Road and traffic signs: HGV theory test questions

Order, warning and information signs that matter most to lorry and bus drivers, plus motorway signals. Practise 16 free road and traffic signs questions with instant answers and explanations – no sign-up.

  • 16 questions
  • Instant feedback
  • Highway Code references

Road and traffic signs: revision notes

Sign shapes and colours tell you what kind of message you're getting, even before you read the detail.

  • Red circles are mostly prohibitions: no vehicles over a height, width, length or weight, no buses over 8 passenger seats, or no goods vehicles over a set weight.
  • Blue circles give positive instructions, such as routes for buses and cycles only.
  • Triangles warn of hazards, such as side winds, steep hills (20% is 1:5) and risk of grounding.
  • Rectangles give information, such as advisory lorry routes, bus lanes and countdown markers, where each bar is about 100 yards to the exit.

On motorways, a red X means the lane is closed and you must not drive in it. Flashing amber lights warn of a hazard, so slow down until you pass a signal that isn't flashing or shows 'END'. Plates under signs can add exceptions, such as 'except for loading'.

All road and traffic signs questions and answers

Revise every question in this topic. Tap a question to see the correct answer and why.

1What do signs with a red circle mostly do?
  1. Give you directions
  2. Warn you of hazards ahead
  3. Tell you what you must not do ✓
  4. Give positive instructions

Answer: Tell you what you must not do. Signs with red circles are mostly prohibitive. Plates below them can qualify their message.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

2What do circular signs with a blue background and no red border mostly do?
  1. Tell you what you must not do
  2. Give a positive instruction ✓
  3. Warn of a hazard
  4. Show tourist information

Answer: Give a positive instruction. Blue circles mostly give positive instructions, such as 'turn left' or 'ahead only'.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

3What shape are most warning signs?
  1. Triangular ✓
  2. Circular
  3. Rectangular
  4. Octagonal

Answer: Triangular. Most warning signs are triangular. They alert you to hazards ahead so you can adjust your speed and position.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

4A circular sign with a red border shows a height. What does it mean?
  1. Advisory headroom under a bridge
  2. Height of the next tunnel
  3. Minimum height for vehicles
  4. No vehicles over the height shown ✓

Answer: No vehicles over the height shown. This is an order: vehicles taller than the height shown must not go past it. Know your vehicle's height.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

5What does a triangular warning sign showing an opening bridge mean?
  1. There's a hump bridge ahead
  2. There's a quayside ahead
  3. There is an opening or swing bridge ahead ✓
  4. There's a low bridge ahead

Answer: There is an opening or swing bridge ahead. This sign warns of an opening or swing bridge. Be prepared to stop if it opens.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

6A triangular sign shows a windsock. What does it warn of?
  1. An airfield
  2. Side winds ✓
  3. Low-flying aircraft
  4. Fog

Answer: Side winds. This sign warns of side winds. High-sided vehicles are most affected, especially on exposed stretches.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

7A steep hill sign shows a gradient of 20%. What is this as a ratio?
  1. 1:5 ✓
  2. 1:2
  3. 1:10
  4. 1:20

Answer: 1:5. Gradients may be shown as a ratio, so 20% is the same as 1:5. Select a lower gear before the descent.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

8You see a red 'X' above your lane on a motorway. What must you do?
  1. Slow down but stay in the lane
  2. Use the hard shoulder instead
  3. Switch on hazard lights and continue
  4. Move to an open lane; you must not drive in that lane ✓

Answer: Move to an open lane; you must not drive in that lane. A red X shows a closed lane that may have people, stopped vehicles or other hazards in it. You must not drive in it.

The Highway Code: rule 258

9Amber lights are flashing on a motorway signal. What do they mean?
  1. The motorway is closed
  2. You must leave at the next exit
  3. There's a hazard ahead, so reduce speed ✓
  4. Lorries must use the right-hand lane

Answer: There's a hazard ahead, so reduce speed. Flashing amber lights warn of a hazard ahead. Slow down and only speed up once you've passed a signal that isn't flashing or shows 'END'.

The Highway Code: rule 257

10What do the countdown markers before a motorway exit show?
  1. Distance to the next services
  2. Distance to the exit, each bar being about 100 yards ✓
  3. The speed limit on the slip road
  4. The number of lanes ahead

Answer: Distance to the exit, each bar being about 100 yards. Each bar on the countdown markers represents 100 yards to the exit. Use them to plan your lane change and slowing down.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

11Which TWO types of sign give orders? Mark two answers.
  1. A circle with a red border ✓
  2. A blue circle with a white arrow ✓
  3. A red triangle with a symbol
  4. A blue rectangle with a symbol

Answer: A circle with a red border; A blue circle with a white arrow. Circular signs give orders: red-bordered ones mostly prohibit, blue ones mostly instruct. Triangles warn and rectangles inform.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

12What does a sign showing 'Risk of grounding' warn you about?
  1. The road may flood
  2. There may be falling rocks
  3. There's an electric cable underground
  4. Long, low vehicles may get stuck on a raised road surface ✓

Answer: Long, low vehicles may get stuck on a raised road surface. Long, low vehicles can ground on humps such as some level crossings. Find another route or phone for advice if one is given.

The Highway Code: rule 294

13What does a rectangular sign showing a lorry symbol with an arrow usually indicate?
  1. Lorries are banned
  2. A lorry park ahead
  3. An advisory route for lorries ✓
  4. The end of a weight limit

Answer: An advisory route for lorries. Advisory lorry route signs guide goods vehicles along suitable roads. Following them helps you avoid unsuitable routes.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

14A red circular sign shows a length limit for vehicles. Your articulated lorry is longer than the limit. What must you do?
  1. Enter if you're unloading nearby
  2. Not enter, as the limit applies to the whole combination ✓
  3. Enter, as it only applies to rigid vehicles
  4. Enter, as it only applies to trailers

Answer: Not enter, as the limit applies to the whole combination. The sign bans any vehicle or combination of vehicles over the length shown. Find another route.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

15A red circular sign shows a lorry with a weight in tonnes. What does it mean?
  1. No goods vehicles over the maximum gross weight shown ✓
  2. Lorries only
  3. Weigh station ahead
  4. Maximum load per axle

Answer: No goods vehicles over the maximum gross weight shown. This sign bans goods vehicles over the weight shown. A plate may allow access for loading and unloading.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

16A red circular sign bans 'vehicles carrying explosives'. Who does it apply to?
  1. All lorries
  2. All tankers
  3. Vehicles over 7.5 tonnes
  4. Vehicles carrying explosives ✓

Answer: Vehicles carrying explosives. This sign only applies to vehicles carrying explosives. Make sure you know what you're carrying.

The Highway Code: Traffic signs

Frequently asked questions

What does a red circle sign mean?

Signs with red circles are mostly prohibitive: they tell you what you must not do.

What does a red X over a motorway lane mean?

The lane is closed. You must not drive in it and should move to an open lane safely.

Can a lorry enter a road with a weight limit to make a delivery?

Only if a plate such as 'except for loading' allows it. Otherwise, find another route.

Previous topicOther road usersReady?Take a full mock test

Original practice questions based on The Highway Code (Open Government Licence v3.0). Not the real test questions. MockTheory is not affiliated with or endorsed by the DVSA.

Go up