Prohibition signs and what they mean

What does a prohibition sign mean?

A prohibition sign tells you that something is prohibited (not allowed). Each sign is about one thing: a speed, a size, a turn, parking, or one kind of road user.

When you see one, ask yourself one question: does this apply to me and my vehicle? If it does, you must obey it.

The signs fall into four groups:

• signs with a number, which set a limit
• signs that prohibit a turn or overtaking
• signs that prohibit parking, stopping, noise, hitch-hiking or hawkers
• signs that keep one kind of vehicle or road user out

How do you read a prohibition sign with a number on it?

The number is a limit. If you or your vehicle are over the number, the sign applies to you.

A Speed limit sign tells you the speed limit on that road. You must not drive faster than the speed on the sign. The limit applies from the sign.

The other number signs are about the mass or size of a vehicle:

• Mass limit and Axle mass limit: the number is a mass in tons. These signs keep certain heavy vehicles off a road.
• Height limit: the number is a height in metres. The load on your vehicle counts too.
• Width limit: the number is a width in metres. Compare it with the overall width of your vehicle.
• Goods vehicles exceeding an indicated GVM: the number is a mass in tonnes. It is for goods vehicles over that mass.
• Length limit: this sign is for long vehicles. On that road a long vehicle cannot get around a curve, or its turn would disrupt or endanger other traffic.

If your vehicle is over the limit, that road is closed to you. Use another road. If the mass of your vehicle is less than the number on a Mass limit sign, you may use the road.

The mass signs use two short forms: GVM (gross vehicle mass) and GCM (gross combination mass). At an Axle mass limit sign, check each axle. One axle over the number is enough to keep you off that road.

What do the no-turn and no-overtaking signs tell you?

A no-turn sign prohibits one turn. Look at which turn it is.

Some no-turn signs stand before a junction. They tell you which turn is prohibited at the intersection ahead. Others stand at the intersection itself.

A no-turn sign closes one direction only:

• Where a left turn is prohibited, you may go straight or turn right.
• Where a right turn is prohibited, you may go straight or turn left.

A U-turn prohibited sign means you may not turn your vehicle around to face the opposite direction. You find it before an intersection or on the far side of one.

The Overtaking prohibited sign R214 means you may not overtake any vehicle for the next 500m. A second sign, R215, tells the driver of a heavy motor vehicle not to overtake another heavy vehicle.

What is the difference between no parking and no stopping?

Parking prohibited means you may not park there, at any time of the day or night. Stopping prohibited goes further: you may not even stop your vehicle.

The Stopping prohibited sign names three cases where you may still stop:

• to obey a traffic light (robot)
• to obey a traffic officer
• to avoid a collision

Both signs have a reason. Parking is prohibited where the road is narrow, near an intersection, or where a parked vehicle can block the view of other drivers. Stopping is prohibited to keep traffic flowing and to keep stationary (standing still) vehicles from blocking drivers' views.

A Hawkers prohibited sign is used in the same kinds of places. It prohibits hawkers there at any time of the day or night. Do not stop or park for hawkers where you see it.

Which signs keep one kind of vehicle out?

Many prohibition signs are for one kind of vehicle or road user. The sign tells that driver or rider not to go past it.

There is a sign like this for each of these:

• motorcars, taxis and minibuses
• midibuses, buses and tour buses
• delivery vehicles, goods vehicles and construction vehicles
• agricultural vehicles and abnormal vehicles
• vehicles carrying dangerous goods
• animal-drawn vehicles, rickshaws and horse riders

To read one, find out which kind of vehicle the sign is about. If that is what you are driving, you may not go past the sign.

Two signs of this kind matter most to a learner in a car:

• Motorcars prohibited: do not enter the area if you are driving a motorcar. The reason can be safety or any other reason.
• Towed vehicles prohibited: do not enter the area if you are towing another vehicle or a trailer.

An Unauthorised vehicles prohibited sign is used where a road must be closed to general traffic. Do not go past it or enter the road unless you have special permission.

Must drivers still watch for pedestrians and cyclists where they are prohibited?

Yes. Where pedestrians or pedal cycles (bicycles) are prohibited, you as a driver must still look out for them. Some people use the road even though it is prohibited.

