sound of the Open level crossings crossings have flashing audible warning without gates, signals and audible will change if barriers or road warnings. The lights will another train is traffic light signals flash and the warnings approaching have ‘give way’ signs will sound until it is safe over a symbol of a to cross railway locomotive 32  tram signs, signals and road markings Tram signs, signals and road markings Trams can run on roads used by other vehicles and pedestrians. The part of the road used by trams (the ‘swept path’) may have a different colour or textured surface to the rest of the road, or it may be edged with special road markings. Keep the ‘swept path’ clear. Trams cannot move out of the way of other road users! e s al Route for trams only. The sign re may include the No entry except bus symbol, the trams (likely to be pedal cycle symbol used where the Indication of a and/or the word route is physically tram-only route at ‘taxi’ where these a junction ahead r unsuitable for other vehicles may use vehicles) fo the tram route t no Warning of trams crossing the road ahead Reminder to Drivers of other vehicles pedestrians to must give way to trams look out for trams at level crossings approaching from without barriers, gates both directions or road traffic light signals. Sometimes just a ‘give way’ sign and a tram plate may be used 33 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 33 04/08/2023 12:14  Road marking indicating the start of a route e for trams only al Alternative road markings indicating the edge of that part of the road used by trams s (the swept path) re Examples of signs, signals and road markings for tram drivers r Stop Stop Proceed fo unless it is ahead unsafe to do so t no The signal mounted to the Proceed Proceed right gives instructions left right to tram drivers; these instructions may not be the same as those given to drivers of other vehicles Speed limit sign for tram drivers shown in kilometres per hour. All diamond-shaped signs Stop line for trams at traffic are for tram drivers only signals where that part of the road is not used by other vehicles 34  bus and cycle signs and road markings Bus and cycle signs and road markings No vehicles designed to carry e more than 8 passengers With-flow bus lane With-flow bus and (excluding driver) or local buses be used by pedal al ahead that can also cycles and taxis. Hours of operation s may be shown pedal cycle lane sign showing hours of operation. Where no times are shown, the bus lane operates at all times re The word ‘local’ on the bus symbol means the only buses that may use the lane are those running a local service. Where the word r ‘local’ is not shown, the lane may be used by local buses and by any vehicle designed to carry 10 people or more including the fo driver. Other vehicles may enter and stop in a bus lane to load and unload unless signs alongside the lane indicate otherwise. t no Off-side with-flow bus lane ahead that can also be used by Near-side with-flow pedal cycles bus lane ahead that can also be used by Near-side with-flow solo motorcycles, bus lane ahead that pedal cycles and can also be used by taxis authorised vehicles, solo motorcycles, pedal cycles and taxis 35 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 35 04/08/2023 12:14  Off-side with-flow bus lane that can also be Near-side with-flow used by pedal cycles bus lane that can also be used by solo Near-side with-flow motorcycles, pedal bus lane that can cycles and taxis also be used by authorised vehicles, e solo motorcycles, pedal cycles and taxis s al re Road markings indicating r the start of a route for buses and other permitted Bus lane road Traffic may use both fo vehicles shown on upright marking lanes at the end of a blue circular signs bus lane t no Route for buses and Route for buses, Where the route pedal cycles only pedal cycles, solo is reserved for (older signs may motorcycles and buses and/or other include an ‘Only’ taxis only. The permitted vehicles plate). Cycles not motorcycle symbol for part of the day admitted when cycle and word ‘taxi’ are only, this is indicated symbol not shown omitted where these by a time plate vehicles are not admitted If a bank holiday falls on a day when the restrictions are in operation, the restrictions apply in the normal way. 36 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 36 04/08/2023 12:14  bus and cycle signs and road markings Bus lane on road at junction ahead Where there is a break in a bus lane at a junction, other traffic may use the left-hand lane for turning left only End of bus lane e s al Contraflow bus lane (the re upward arrows indicate the number of traffic lanes available) Contraflow bus and pedal cycle lane on road at r junction ahead fo t A bus gate is a short length of bus-only street no Reminder to pedestrians to look out for buses, or buses and pedal cycles, approaching from the right Parking place for buses only, during Parking place times shown (with for buses only time limit) (no time limit) 37  Stopping place Stopping by for buses vehicles other Place where local buses may stand, than local buses from which all prohibited during other vehicles are the times shown prohibited during e the times shown Stopping place for s al tourist buses to re allow passengers to Edge of carriageway Edge of carriageway take photographs r fo t Bus stop no Bus stop in a lay-by The broad continuous yellow line at the edge of the carriageway means that other vehicles are prohibited from stopping Plates used to indicate exemptions for buses, taxis and pedal cycles from prohibitions such as turn left ahead and no left turn. These signs are Entrance to a circular when mounted bus station, in combination with depot or garage traffic signals 38 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 38 04/08/2023 12:14  bus and cycle signs and road markings Mandatory with-flow Route pedal cycle lane. recommended Hours of operation for pedal cycles may be