--- title: "UK regulatory signs: orders you must obey | The License Desk" url: https://www.thelicensedesk.com/road-signs/regulatory-signs/ updated: 2026-09-26 --- > Source: https://www.thelicensedesk.com/road-signs/regulatory-signs/ — last reviewed 2026-09-26. Markdown version generated at build time from the same content the page serves. 51 official signs · Department for Transport artwork # UK regulatory signs: orders you must obey Many regulatory signs are enforceable by law, so ignoring them can lead to a fine and penalty points. Where a plate says “except for access” or gives times, the order only applies as the plate describes. Quick answer Regulatory signs give orders, and most are circular. A red ring means something is prohibited — you must not do it — while a blue circle tells you what you must do. STOP (an octagon) and GIVE WAY (an upside-down triangle) break the shape rules so they stand out. Plates below can add times or exceptions. ## What does each regulatory sign mean? Each sign is shown with its official meaning from the Department for Transport. Tap through to the quiz when you’re ready to test yourself. - ![All vehicles prohibited except pedal cycles being pushed by pedestrians — UK road sign](/signs/uk/617-all-vehicles-prohibited-except-pedal-cycles-being-pushed-by.webp) All vehicles prohibited except pedal cycles being pushed by pedestrians - ![Articulated vehicles prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/622-4-articulated-vehicles-prohibited.webp) Articulated vehicles prohibited - ![End of prohibition of goods vehicles exceeding the maximum gross weight indicated in a previous sign — UK road sign](/signs/uk/622-2-end-of-prohibition-of-goods-vehicles-exceeding-the-maximum-g.webp) End of prohibition of goods vehicles exceeding the maximum gross weight indicated in a previous sign - ![Give way to traffic on the major road — UK road sign](/signs/uk/602-give-way-to-traffic-on-the-major-road.webp) Give way to traffic on the major road - ![Goods vehicles exceeding a gross weight of 7.5T prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/622-1a-goods-vehicles-exceeding-a-gross-weight-of-7-5t-prohibited.webp) Goods vehicles exceeding a gross weight of 7.5T prohibited - ![Horse drawn vehicles prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/622-5-horse-drawn-vehicles-prohibited.webp) Horse drawn vehicles prohibited - ![Motor vehicles except solo motor cycles prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/619-1-motor-vehicles-except-solo-motor-cycles-prohibited.webp) Motor vehicles except solo motor cycles prohibited - ![Motor vehicles prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/619-motor-vehicles-prohibited.webp) Motor vehicles prohibited - ![No entry for vehicular traffic — UK road sign](/signs/uk/616-no-entry-for-vehicular-traffic.webp) No entry for vehicular traffic - ![No left turn for vehicular traffic — UK road sign](/signs/uk/613-no-left-turn-for-vehicular-traffic.webp) No left turn for vehicular traffic - ![No overtaking — UK road sign](/signs/uk/632-no-overtaking.webp) No overtaking - ![No right turn for vehicular traffic — UK road sign](/signs/uk/612-no-right-turn-for-vehicular-traffic.webp) No right turn for vehicular traffic - ![No U-turns for vehicular traffic — UK road sign](/signs/uk/614-no-u-turns-for-vehicular-traffic.webp) No U-turns for vehicular traffic - ![Pedestrians prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/625-1-pedestrians-prohibited.webp) Pedestrians prohibited - ![Priority must be given to vehicles from the opposite direction — UK road sign](/signs/uk/615-priority-must-be-given-to-vehicles-from-the-opposite-directi.webp) Priority must be given to vehicles from the opposite direction - ![Ridden or accompanied horses prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/622-6-ridden-or-accompanied-horses-prohibited.webp) Ridden or accompanied horses prohibited - ![Solo motor cycles prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/619-2-solo-motor-cycles-prohibited.webp) Solo motor cycles prohibited - ![Towed caravans prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/622-7-towed-caravans-prohibited.webp) Towed caravans prohibited - ![Vehicles entering the junction must give way to traffic to vehicles coming from the right — UK road sign](/signs/uk/611-1-vehicles-entering-the-junction-must-give-way-to-traffic-to-v.webp) Vehicles entering the junction must give way to traffic to vehicles coming from the right - ![Vehicles exceeding 32'-6'' in length indicated prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/629-1-vehicles-exceeding-32-6-in-length-indicated-prohibited.webp) Vehicles