These signs are there because pedestrians and cyclists on that road could be a danger to themselves and to other road users. A pedestrian may not enter or cross a road where the Pedestrians prohibited sign is displayed.

Which distances must you know for prohibition signs?

Three prohibition signs come with a distance:

• Excessive noise prohibited: do not use your hooter for 100 metres after passing the sign. A vehicle with a high noise level may not go past the sign at all.
• Hitch-hiking prohibited: a driver may not pick up passengers for the next 500m. A pedestrian may not try to be picked up by a passing vehicle.
• Overtaking prohibited (R214): do not overtake any vehicle for the next 500m.

The noise sign is usually near hospitals, churches and homes for the aged. That is the reason for the hooter rule: people there need quiet.

The fine print

• Most prohibition signs can be found on any public road. The signs for one kind of vehicle can also be on a lane, path or area.
• If a Motorcycles prohibited sign is displayed on a freeway, motorcyclists must leave the freeway at the first exit.
• Horses and riders prohibited applies whether the rider is mounted on the horse or leading it.
• Length limit signs are found especially in mountainous areas.
• A Stopping prohibited sign may be used together with a red "no stopping line".
• The temporary Unauthorised vehicles prohibited sign is usually displayed at road works.

Numbers to remember

• 100 metres: no hooter after passing an Excessive noise prohibited sign
• 500m: a driver may not pick up passengers after a Hitch-hiking prohibited sign
• 500m: do not overtake any vehicle after the Overtaking prohibited sign R214

Mistakes learners make

• Thinking Parking prohibited only counts in the daytime. It applies at any time of the day or night.
• Thinking Left turn prohibited means you must go straight. You may go straight or turn right.
• Thinking nobody will be walking where pedestrians are prohibited. You must still look out for pedestrians on that road.
• Mixing up the distances. The hooter rule is 100 metres. The hitch-hiking and overtaking rules are 500m.
• Forgetting the load at a Height limit sign. If your load is higher than the height on the sign, you must use another road.

Signs in this chapter

Speed limitThis sign tells you the speed limit on this road. The limit applies from the sign.

Mass limitThis sign keeps certain heavy vehicles off a road or part of a road. The number on the sign is a mass in tons.

Axle mass limitThis sign prohibits certain heavy vehicles from using the road. The number on the sign is a mass in tons.

Height limitThis sign tells you there is a height restriction ahead. The number on the sign is a height in metres.

Length limitThis sign prohibits long vehicles from using the road. On this road a long vehicle cannot get around a curve, or its turn would disrupt or…

Excessive noise prohibitedThis sign prohibits noise.

Hitch-hiking prohibitedThis sign prohibits hitch-hiking (trying to get a lift from a passing vehicle).

Unauthorised vehicles prohibitedThis sign prohibits drivers who do not have special authorisation from entering a certain road or section of a road.

Unauthorised vehicles prohibitedThis is the temporary Unauthorised vehicles prohibited sign. It prohibits drivers who do not have special authorisation from entering a…

Left turn ahead prohibitedThis sign prohibits vehicles from turning left at the intersection ahead.

Right turn ahead prohibitedThis sign prohibits vehicles from turning right at the intersection ahead.

Left turn prohibitedThis sign prohibits traffic from turning left.

Right turn prohibitedThis sign prohibits traffic from turning right.

U-turn prohibitedThis sign prohibits a U-turn (turning your vehicle around to face the opposite direction).

Overtaking prohibitedThis sign (R214) tells you that overtaking is prohibited for the next 500m.

Overtaking prohibitedWhere this sign (R215) is displayed, the driver of a heavy motor vehicle may not overtake another heavy vehicle.

Parking prohibitedThis sign prohibits parking at any time of the day or night.

Stopping prohibitedThis sign prohibits stopping. It keeps traffic flowing and keeps stationary (standing still) vehicles from blocking drivers' views.

Pedestrians prohibitedThis sign prohibits pedestrians (people on foot) from going past it. Past the sign they could be a danger to themselves and to vehicles.

Pedal cycles prohibitedThis sign prohibits cyclists from using the carriageway, lane or path. There they can be a danger to themselves and to other road users.

