Direction and Information Signs Quiz

Direction and information signs are mostly rectangles, and their background colour tells you what kind of road you're on or heading for: blue for motorways, green for primary routes and white with a black border for other roads. Brown signs point to tourist attractions.

How to read direction and information signs

Direction and information signs are mostly rectangles. They don't give orders; they help you find your way and know what's ahead. The background colour tells you what kind of road you're on or heading to:

  • Green with yellow route numbers: primary routes.
  • Blue: motorways, plus many information signs such as parking or one-way streets.
  • White with a black border: non-primary and local routes.
  • Brown: tourist attractions and facilities.
  • Yellow with black symbols: diversion routes.

Useful details: a route number in brackets means the road leads to that route. A blue panel on a green or white sign shows the way to a motorway. On motorway signs, the number in a black box is the junction number. Countdown markers show the distance to an exit or a concealed level crossing.

Motorway signals on gantries are covered here too: a speed in a red ring is mandatory, and a red X means the lane is closed.

What the colours mean

BackgroundUsed for
BlueSigns on motorways
GreenSigns on primary routes (main A roads)
White with a black borderSigns on non-primary and local routes
BrownRoutes to tourist attractions

Signs mix these colours in panels. On a green primary route sign, a blue panel means the motorway starts at the junction ahead, and a white panel shows a local or non-primary route from that junction. On a white local sign, a green panel means a primary route starts at the junction ahead. Route numbers on a blue background lead to a motorway, and numbers on a green background lead to a primary route.

Reading motorway signs

  • Junction numbers are shown on a black background.
  • Downward-pointing arrows on overhead signs mean "get in lane".
  • A panel with an inclined arrow shows the places you can reach by leaving at the next junction.
  • Route confirmatory signs after a junction remind you which road you're on and the distances to places ahead.
  • Countdown markers before a motorway exit: each bar represents 100 yards to the exit.
  • Motorways in brackets on a primary route sign can also be reached along the route shown.

Information signs

Information signs are all rectangular. They tell you about the road ahead, services and restrictions rather than giving an order. Examples you should recognise include:

  • Start of motorway and end of motorway
  • Entrance to and end of a controlled parking zone
  • Hospital ahead with Accident and Emergency facilities
  • No through road for vehicles
  • Traffic has priority over oncoming vehicles
  • Bus lane on the road at the junction ahead
  • Lanes for high occupancy vehicles (Highway Code rule 142)
  • Home Zone entry, tourist information and motorway service areas
  • Appropriate traffic lanes at the junction ahead

Don't mix up the rectangular "traffic has priority over oncoming vehicles" sign with the round red-bordered sign that tells you to give priority to vehicles coming the other way. The shape tells you which is which.

Other direction signs

You'll also see signs for car parks, picnic sites, camping and caravan sites, advisory routes for lorries, cycle routes, pedestrian routes and diversion routes, which use symbols you follow to stay on the diversion. In Wales, many signs are bilingual.

Practise and revise

Take the quiz above, then try motorway rules questions to see how signs are used in real test scenarios. Go back to the road signs test hub for the other categories, or test your road markings. The Highway Code traffic signs section and Know your traffic signs on GOV.UK show the full range.

Our sign drawings and questions are original and based on The Highway Code and Know your traffic signs. Traffic sign designs are Crown copyright and the source material is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Not the real test questions. MockTheory is not affiliated with or endorsed by the DVSA.

All direction and information signs with meanings

1What does the green background on this direction sign tell you?
Leeds A61Otley A660
  1. It's a motorway
  2. It's a primary route ✓
  3. It's a tourist route
  4. It's a local, non-primary route

Answer: It's a primary route. Green direction signs with yellow route numbers are used on primary routes, which are main routes between important places.

Know your traffic signs

2What type of route does this direction sign show?
Little HavenB4327
  1. A primary route
  2. A motorway
  3. A non-primary or local route ✓
  4. A tourist route

Answer: A non-primary or local route. White direction signs with a black border are used on non-primary and local routes.