exceeding 32'-6'' in length indicated prohibited - ![Vehicles exceeding 6'-6'' in width indicated prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/629-vehicles-exceeding-6-6-in-width-indicated-prohibited.webp) Vehicles exceeding 6'-6'' in width indicated prohibited - ![Vehicular traffic may reach the same destination by passing either side of the sign — UK road sign](/signs/uk/611-vehicular-traffic-may-reach-the-same-destination-by-passing.webp) Vehicular traffic may reach the same destination by passing either side of the sign - ![Vehicular traffic must not go beyond the sign where displayed temporarily by a constable in uniform or by a traffic warden — UK road sign](/signs/uk/633-vehicular-traffic-must-not-go-beyond-the-sign-where-displaye.webp) Vehicular traffic must not go beyond the sign where displayed temporarily by a constable in uniform or by a traffic warden - ![Vehicular traffic must proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow — UK road sign](/signs/uk/606-vehicular-traffic-must-proceed-in-the-direction-indicated-by.webp) Vehicular traffic must proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow - ![Vehicular traffic must turn ahead in the direction indicated by the arrow — UK road sign](/signs/uk/609-vehicular-traffic-must-turn-ahead-in-the-direction-indicated.webp) Vehicular traffic must turn ahead in the direction indicated by the arrow - ![Vehicular traffic passing the sign must keep to the left of the sign — UK road sign](/signs/uk/610-vehicular-traffic-passing-the-sign-must-keep-to-the-left-of.webp) Vehicular traffic passing the sign must keep to the left of the sign - ![All vehicles prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/618-1a-all-vehicles-prohibited.webp) All vehicles prohibited - ![All vehicles prohibited during the time indicated except for access — UK road sign](/signs/uk/618-1b-all-vehicles-prohibited-during-the-time-indicated-except-for.webp) All vehicles prohibited during the time indicated except for access - ![All vehicles prohibited from 'Play Street' during the period indicated except for access — UK road sign](/signs/uk/618-all-vehicles-prohibited-from-play-street-during-the-period-i.webp) All vehicles prohibited from 'Play Street' during the period indicated except for access - ![Buses and cycles excluded from restriction or prohibition conveyed by associated sign — UK road sign](/signs/uk/954-3-buses-and-cycles-excluded-from-restriction-or-prohibition-co.webp) Buses and cycles excluded from restriction or prohibition conveyed by associated sign - ![Direction of a system of lane control light signals — UK road sign](/signs/uk/5013-direction-of-a-system-of-lane-control-light-signals.webp) Direction of a system of lane control light signals - ![Distance and direction of a system of lane control light signals — UK road sign](/signs/uk/5014-distance-and-direction-of-a-system-of-lane-control-light-sig.webp) Distance and direction of a system of lane control light signals - ![Dual carriageway — UK road sign](/signs/uk/608-dual-carriageway.webp) Dual carriageway - ![End of a system of lane control light signals — UK road sign](/signs/uk/5015-end-of-a-system-of-lane-control-light-signals.webp) End of a system of lane control light signals - ![Goods vehicles requiring to enter the road for loading or unloading of goods are exempted from the prohibition conveyed by the associated sign — UK road sign](/signs/uk/620-1-goods-vehicles-requiring-to-enter-the-road-for-loading-or-un.webp) Goods vehicles requiring to enter the road for loading or unloading of goods are exempted from the prohibition conveyed by the associated sign - ![Indicates lane open for vehicular traffic — UK road sign](/signs/uk/5001-2-indicates-lane-open-for-vehicular-traffic.webp) Indicates lane open for vehicular traffic - ![Lane closed ahead vehicles must move to the next lane on the left — UK road sign](/signs/uk/5005-1-lane-closed-ahead-vehicles-must-move-to-the-next-lane-on-the.webp) Lane closed ahead vehicles must move to the next lane on the left - ![Lane control signal indicating that vehicles may not proceed along the lane directly beneath the signal — UK road sign](/signs/uk/5003-1-lane-control-signal-indicating-that-vehicles-may-not-proceed.webp) Lane control signal indicating that vehicles may not proceed along the lane directly beneath the signal - ![Lane control signals in operation on the road — UK road sign](/signs/uk/5010-lane-control-signals-in-operation-on-the-road.webp) Lane control signals in operation on the road - ![Lane control signals in operation on the road extending from the junction ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/5011-lane-control-signals-in-operation-on-the-road-extending-from.webp) Lane control signals in operation on the road extending from the junction ahead - ![Lane open to vehicular traffic — UK road sign](/signs/uk/5001-1-lane-open-to-vehicular-traffic.webp) Lane open to vehicular traffic - ![Location of a weight restriction ahead with indication of an alternative route — UK road sign](/signs/uk/818-4-location-of-a-weight-restriction-ahead-with-indication-of-an.webp) Location of a weight restriction ahead with indication of an alternative route - ![One-way traffic — UK road sign](/signs/uk/607-one-way-traffic.webp) One-way traffic - ![Stop before crossing the traverse line on the road and ensure the way is clear before entering a major road — UK road sign](/signs/uk/601-1-stop-before-crossing-the-traverse-line-on-the-road-and-ensur.webp) Stop before crossing the traverse line on the road and ensure the way is clear before entering a major road - ![System of lane control ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/5012-system-of-lane-control-ahead.webp) System of lane control ahead - ![Use of verge maintained in mown or ornamental condition by specified traffic prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/651-use-of-verge-maintained-in-mown-or-ornamental-condition-by-s.webp) Use of verge maintained in mown or ornamental condition by specified traffic prohibited - ![Vehicles carrying explosives prohibited — UK road sign](/signs/uk/622-8-622-9-vehicles-carrying-explosives-prohibited.webp) Vehicles carrying explosives prohibited - ![Vehicles exceeding a gross weight of 18T prohibited from crossing the bridge or structure — UK road sign](/signs/uk/626-2a-627-1-vehicles-exceeding-a-gross-weight-of-18t-prohibited-from-cro.webp) Vehicles exceeding a gross weight of 18T prohibited from crossing the bridge or structure - ![Vehicles exceeding a gross weight of 33T prohibited from crossing the bridge or structure — UK road sign](/signs/uk/626-2av6-627-1-vehicles-exceeding-a-gross-weight-of-33t-prohibited-from-cro.webp) Vehicles exceeding a gross weight of 33T prohibited from crossing the bridge or structure - ![Vehicles exceeding a gross weight of 7.5T prohibited from crossing the bridge or structure — UK road sign](/signs/uk/626-2av2-vehicles-exceeding-a-gross-weight-of-7-5t-prohibited-from-cr.webp) Vehicles exceeding a gross weight of 7.5T prohibited from crossing the bridge or structure - ![Vehicles requiring access are exempted from the prohibition conveyed by the associated sign — UK road sign](/signs/uk/620-vehicles-requiring-access-are-exempted-from-the-prohibition.webp) Vehicles requiring access are exempted from the prohibition conveyed by the associated sign ## Ready to test yourself on road signs? The free [road signs quiz](/theory-test/road-and-traffic-signs/practice-test/) uses the same official artwork, with an explanation for every answer. Revise the rules behind them in our [Road & Traffic Signs guide](/theory-test/road-and-traffic-signs/). [Start the road signs quiz](/theory-test/road-and-traffic-signs/practice-test/) ## Frequently asked questions **### How do you recognise regulatory signs?** Regulatory signs give orders, and most are circular. A red ring means something is prohibited — you must not do it — while a blue circle tells you what you must do. STOP (an octagon) and GIVE WAY (an upside-down triangle) break the shape rules so they stand out. Plates below can add times or exceptions. **### Do regulatory signs come up in the theory test?** Yes. Signs appear throughout the theory test, mainly in the Road & Traffic Signs topic and also in topics such as Road & Traffic Signs. Practise with our free questions until you can read each sign from its shape and colour. ## Which other road sign categories should you learn? - [Warning signs](/road-signs/warning-signs/) - [Speed limit signs](/road-signs/speed-limit-signs/) - [Motorway signs](/road-signs/motorway-signs/) - [Parking signs](/road-signs/parking-signs/) - [Level crossing signs](/road-signs/level-crossing-signs/) - [Pedestrian and cycle signs](/road-signs/pedestrian-and-cycle-signs/) - [Bus and tram signs](/road-signs/bus-and-tram-signs/) - [Road works signs](/road-signs/road-works-signs/) - [Traffic calming signs](/road-signs/traffic-calming-signs/) - [Information signs](/road-signs/information-signs/) - [Direction signs](/road-signs/direction-signs/) Traffic sign images: Crown copyright, Department for Transport. Reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. [Licence](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) · [Source](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/traffic-sign-images).