shown. on the main Mandatory Vehicles must not carriageway with-flow pedal be driven or parked of a road. This cycle lane ahead. in this lane during its may be marked Hours of operation times of operation as an advisory e may be shown pedal cycle lane s al Mandatory contraflow re pedal cycle lane (the upward arrows indicate the number Road markings for of traffic lanes a mandatory pedal available) cycle lane r fo Road markings for an advisory pedal cycle lane. t Contraflow pedal Pedal cycle lane Other vehicles cycles in a one-way no on road at junction should not use street (other than a ahead or (where this part of the mandatory contraflow ‘lane’ is varied to carriageway cycle lane). This may ‘track’) cycle track unless it is be marked by a crossing road at unavoidable broken line on the carriageway or there junction ahead may be no line at all Road marking Reminder to pedestrians End of cycle indicating the end to look out for pedal lane, track of a cycle lane, cycles approaching or route track or route from the right 39 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 39 04/08/2023 12:14  Shared route Separated Route Shared route for pedal track and for pedal for horses, cycles and path for pedal cycles only pedestrians pedestrians cycles and and pedal only pedestrians cycles only e s al No through re Parking road except for place for pedal cycles pedal cycles Road marking r separating cyclists and fo pedestrians on a shared route (may be a raised line up to 20 mm high) t no Pedal cyclists to rejoin Riding of main carriageway at pedal cycles the end of or break prohibited in a cycle track or route shared with No entry for pedestrians vehicular traffic except pedal cycles 40 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 40 04/08/2023 12:14  bus and cycle signs and road markings e s al Advance stop line for pedal cycles at traffic signals. When the signals re are red, drivers of other vehicles must wait behind the first stop line. Drivers should allow time and space for cyclists to move off when the signals change to green. Cyclists are permitted to cross any part of the first stop line. A cycle lane might not be provided on the approach to the stop line r fo t no 41 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 41 04/08/2023 12:14  Pedestrian zone signs Areas such as shopping streets and streets near/outside schools may be signed as ‘pedestrian zones’. Depending on the extent of the vehicle entry restrictions, such areas may be paved without the usual separation between footway and carriageway and may not have yellow lines and kerb markings to indicate waiting and loading restrictions. Instead restrictions are detailed on zone entry signs and repeater plates. The entry signs may indicate that buses, taxis, disabled badge holders or permit holders may enter e the zone. There are two types of entry sign depending on whether pedal cycles may be ridden within the zone. Various examples of zone entry signs are shown below. s al re All vehicles, including r ridden pedal cycles, fo prohibited. (The hours during which a part-time zone operates will be shown in this panel t and exemptions in a lower panel) no Signs without yellow panels are used where access may Ridden pedal cycles The yellow panels be more restrictive permitted within the indicate that there and where waiting zone. (The hours are waiting restrictions, if any, are during which a restrictions within indicated by yellow part-time zone the zone lines within the zone operates will be shown in this panel and exemptions in a lower panel) 42 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 42 04/08/2023 12:14  pedestrian zone signs Where different entry restrictions apply at different times of the day, and these restrictions are too complicated to show on the zone entry sign, a sign that can change its display (a variable message sign) may be used. It is therefore important always to check the restrictions in force before entering the zone. Example of a variable e message zone entry sign showing alternative s aldisplays for the middle panel (exemptions) re r fo Two examples of waiting restriction repeater signs within the zone. (There may be no yellow lines or kerb markings) t no At the end of the zone, a ‘zone ends’ sign will be displayed. The prohibitory roundel in the upper panel will be a grey version of the roundel shown on the entry sign 43 780115528552 001 KYTS TEXT 6739 v1_0.indd 43 04/08/2023 12:14  On-street parking control signs and road markings Waiting restrictions Waiting restrictions are indicated by signs and road markings. The restrictions usually apply to the whole of the e highway, including verges and footways. Waiting prohibited 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout the year. Yellow plates are no longer used where al Drivers may stop to pick up or set down passengers and, where not prohibited, to load and unload. Disabled badge s holders can usually park for up to 3 hours the restriction applies or, in Scotland, without a time limit (see re all year round The Blue Badge Scheme: Rights and Responsibilities in England published by the Department for Transport, visit www.gov.uk; and Rights and r Responsibilities of a Blue Badge Holder fo in Scotland published by Transport Scotland, visit www.mygov.scot). Yellow lines along the edge of the Waiting prohibited carriageway, parallel to the kerb, indicate t between times shown that restrictions are in force. In no on the sign environmentally sensitive areas, a pale shade of yellow may be used and the width of the lines may be reduced. Except in controlled parking zones (see page 61), small yellow plates are normally erected adjacent to the carriageway to give details of the times of operation of the restrictions. Where the yellow plate does not indicate the days of the week, the restrictions apply at the same times every day, including Sunday. If a bank holiday falls on a day when the restrictions are in operation, the restric