Know Your Traffic Signs

by Great Britain Department for Transport

Knowing your traffic signs can be a matter of life and death - yours or somebody else's. It takes a wide variety of signs, signals and road markings to convey quickly and accurately the wide range of information that drivers need. Although the Highway Code shows most of the commonly used signs which are prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations, it does not give a comprehensive explanation of our signing system. The aim of this booklet, therefore, is to illustrate and explain the vast majority of traffic signs the road user is likely to encounter.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Travel, Education

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Elif]

you cannot IMAGINE my excitement to read an actual book after having to put myself through this and the highway code.

[William]

There's obviously a huge practical benefit for this book, but anyone with a degree of pedantry will love some of the obscure facts in it. For example, we all know there of the triangular signs warning of animals - but can you name them all? (wild horses or ponies, wild fowl, sheep, cattle, migratory toad crossing and the generic "wild animals"). Do you know the traffic light symbols for tram drivers? Did you know those slip roads at large roundabouts are called "segregated left-turn lanes", or have you heard the terms "lane gain", "lane drop" and "deceleration lane" regarding motorway junctions? Did you know that anything that's not a motorway is known as an "all-purpose road", or that those chevron markers on motorways are 40 metres apart and designed for a safe driving distance at 70mph? You know what the symbol is telling you to leave a motorway, but what about the ones used to tell you not to join it? Did you know that motorway service areas are provided at distances of not more than 30 miles, or that direction signs for motorway junctions are at 1 mile and half a mile from the junction, whilst tourist destinations are at three quarters of a mile and a quarter of a mile? The section on parking, clearway, red routes and so on is also very detailed. Definitely came away with a greater appreciation of the work of road engineers after reading this.

[aimee]

worst graphic novel ever

[Rachel Sexton]

Useful when revising for the theory test to get your driver's licence

[Cherryonion]

Not the most riveting read, but it goes through all traffic signs and many of the different variations you'll see. Your instructor won't tell you what all the signs mean so you should read this before you start your lessons to have a good understanding of most of them by the time you're on the road. It will make the driving experience much less stressful and safer for you and others.

[Max Balch]

Good for learning to drive!

[Joe Shepherd]

Absolute literary masterpiece

[Željka Novak]

There is a lot of redundant information in this book which makes it very difficult to concentrate. For example there are pages and pages of signs that are self explanatory and don't need an explanation - because there are words on the sign. If you know how to read, you will understand what the sign means. Nonetheless, they are explained. E.g. a blue sign with these words on the sign: "Dual carriageway ahead". Explanation: A section of dual carriageway road begins directly ahead.

This book should be much more concise and more clearly written. Too much information makes it difficult to pick out the information that is actually important.

[Nzu]

This is obviously a very informational book. However there does seem to be a lot of “useless” information. Some really self explanatory signs being explained. However while writing this I have changed my rating from a 3 to a 4 as I remember my first line “don’t be a bridge basher” referring to people not realising how High their vehicles are and causing road accidents.

[Ekaterina Crawford]

I have to admit I did fall asleep a few times reading it. Not the most fascinating of the books I've read but one of the important. Make sure you read this if you plan to study for a driving license!

[RJC]

Dated but informative.

[Janine Harrison]

10 out of 10

I loved it I now know my car traffic the sign most part is I did not know its good

[Valentina]

the most boring thing i’ve ever read but at least we’re gonna smash this 2024 reading challenge

[Libby Brackenbury]

Plot was a tad slow tbh

[Ella Dijle]

as a last minute read before walking into my driving theory test. useful.

[Rama Ramaswamy]

Read it to pass your theory test, the information in there is vital. Recommended reading, though not pleasurable at all! ;-)

[Libby]

I mean, you can't really like a book like this, can you? Especially if you're studying for your theory.

However, it was a good study tool, so I gave it a 3 (I always think 2 means it's probably not worth it).

[Book Addict Shaun]

So. Many. Signs.