Know your traffic signs

3Where would you see a blue direction sign like this?
The NORTHM6
  1. On a primary A-road only
  2. On a local road in a village
  3. On or approaching a motorway ✓
  4. At a tourist attraction

Answer: On or approaching a motorway. Blue direction signs show motorway routes. You'll see them on motorways and on roads leading to them.

Know your traffic signs

4What do brown signs like this show?
Castle
  1. Routes for heavy goods vehicles
  2. Temporary diversion routes
  3. Private roads
  4. Directions to tourist attractions ✓

Answer: Directions to tourist attractions. Brown signs with white text and symbols point the way to tourist attractions and facilities.

Know your traffic signs

5What does this sign mean?
  1. Low bridge ahead
  2. Start of motorway regulations ✓
  3. Dual carriageway ahead
  4. End of motorway

Answer: Start of motorway regulations. This sign marks the start of motorway rules. From here, motorway regulations apply, and road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders must not use the road.

Highway Code rule 253

6What does this sign mean?
  1. End of motorway ✓
  2. No motor vehicles
  3. Motorway closed ahead
  4. Bridge closed ahead

Answer: End of motorway. The motorway symbol crossed by a red bar shows where motorway regulations end. Check for the new speed limit and expect slower traffic and junctions.

Know your traffic signs

7You're on a motorway and pass these markers. What do they tell you?
  1. How far it is to the next exit ✓
  2. How far it is to the next services
  3. How far it is to an emergency telephone
  4. How far it is to the end of road works

Answer: How far it is to the next exit. Countdown markers show the distance to the next exit. Each bar represents about 100 yards, so three bars mean 300 yards to go.

Know your traffic signs

8Where would you see these markers?
  1. On the approach to a concealed level crossing ✓
  2. On the approach to a motorway exit
  3. Before a speed camera
  4. Before a bus station

Answer: On the approach to a concealed level crossing. Red bars on a white background are countdown markers to a concealed level crossing. Each marker brings you closer, so slow down and be ready to stop.

Know your traffic signs

9What does this sign show?
H
  1. Hospital ✓
  2. Hotel or guest house
  3. Height restriction
  4. Hard shoulder

Answer: Hospital. A white H on a blue background shows a hospital. Look out for ambulances and people around the entrance.

Know your traffic signs

10What does this sign show?
P
  1. Petrol station
  2. Parking place ✓
  3. Pedestrian zone
  4. Police station

Answer: Parking place. A white P on a blue background shows a parking place. Check any plates for charges or time limits.

Know your traffic signs

11You see this blue sign on a main road. What does it show?
  1. A water tap
  2. An emergency telephone
  3. A petrol filling station ✓
  4. A car wash

Answer: A petrol filling station. The fuel pump symbol shows a petrol filling station, such as at a service area.

Know your traffic signs

12What does this blue rectangular sign mean?
  1. Ahead only (you must not turn)
  2. Two-way traffic
  3. Motorway ahead
  4. One-way traffic ✓

Answer: One-way traffic. A white arrow on a blue rectangle means one-way traffic. Rectangles give information; the circular blue 'ahead only' sign is an order.

Know your traffic signs

13What does this sign mean?
  1. No entry
  2. T-junction ahead
  3. No through road ✓
  4. Road closed for repairs

Answer: No through road. A white upright with a red bar across the top means no through road. The road is a dead end, so you'll need to turn round to come back.

Know your traffic signs

14What does this sign tell you?
LANE
  1. There's a contraflow bus lane ahead
  2. Buses must turn left ahead
  3. There's a bus station ahead
  4. There's a with-flow bus lane ahead ✓

Answer: There's a with-flow bus lane ahead. This sign shows a with-flow bus lane ahead, where buses travel in the same direction as you. Check the signs for its hours and which vehicles may use it.

Highway Code rule 141

15What does this sign mean?
  1. There's a contraflow bus lane on the right ✓
  2. There's a with-flow bus lane on the left
  3. Buses must use the left-hand lane
  4. Two-way traffic for all vehicles

Answer: There's a contraflow bus lane on the right. In a contraflow bus lane, buses travel towards you in their own lane while other traffic goes one way. Don't drive in it.

