Typical Symbols shown on Directional Signs with Examples
Contents
Direction Sign Background Colours
Green backgrounds represent a directional sign on a Primary Route.
In some cases they can be used to guide pedestrians, cycles and equestrians of a particular route to take. These signs have a pedestrian, cycle or horse symbol on them respectively.
White backgrounds with a black border represent a directional sign on a Non-Primary Route, or a local route.
Blue backgrounds are used for Motorways.
In some cases they can be used to guide pedestrians, cycles and equestrians of a particular route to take. These signs have a pedestrian, cycle or horse symbol on them respectively.
Black backgrounds are used to direct goods vehicle traffic to a suitable route.
White backgrounds with red borders are used to direct traffic to an Ministry of Defence site.
Brown backgrounds are used to direct traffic to a tourist attraction or a tourist route.
Yellow backgrounds are used on signs that are used to denote a temporary or diversion route.
Red backgrounds are used on signs that are used to denote a route for works traffic through road works.
Destination Panels used on Directional Signs
Destination panels use the same rules as above
This panel is used to indicate a motorway commences from the junction ahead.
This panel is used to indicate a Primary route commences from the junction ahead.
This panel is used to indicate a Non primary route commences from the junction ahead.
This panel is used to indicate a tourist attraction can be reached from the junction ahead.
This panel is used to indicate a route that goods vehicles should use to reach the destination
This panel is used to indicate a Ministry of Defence site.
This panel is used to indicate a cycle route that cyclists can use to reacha destination
Upper: Panel indicating a route to a motorway service area, access to which is reached from a primary or non-primary route
Lower: Panel indicating a route to services on primary or non-primary route (Shown on a primary route sign)
General Symbols used on all Types of Directional Signs
Route leading directly to a motorway (for use on signs indicating a motorway entry slip road)
Route for goods vehicles
Route for pedal cycles
Route for pedestrians
Route equestrians
Airport
National Rail Station
UPPER: London Underground station.
LOWER: London Buses station.
Vehicular Ferry. The symbols have either a car, lorry or both to denote the applicable vehicles that can use it.
Pedestrian Ferry.
Examples of temporary diversion routes. Traffic should follow these symbols to reach the original route.
Recycling Centre
Public Toilets
Facilites for Disabled Pedestrians
Shopmobility
Public Telephone
Road Charging
Police Station
Hospital with A&E
Hospital with A&E, but not 24hrs
Hospital without A&E
Park and Ride Scheme, that utilises a bus
Park and Ride Scheme, that utilises the London Underground
Park and Ride Scheme, that utilises a tram
Off-street Parking Place suitable for all vehicles
Off-street Parking Place suitable for motorcars
Off-street Parking Place suitable for buses
Off-street Parking Place suitable for motorcyles
Off-street Parking Place suitable for caravans
Off-street Parking Place suitable for HGVs
Off-street Parking Place suitable for electric motorcyles
Off-street Parking Place suitable for electric motorcars
Off-street Parking Place with an information point
Off-street parking for cycles
Off-street parking for cycles
Regional CycleRoute
National Cycle Route
Junction number for a motorway junction
Symbols Representing Tourist Destinations
Tourist Information Point
Castle of historic or architectural interest
House of historic or architectural interest
Picnic site
Youth hostel
Caravan camping site
Outdoor camping site
Woodland recreation area
Viewpoint
Light refreshments
Restaurant
Overnight accommodation
National Trust property
Manx National Heritage site
Flower garden
Tourist or historic railway
Watersports activity
Church
Cathederal
Wildlife Park
Windmill
Zoo
Agricultural museum
Equestrian centre
Country park
Bird garden
Pleasure or theme park
Nature reserve
Historic dockyard
Air museum
Farm park
Pottery or craft centre
Manx Electric Railway
Laxey Wheel
Manx Crosses
Raad ny Foillan (Way of the Gull)
Traffic Signs that can be incorporated into Directional Signs
Tunnel
Headroom through an arch bridge or obstruction
Zebra crossing
Cattle grid
Open tram crossing
Low electrified cables
Cycle crossing
UPPER: No left turn
LOWER: No right turn
No U-turn
No entry to vehicular traffic
No vehicles (with exception plate)
Environmental weight limit
Examples of Signs being Incorporated into Directional Signs
Symbols used Exclusively on Stack-type Signs
A stack-type sign is a type of sign where the directions towards the destination are in their own section of the sign. An arrow is used to denote the direction of the route at the junction ahead. Stack‑type signs are intended for use only at simple junctions and should not indicate more than three directions. Where four or more directions are to be signed a map‑type sign may be used. Stack‑type signs may supplement map‑type signs (i.e. where there are two advance direction signs on the approach to a junction and the first is a map‑type sign, the second may be a stack‑type sign)
White arrows are used on signs with a blue, brown or black backgrounds
Red arrows are only used in conjunction with a red bordered sign to denote a Ministry of Defence site.
