Guidance signs help you find your way. This chapter covers the symbols on them, route markers, direction signs, freeway direction signs and diagrammatic signs. The test asks what each kind tells you and what you must do when you see it.
What are guidance signs for?
Guidance signs help you find your way. They give early indications that you will soon reach a particular place.
So a guidance sign gives you time. You read it, decide where you want to go, and get into position before you reach the place.
What do the symbols on guidance signs mean?
Each symbol stands for one kind of place. Some signs give a name, such as a river name, a freeway name or an interchange name. Other symbols stand for a place people travel to, such as a railway station, an airport, a harbour, parking or a toll plaza.
Tourism symbols stand for attractions. They come in groups:
national parks
provincial, regional and district parks
resorts, such as hot springs or a seaside/beach resort
scenic attractions, such as a waterfall, caves or a view point
sports attractions, such as a golf course or a sport stadium
Two more symbols belong to descents (downhill roads): arrestor bed and change to lower gear.
The test can ask for the name of a symbol. Learn each symbol together with its name.
What is a route marker?
A route marker tells you about the route itself: its number, its direction or where it leads.
A trailblazer points out the direction you must follow to reach the more important route. A transport trailblazer points out the direction of a transport terminus: a bus terminus, harbour, airport or helipad.
A confirmation route marker confirms the number and the status of the route on which you are travelling. There are four kinds of numbered routes: metropolitan, regional, provincial and national.
A direction route marker shows the route number of a class-B route.
An alternative route marker points out that a route other than the toll route can be followed.
A bicycle route marker shows a special route for cyclists only.
At most route markers you do the same three things. Make sure which route you want to follow. Slow down for the intersection. Take the correct route.
How do you read a direction sign?
A direction sign shows route numbers and destinations (the places you can reach). Read both, then choose your route.
A stack-type sign shows the numbers of the routes leading from an intersection and the destinations that can be reached from it.
A map-type sign also shows the shape of the intersection ahead.
A fingerboard guides you to small locations or to destinations on less travelled routes.
An overhead direction sign tells you in advance which lane leads to a specific destination.
The word advance in a sign's name means it helps you before the intersection. Use it to decide where you want to go before you reach the actual intersection. At an overhead sign, move in good time to the correct lane.
At the intersection itself, slow down and take the correct route. Look out for other traffic that might not yield (give way).
How do you know you are on the right route?
A confirmation sign tells you. It confirms the route to a destination and shows the distance in kilometres.
On a freeway, the confirmation sign confirms that you are on your way to the places on the sign. It also confirms that those places are at the distances given.
Take note of the destinations and, in particular, the distances. They help you plan your trip: where to fill up, where to rest.
Which signs lead you to a freeway exit?
A set of signs leads you to the off-ramp (freeway exit), each one closer to the exit.
The pre-advance exit direction sign and the advance exit direction sign show early on that there is an exit from the freeway ahead. If you want to leave the freeway, move to the left hand lane in good time.
The supplementary exit direction sign confirms the exit. If you want to leave the freeway, you should be in the extreme left hand lane by now.
The exit direction sign shows exactly where the exit is. Only leave the freeway if you are in the left-hand lane.
The gore exit sign shows the separation between the off-ramp and the main road. Pass on its left-hand side if you want to leave the freeway. Pass on its right-hand side if you do not.
The pattern is simple: you leave a freeway from the left-hand lane. Start moving left at the first sign, so you have time to change lanes safely.
The off-ramp ends at an intersection. Signs there tell you which lane leads to which destination. Move to the correct lane in good time. Slow down and be ready to stop, turn left or turn right.
Which signs help you join a freeway?
On-ramp direction signs do. They stand on ordinary roads.
The first sign shows that your road crosses a freeway, and where that freeway is leading to. Decide on the direction and route you want. Then position your vehicle to join the on-ramp or to proceed straight ahead.
The next signs show the position of each on-ramp:
At a near-side on-ramp sign, slow down and turn in the direction of the sign, or proceed straight ahead.