Highway Code rule 141

16What does a black symbol like this on a yellow sign show?
  1. Road works ahead
  2. A diversion route to follow ✓
  3. A route for lorries only
  4. The start of a toll road

Answer: A diversion route to follow. Black symbols such as triangles, squares and circles on yellow signs mark diversion routes. Follow the same symbol until you rejoin your route.

Know your traffic signs

17What does this sign show?
TownCentre
  1. A lane for cycles and buses only
  2. No cycling in the town centre
  3. A recommended route for pedal cycles ✓
  4. A cycle hire station

Answer: A recommended route for pedal cycles. A white bicycle on a blue rectangle shows a recommended route for pedal cycles. It's information, not an order.

Know your traffic signs

18On this motorway sign, what does the number in the black box show?
17M5Bristol
  1. The distance to Bristol in miles
  2. The speed limit at the exit
  3. The number of lanes on the exit road
  4. The junction number ✓

Answer: The junction number. On motorway signs, the white number in a black box is the junction number. It matches the junction numbers on maps and route plans.

Know your traffic signs

19On a direction sign, what does a route number in brackets mean?
Sheffield(A57)
  1. That route is closed
  2. This road leads to that route ✓
  3. That route is a toll road
  4. That route is for local traffic only

Answer: This road leads to that route. A route number in brackets means the road you're directed along leads to that route, but isn't that route itself.

Know your traffic signs

20This local direction sign has a blue panel showing M61. What does it tell you?
M61Bolton
  1. The M61 is closed
  2. This road is part of the M61
  3. There's parking for the M61
  4. This way leads to the M61 motorway ✓

Answer: This way leads to the M61 motorway. Route numbers on a blue panel show the way to a motorway. Here the sign is guiding you towards the M61.

Know your traffic signs

21What does this sign tell you?
Services1 m
  1. The motorway ends in 1 mile
  2. There are road works in 1 mile
  3. There's an emergency area in 1 mile
  4. There are motorway services in 1 mile ✓

Answer: There are motorway services in 1 mile. This blue sign shows motorway services 1 mile ahead. The symbols tell you what facilities are available, such as fuel and refreshments.

Know your traffic signs

22On a motorway, what does the arrow below the telephone symbol on this marker post show?
  1. The direction of the next exit
  2. The side of the road for breakdowns
  3. The direction of the nearest emergency telephone ✓
  4. The direction of the nearest services

Answer: The direction of the nearest emergency telephone. Marker posts along the hard shoulder show a telephone symbol with an arrow pointing to the nearest emergency telephone. This helps you reach the nearest phone quickly if you break down.

Highway Code: Motorways

23This signal shows above your lane on a motorway, with flashing red lights. What must you do?
  1. Not go beyond the signal in that lane ✓
  2. Slow down but stay in the lane
  3. Use the lane only to overtake
  4. Stop on the hard shoulder at once

Answer: Not go beyond the signal in that lane. A red X with flashing red lights means the lane is closed. You must not go beyond the signal in that lane, so move to an open lane in good time.

Highway Code rule 258

24This sign is shown above your lane on a motorway. What does it mean?
50
  1. A 50 mph speed that is only advised
  2. A 50 mph speed limit you must obey ✓
  3. The next exit is 50 metres ahead
  4. The lane is closed for 50 miles

Answer: A 50 mph speed limit you must obey. A speed shown inside a red ring on a motorway signal is a mandatory limit. It's often used to keep traffic moving smoothly or to protect an incident ahead.

Know your traffic signs

Frequently asked questions

What colour are motorway signs in the UK?

Motorway signs have a blue background. Junction numbers are shown on a black background.

What do green road signs mean?

Green signs are used on primary routes, which are the main A roads. A blue panel on a green sign means the motorway starts at the junction ahead.

What do brown road signs mean?

Brown signs show the route to tourist attractions, such as historic sites, parks and visitor centres.

What do the bars on countdown markers mean?

On the approach to a motorway exit, each bar on a countdown marker represents 100 yards to the exit.

What shape are information signs?

Information signs are all rectangular. They give information about the road, services or restrictions ahead, rather than an order.

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.

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