Road sign shapes and colours in South Africa
You can tell a lot about a road sign before you are close enough to read it. Its shape tells you what kind of message it gives, and a yellow background tells you it is temporary. The test asks about the groups of signs, their shapes and what you must do about each kind.
What are road traffic signs for?
Road traffic signs regulate traffic. They are there so that traffic keeps flowing and the road stays safe.
What are the six groups of road traffic signs?
Road traffic signs are divided into six main groups:
- regulatory signs
- warning signs
- guidance signs
- information signs
- road markings
- traffic signals
Notice the last two. Road markings and traffic signals count as road traffic signs, even though they are not boards on a pole.
What does the shape of a road sign mean?
The shape tells you which group the sign belongs to. Each group has its ordinary shape:
- Round: a regulatory sign.
- Triangular: a warning sign.
- Rectangular: a guidance sign.
Learn these three first. They let you know what kind of message is coming while you are still far from the sign.
What does a regulatory sign tell you to do?
A regulatory sign regulates and controls the actions of road users. It either prohibits (forbids) an action or commands (orders) you to do one.
You have no choice with these signs. Failing to obey a regulatory sign is an offence. It is punishable by a fine or imprisonment or both.
Regulatory signs are divided into these kinds:
- control signs
- command signs
- prohibition signs
- reservation signs
- comprehensive signs
- selective restriction signs
- combination signs
- de-restriction signs
Which regulatory signs are not round?
Regulatory signs are usually round, but there are exceptions. The official rules name these:
- The stop sign is octagonal (eight-sided).
- The yield (give way) sign is triangular.
- Pedestrian priority signs are diamond-shaped.
These are still regulatory signs, so you must obey them.
What do warning, guidance and information signs do?
Warning signs alert you in time to dangerous conditions on or next to the road. The warning comes early so that you can get ready.
Guidance signs are an aid to the road user. Information signs supply general information to the road user.
Do road markings count as road signs?
Yes. Road markings regulate, control and warn traffic.
They do this by defining the limits of the carriageway (roadway) and of the traffic lanes. They are also used to direct traffic in a specific direction.
It is an offence to disregard a regulatory road marking, just as it is with a regulatory sign.
What do traffic signals do?
Traffic signals regulate vehicles and pedestrians. A traffic light (robot) is a traffic signal. Failing to obey a traffic signal is punishable.
What does a yellow road sign mean?
A sign with a yellow background is a temporary sign. It shows a change in normal circumstances. The change may last for a few minutes, hours or even months.
The message of a temporary sign is that normal standards do not apply. So you must give more attention to the specific circumstances in front of you.
Each road traffic sign has its own number. A number that begins with a T indicates a temporary sign.
Where will you see temporary signs?
Temporary signs are typically used at:
- road works and maintenance
- construction sites and other building sites
- collision scenes
- temporary traffic accommodation or temporary traffic control, including school grounds and scholar patrols
How must you drive when you act on a sign?
Apply the System of Vehicle Control during any action you take at a road traffic sign. The system of vehicle control is the sequential (step by step) process of defensive driving.
The fine print
Guidance signs come in different sizes. If the message is short, the rectangular sign is small. Guidance signs used for guidance or directing, and ones that are fairly complicated, are relatively big.
Numbers to remember
- 6 main groups of road traffic signs
Mistakes learners make
- Thinking every regulatory sign is round. The stop sign is octagonal, the yield sign is triangular and pedestrian priority signs are diamond-shaped.
- Treating the yield sign as a warning sign because it is a triangle. The yield sign is a regulatory sign, so you must obey it.
- Thinking a yellow sign is a warning sign. A yellow background means the sign is temporary and normal standards do not apply.
- Thinking only signs on poles can get you into trouble. It is also an offence to disregard a regulatory road marking.
- Leaving road markings and traffic signals out of the six groups. Both are main groups of road traffic signs.
Signs in this chapter
Test yourself
Question 1
Which ONE of the following is NOT a function of regulatory signs?
Show answer
Answer: A: To alert road users to dangerous conditions
Regulatory signs prohibit or command; alerting you to danger is the job of warning signs.
Question 2
True or false?
Failure to obey a regulatory sign is an offence.
Show answer
Answer: True
It is an offence (breaking the law) not to obey a regulatory sign.
Question 3
What is the ordinary shape of regulatory signs?
Show answer
Answer: B: Round
The ordinary (usual) shape of regulatory signs is round.
Question 4
Which group of road traffic signs alerts road users in time to dangerous conditions on or next to the road?
Show answer
Answer: A: Warning signs
Warning signs tell you in good time about danger on or next to the road.
Question 5
Triangular is the ordinary shape of which group of road traffic signs?
Show answer
Answer: C: Warning signs
The ordinary (usual) shape of warning signs is triangular, which means three sides.
Question 6
True or false?
The ordinary shape of guidance signs is round.
Show answer
Answer: False
The ordinary (usual) shape of guidance signs is rectangular, not round.
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