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UK Road Signs: What the Shapes and Colours Mean

9 October 2026 · 3 min read · Based on the Highway Code

You do not need to memorise hundreds of signs one by one. Shape and colour tell you the type of message first.

Shape

• Circles give orders. Red rings are prohibitions (do not do this). Blue circles are mandatory instructions (you must do this).
• Triangles warn you of hazards ahead.
• Rectangles give information such as directions and facilities.
• Octagon is only used for the Stop sign.
• Inverted triangle is only used for Give Way.

Colour

• Red: prohibition or warning.
• Blue: instruction or information, and motorway direction signs.
• Green: primary route direction signs.
• White with black text: non-primary routes.
• Brown: tourist and leisure attractions.

Practise by looking at a sign and saying its type before its meaning. In the test, this often rules out two wrong answers straight away.