Command signs: what you must do

What is a command sign?

A command sign tells you something you must do. Command signs give four kinds of order:

• Direction. Pass an obstruction on one side, or go one way at an intersection.
• Minimum speed. Do not drive slower than the speed on the sign.
• "Only" signs. A road or part of a road is set aside for one kind of road user.
• Other orders. Pay toll, switch headlamps on, and roundabout.

Each sign is explained on its own under this chapter.

How do you read the arrow signs?

Go only in the direction the sign indicates.

• Keep left and Keep right stand at obstructions such as traffic islands. Pass on the side the sign indicates. Only one of the two is displayed at a time.
• Proceed left, right or straight only stand at intersections. Proceed means go on. Drive only in the direction of the arrow.
• Turn left only and Turn right only show which way you must turn at the intersection ahead.

"Keep" is about an obstruction. "Proceed" and "Turn" are about an intersection.

What does a taxis only or buses only sign mean?

It means a road, or a portion (part) of a road, is set aside for that kind of road user. Most command signs are "only" signs like this.

Every "only" sign works the same way:

• If the sign shows your kind of vehicle, you must use only that road or part of the road.
• If it does not, that road or part of the road is not for you.

You may use a set-aside road only when the sign showing your type of vehicle is displayed. So in a motor car, stay off a part set aside for taxis, minibuses, midibuses or buses. Where a sign is for pedestrians or cyclists, do not drive there at all.

What do GVM and GCM mean on a road sign?

GVM stands for Gross Vehicle Mass. GCM stands for Gross Combination Mass.

Two command signs for heavy vehicles show a mass as a number. Both signs are about vehicles with a GVM or GCM of more than that number.

The fine print

Most "only" signs stand at the beginning of the road or part of the road. A few stand where their vehicles work: mining and industrial areas, farm areas, tourist attractions, stations and airports.

Mistakes learners make

• Reading a minimum speed sign as the fastest you may go. It is the slowest: do not drive slower than the speed on the sign.
• Driving a motor car on a part of the road set aside for taxis or buses. You may use it only when the sign shows your type of vehicle.
• Mixing up Keep left with Turn left only. Keep left is for passing an obstruction. Turn left only is for the intersection ahead.
• Waiting until the last moment at a Pay toll sign. Decide in good time which route to follow.

Signs in this chapter

Minimum speed signThis sign regulates (controls) the minimum speed of traffic. Minimum means the slowest speed you may drive.

Vehicles exceeding mass onlyThis sign compels (forces) drivers of certain heavy vehicles to use the road or part of the road it indicates. The sign shows a mass in…

Keep leftYou must drive to the left of the obstruction where this sign is displayed.

Keep rightYou must drive to the right of the obstruction where this sign is displayed.

Proceed left onlyYou must proceed (go on) to the left.

Proceed right onlyYou must proceed (go on) to the right.

Proceed straight onlyYou must proceed (go on) straight.

Turn left onlyYou must turn left at the intersection ahead.

Turn right onlyYou must turn right at the intersection ahead.

Pedestrians onlyThe road or part of the road may be used by pedestrians (people on foot) only.

Cyclists onlyThe road or part of the road may be used by cyclists (people riding bicycles) only.

Cyclists and pedestrians onlyA road or part of a road may be used by cyclists and/or pedestrians only. The sign also shows cyclists and pedestrians which part of the…

Cyclists and pedestrians onlyThis is one of the Cyclists and pedestrians only signs. A road or part of a road may be used by cyclists and/or pedestrians only.

Motorcycles onlyA road or part of a road may be used by motorcyclists only.

Motor cars onlyA road or part of a road may be used by motor cars only.

Taxis onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by taxis.

Minibuses onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by minibuses.

Midi buses onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by midibuses.

Buses onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by buses.

Delivery vehicles onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by delivery vehicles only.

Goods vehicles onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by goods vehicles.

Goods vehicles exceeding an indicated GVMThe road or a part of the road is set aside for goods vehicles with a GVM or GCM exceeding (more than) the mass indicated. The mass is…

Construction vehicles onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by construction vehicles.

Vehicles transporting dangerous substances onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by vehicles conveying (carrying) dangerous goods.

Abnormal vehicles onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by abnormal vehicles.

Rickshaws onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by rickshaws.

Tour buses onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by tour buses.

Agricultural vehicles onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by agricultural vehicles.

Animal-drawn vehicles onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by animal-drawn vehicles.

Buses and minibuses onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by buses and minibuses.

Buses and midi buses onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by buses and midibuses.

Buses, midi buses and minibuses onlyThe road or a part of the road is set aside for use by buses, midibuses and minibuses.

Pay tollThis sign gives you a last opportunity (chance) to follow an alternative route (another route). If you do not take it, you proceed on the…

Switch headlamps onYou must switch on your headlights. The reason is to see and be seen.

RoundaboutYou must move in a clockwise direction at the junction. Clockwise is the way the hands of a clock turn.

Test yourself

1. Question 1

   

   You are driving on a road where the sign shown is displayed. What does the sign require of you?

   • A Not to drive faster than the speed indicated
   • B To reduce speed and prepare to stop
   • C Not to drive slower than the speed indicated
   Show answer

   Answer: C: Not to drive slower than the speed indicated

   The Minimum speed sign means you must not drive slower than the speed shown on it.

2. Question 2

   

   You reach an intersection where the sign shown is displayed, but your destination lies in another direction. In which direction are you permitted to drive?

   • A In any direction, provided it is safe
   • B Towards your destination, after yielding to traffic
   • C Only in the direction indicated by the arrow
   Show answer

   Answer: C: Only in the direction indicated by the arrow

   You may drive only in the direction that the arrow on the sign shows.

3. Question 3

   What does the abbreviation GVM stand for?

   • A General Vehicle Mass
   • B Gross Vehicle Measurement
   • C Gross Vehicle Mass
   Show answer

   Answer: C: Gross Vehicle Mass

   GVM stands for Gross Vehicle Mass.

4. Question 4

   What does the abbreviation GCM stand for?

   • A Gross Combination Mass
   • B Gross Cargo Mass
   • C Gross Carrying Mass
   Show answer

   Answer: A: Gross Combination Mass

   GCM stands for Gross Combination Mass.

5. Question 5

   Which of these signs is displayed at obstructions such as traffic islands?

   

   

   

   Show answer

   Answer: Picture A

   Keep left and Keep right signs are found at obstructions such as traffic islands.

6. Question 6

   True or false?

   At an obstruction, the Keep left sign and the Keep right sign are both displayed at the same time.

   Show answer

   Answer: False

   False: only one of the two signs is displayed at a time.