Pedal cycles and pedestrians prohibitedThis sign keeps cyclists and pedestrians off a road or a section of a road. There they can be a danger to themselves or to other road users.

Motorcycles prohibitedThis sign prohibits motorcycles on part of a carriageway, for safety reasons.

Motorcars prohibitedThis sign prohibits motorcars from entering the area, for safety or any other reasons.

Taxis prohibitedThis sign tells the driver of a taxi that he or she must not go past the sign.

Minibuses prohibitedThis sign tells the driver of a minibus that he or she must not go past the sign.

Midi buses prohibitedThis sign tells the driver of a midibus that he or she must not go past the sign.

Buses prohibitedThis sign tells the driver of a bus that he or she must not go past the sign.

Delivery vehicles prohibitedThis sign tells the driver of a delivery vehicle that he or she must not go past the sign.

Goods vehicles prohibitedThis sign tells the driver of a goods vehicle that he or she must not go past the sign.

Goods vehicles exceeding an indicated GVMThis sign tells the driver of a goods vehicle over a certain mass that he or she must not go past the sign. The mass is shown in tonnes…

Construction vehicles prohibitedThis sign tells the driver of a construction vehicle that he or she must not go past the sign.

Vehicles transporting dangerous substances prohibitedThis sign tells the driver of a vehicle carrying dangerous goods that he or she must not go past the sign.

Abnormal vehicles prohibitedThis sign tells the driver of an abnormal vehicle that he or she must not go past the sign.

Rickshaws prohibitedThis sign tells a person pulling a rickshaw that he or she must not go past the sign.

Tour buses prohibitedThis sign tells the driver of a tour bus that he or she must not go past the sign.

Agricultural vehicles prohibitedThis sign tells the driver of an agricultural vehicle that he or she must not go past the sign.

Animal-drawn vehicles prohibitedThis sign tells the driver of an animal-drawn vehicle that he or she must not go past the sign.

Horses and riders prohibitedThis sign tells a horse rider that horses and riders are prohibited beyond the sign.

Width limitThis sign sets a width limit for vehicles going past it. The width is shown in metres, by a number on the sign.

Towed vehicles prohibitedThis sign tells drivers that no vehicle that is towing another vehicle may go past the sign.

Hawkers prohibitedThis sign prohibits hawkers in the area at any time of the day or night.

Test yourself

1. Question 1

   

   True or false?

   The speed indicated on a Speed limit sign is a recommended speed, which a driver is permitted to exceed when the road is clear.

   Show answer

   Answer: False

   You must not drive faster than the speed shown on a Speed limit sign.

2. Question 2

   

   For what distance after passing an Excessive noise prohibited sign may the hooter of the vehicle not be used?

   • A 50 metres
   • B 100 metres
   • C 500 metres
   Show answer

   Answer: B: 100 metres

   After the Excessive noise prohibited sign you may not use your hooter for 100 metres.

3. Question 3

   

   The sign shown is displayed before the intersection which you are approaching. Which action is prohibited at the intersection?

   • A Turning right
   • B Proceeding straight
   • C Turning left
   Show answer

   Answer: C: Turning left

   The Left turn ahead prohibited sign means you must not turn left at the intersection.

4. Question 4

   

   True or false?

   Where a Right turn prohibited sign is displayed at an intersection, a driver is permitted to proceed straight or to turn left.

   Show answer

   Answer: True

   Where a Right turn prohibited sign is displayed, you may go straight or turn left.

5. Question 5

   Which of these signs informs you that you must not turn your vehicle around so that it faces the opposite direction?

   

   

   

   Show answer

   Answer: Picture A

   The U-turn prohibited sign means you must not turn your vehicle around to face the opposite direction.

6. Question 6

   

   You are driving a light motor vehicle behind a slow truck and pass Overtaking prohibited sign R214. What does the sign require?

   • A Do not overtake any vehicle for the next 100m
   • B Overtake the truck; the sign applies to heavy vehicles only
   • C Do not overtake any vehicle for the next 500m
   Show answer

   Answer: C: Do not overtake any vehicle for the next 500m

   At sign R214 or TR214 you must not overtake any vehicle for the next 500m.