road sign shapes theory test uk
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MASTERING ROAD SIGN SHAPES
“When you know the shape, you know the sign — before you even read it!”
🔺 TRIANGLES = WARNING!
Shape Psychology: Triangles have sharp corners – they naturally grab your eye. And in the world of road signs, that’s exactly what they’re meant to do.
📍 Which way do they point?
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Pointing UP = Standard warning
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Pointing DOWN = Special case! That’s the “GIVE WAY” sign – the only triangle that flips direction.
🧠 Examples of Warning Signs:
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🚸 Children crossing
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🔁 Roundabout ahead
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🐄 Farm animals
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🌧 Slippery road
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↩️ Sharp bend left/right
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⚠️ General hazard ahead
🟡 Real Talk Driver Training-style:
“Triangles are like the wise old owl of road signs — always looking ahead, always watching your back. They say, ‘Look alive, something's coming!’ And the smart drivers? They listen.”
ROAD SIGN SHAPES
⭕ CIRCLES = ORDERS!
Circles are clear. Circles are confident. Circles say, “Do this” or “Don’t you dare.”
🔴 RED CIRCLES = Don’ts / Prohibitions
These are telling you what’s not allowed — no debates.
❌ Examples:
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🚫 No entry
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⛔ No motor vehicles
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🔕 No horn
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🔄 No U-turn
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↩️ No left turn / ↪️ No right turn
ROAD SIGN SHAPES
🔵 BLUE CIRCLES = Dos / Mandatory Instructions
When a blue circle speaks, you follow. These aren’t requests — they’re commands.
✅ Examples:
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⬅️ Turn left only
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➡️ Turn right only
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🔁 Mini roundabout
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⤴️ One-way ahead
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🚴 Cycle path (you must use it)
🟡 Sunny’s Order Decoder:
“Red circle = Stop that nonsense!
Blue circle = Follow the plan, Stan!
Every circle is an instruction, and confident drivers recognise the vibe immediately.”
⬜️ / 🟦 RECTANGLES = INFORMATION ZONE!
These signs are the friendly librarians of the road world. They won’t shout, but they’ll guide you quietly to where you need to be.
🔷 BLUE RECTANGLES = Motorway & Road Use Info
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🚗 Lane instructions
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🅿️ Parking permitted
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📵 End of restrictions
⚪️ WHITE RECTANGLES = General Info / Directions
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🛣 Road names
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🧭 Local signposting
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🏙 Place names
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🅿 Time-limited parking
Driver Training Says:
“Rectangles don’t want to rule your world — they want to support your journey. Think of them like the satnav of signs: low-key but essential.”
ROAD SIGN SHAPES
🔻 SPECIAL CASE: UPSIDE-DOWN TRIANGLE = GIVE WAY
This sign is a VIP. It's the only triangle pointing down — and when you see it, you're being told:
✋ “Let others go first — unless it’s safe, don’t you move.”
It’s a sacred moment in road sign language. Learn it. Respect it.