At a far-side on-ramp sign, slow down and make sure you are in the right-hand lane if you want to join the freeway.
What must you do at a diagrammatic sign?
Make sure in time that there is a big enough gap in the traffic to merge with the traffic. Also yield (give way) to other traffic which might merge.
This one action applies to all the diagrammatic signs. It applies whenever a lane ends, converges (comes together with another), merges or is added.
A diagrammatic sign guides you with a diagram. The diagram can show that:
one of the lanes of a carriageway (the part of the road vehicles drive on) comes to an end
a lane merges with another lane, or roadways join
the number of lanes will be increased soon
On some of these signs a dotted arrow shows opposing traffic flow (traffic coming towards you).
Two diagrammatic signs are for descents (downhill roads). One shows that there is an arrestor bed ahead. Should the brakes of your vehicle fail, drive straight into the arrestor bed. The other warns that you must engage a lower gear because of a steep descent.
The fine print
On a freeway, the pre-advance exit direction sign stands about 2 km before an off-ramp exit. The advance exit direction sign stands about 1 km before it. The supplementary exit direction sign stands about 500m before it.
The freeway confirmation sign stands about 750 m after you enter a freeway, and after that every 5 to 10 km.
An exit sequence sign stands about 2km before the first exit on the sign.
Some freeway direction signs have an urban sign and a rural sign.
Numbers to remember
about 2 km: how far before a freeway off-ramp exit the pre-advance exit direction sign stands
about 1 km: how far before a freeway off-ramp exit the advance exit direction sign stands
about 500m: how far before a freeway off-ramp exit the supplementary exit direction sign stands
about 750 m: how far after you enter a freeway the first confirmation sign stands
every 5 to 10 km: how often the confirmation sign is repeated along a freeway after the first one
about 2km: how far before the first exit on the sign an exit sequence sign stands
Mistakes learners make
Waiting for the exit direction sign before you move left. Move to the left hand lane in good time, at the first exit sign.
Passing the gore exit sign on the wrong side. Pass on the left-hand side to leave the freeway and on the right-hand side if you do not want to leave.
Mixing up the confirmation route marker and the confirmation sign. The route marker confirms the number and status of your route. The confirmation sign confirms the route to a destination and gives the distance in kilometres.
Thinking a diagrammatic sign gives you the right to move over. Make sure in time that there is a big enough gap, and yield to other traffic which might merge.
Driving on a route marked by a bicycle route marker. Do not use this route: it is for cyclists only.
C To help with navigation by indicating places soon to be reached
Show answer
Answer: C: To help with navigation by indicating places soon to be reached
Guidance signs help you find your way by telling you early that a place is coming up.
Question 2
Which ONE of the following is NOT indicated by a Stack-type advance direction sign?
A The condition of the road surface beyond the intersection
B The numbers of the routes leading from an intersection
C The destinations that can be reached from the intersection
Show answer
Answer: A: The condition of the road surface beyond the intersection
The sign shows route numbers and the destinations you can reach, not the condition of the road surface.
Question 3
Which of these signs indicates the distance in kilometres to destinations?
ABC
Show answer
Answer: Picture B
The Confirmation sign (GD3) shows the distance to destinations in kilometres.
Question 4
Which of these signs gives advance guidance regarding the shape of the intersection ahead?
ABC
Show answer
Answer: Picture A
The Map-type advance direction sign gives advance guidance about the shape of the intersection ahead.
Question 5
You are travelling on a road with several traffic lanes and see an Overhead direction sign. Your destination is indicated for a different lane. What must you do?
A Change lanes only at the last moment
B Stop in your lane until the other lane is clear
C Move in good time to the correct lane
Show answer
Answer: C: Move in good time to the correct lane
At an Overhead direction sign you must move in good time to the correct lane for your destination or route.
Question 6
True or false?
At an Advance exit direction sign, a driver who wants to leave the freeway should move to the right-hand lane in good time.
Show answer
Answer: False
False: if you want to leave the freeway, you move to the left hand lane in good time.
Reading is slow. A five-minute DRIVE teaches you this faster.