Black arrows are used on signs with a white or yellow background
These arrows are used to denote a u-turn is required at a roundabout ahead.
Examples of Stack-type signs
A named crossroads ahead with non-primary routes extending left and right, with a tourist destination. The M11 can be reached by turning onto another route ahead.
A non-primary route to the left ahead.
A sign on a non-primary route where the destinations have distances in miles.
A non-primary directional sign where a cycle route extends from the left and a parking place for buses and cars are to the right.
Symbols used Exclusively on Map-type Signs
A stack-type sign is a type of sign where the directions towards the destination are next to a diagram of the physical layout of the junction. These are typically used where the junction layout is more complex, with more directions.
The routes off a junction on a map-type sign are shown in three weights as described below:
A. Used to denote the route extending from the junction is a primary route or a motorway.
B. Used to denote that the route is a numbered non-primary route and for other roads of traffic importance.
C. Used for minor rural roads or local urban roads that are not intended for through traffic.
Stubs are used to denote a route with no destination of traffic importance
These symbols are used to denote an exit slip road on motorway or dual carriageway.
These symbols are used where the junction is on a dual carriageway.
This denotes a roundabout. Below are different symbols for different roundabout types
This symbol is used to denote a double roundabout. Two roundabouts are connected by a short spur.
This symbol is used to denote a roundabout ahead with a dedicated lane to the first exit
This symbol is used to denote a mini-roundabout ahead.
This symbol is used to denote a double mini-roundabout ahead. Two roundabouts are connected by a short spur, or are immediately after one another.
This symbol is used to denote a roundabout that has a motorway commence from it. The longer arms denote the exit that drivers take in order to avoid driving onto the exit slip road.
This symbol is used to denote a u-turn is required at a roundabout in order to reach a destination. This is usually used where a righ turn is prohibited due to a physical barrier or central reservation.
This symbol is used to denote a a bypassed town or village. It is generally used as an alternative to conventional advance direction signs and are therefore applicable to local unnumbered routes leading into the town or village. The purpose of the sign is to indicate to drivers that the route through the town or villag leads back to the main route on which they are travelling
This symbol is used to denote a route that is a no through route for vehicles. The symbol on the left is used with non-primary routes and the right is used on primary routes.
Examples of Map-type signs
Symbols used Exclusively on Lane Dedication Signs
A stack-type sign is a type of sign where the directions towards the destination are next to a diagram of the physical layout of the junction. These are typically used where the junction layout is more complex, with more directions.
Indication of appropriate traffic lanes at a junction or at a junction ahead where the left hand lane leads to one route and the two right hand lanes lead to another (destinations placed above the arrows and horizontal bar)
Indication of appropriate traffic lanes at a junction or at a junction ahead where the routes reached from both the left hand and right hand lanes can also be reached from the centre lane (destinations placed above the horizontal bars)
Indication of appropriate traffic lanes that diverge at a junction (destinations placed above the arrows and horizontal bar)
Indication of appropriate traffic lanes at a junction or at a junction ahead where the centre lane divides into two directions (destinations placed above the horizontal bars)
Examples of Lane Dedication signs
