--- title: "UK motorway signs and signals | The License Desk" url: https://www.thelicensedesk.com/road-signs/motorway-signs/ updated: 2026-09-26 --- > Source: https://www.thelicensedesk.com/road-signs/motorway-signs/ — last reviewed 2026-09-26. Markdown version generated at build time from the same content the page serves. 53 official signs · Department for Transport artwork # UK motorway signs and signals Smart motorways use overhead signs to open the hard shoulder as a running lane, close lanes after an incident and set variable limits. A speed shown in a red ring on a gantry is mandatory; one without a red ring is advisory. Quick answer Motorway direction signs have a blue background with white text, and motorway junctions are numbered. Signals above lanes show mandatory speed limits and a red X that closes a lane — you must not drive in that lane. Countdown markers show 300, 200 and 100 yards to the next exit. ## What does each motorway sign mean? Each sign is shown with its official meaning from the Department for Transport. Tap through to the quiz when you’re ready to test yourself. - ![10 miles to the next motorway service area — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2918-10-miles-to-the-next-motorway-service-area.webp) 10 miles to the next motorway service area - ![100 yards to a roundabout or the next point at which traffic may leave a route — UK road sign](/signs/uk/825-100-yards-to-a-roundabout-or-the-next-point-at-which-traffic.webp) 100 yards to a roundabout or the next point at which traffic may leave a route - ![200 yards to a roundabout or the next point at which traffic may leave a route — UK road sign](/signs/uk/824-200-yards-to-a-roundabout-or-the-next-point-at-which-traffic.webp) 200 yards to a roundabout or the next point at which traffic may leave a route - ![300 yards to a roundabout or the next point at which traffic may leave a route — UK road sign](/signs/uk/823-300-yards-to-a-roundabout-or-the-next-point-at-which-traffic.webp) 300 yards to a roundabout or the next point at which traffic may leave a route - ![Additional traffic lane joining from the left ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/868-1m-additional-traffic-lane-joining-from-the-left-ahead.webp) Additional traffic lane joining from the left ahead - ![Additional traffic lane joining from the left ahead in 200 yards. Traffic on the main carriageway has priority over joining traffic — UK road sign](/signs/uk/873-876-additional-traffic-lane-joining-from-the-left-ahead-in-200-y.webp) Additional traffic lane joining from the left ahead in 200 yards. Traffic on the main carriageway has priority over joining traffic - ![Additional traffic lane joining from the right ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/868m-additional-traffic-lane-joining-from-the-right-ahead.webp) Additional traffic lane joining from the right ahead - ![Additional traffic lanes joining from the right ahead. Traffic on the main carriageway has priority over joining traffic — UK road sign](/signs/uk/874-additional-traffic-lanes-joining-from-the-right-ahead-traffi.webp) Additional traffic lanes joining from the right ahead. Traffic on the main carriageway has priority over joining traffic - ![Appropriate traffic lanes for different manoeuvres at a junction ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/877m-appropriate-traffic-lanes-for-different-manoeuvres-at-a-junc.webp) Appropriate traffic lanes for different manoeuvres at a junction ahead - ![Availability of motorway service areas ahead with distances — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2917v-availability-of-motorway-service-areas-ahead-with-distances.webp) Availability of motorway service areas ahead with distances - ![Availability of motorway service areas ahead with distances and names of operators — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2917-availability-of-motorway-service-areas-ahead-with-distances.webp) Availability of motorway service areas ahead with distances and names of operators - ![Closure of all lanes of a four lane carriageway ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6009-3-closure-of-all-lanes-of-a-four-lane-carriageway-ahead.webp) Closure of all lanes of a four lane carriageway ahead - ![Closure of all lanes of a three lane carriageway ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6006-2-closure-of-all-lanes-of-a-three-lane-carriageway-ahead.webp) Closure of all lanes of a three lane carriageway ahead - ![Closure of both lanes of a two lane carriageway ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6008-1-closure-of-both-lanes-of-a-two-lane-carriageway-ahead.webp) Closure of both lanes of a two lane carriageway ahead - ![Closure of one lane of a four lane carriageway ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6009-closure-of-one-lane-of-a-four-lane-carriageway-ahead.webp) Closure of one lane of a four lane carriageway ahead - ![Closure of one lane of a three lane carriageway ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6006-closure-of-one-lane-of-a-three-lane-carriageway-ahead.webp) Closure of one lane of a three lane carriageway ahead - ![Closure of right hand lane of a two lane carriageway ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6008-closure-of-right-hand-lane-of-a-two-lane-carriageway-ahead.webp) Closure of right hand lane of a two lane carriageway ahead - ![Closure of two lanes of a three lane carriageway ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6006-1-closure-of-two-lanes-of-a-three-lane-carriageway-ahead.webp) Closure of two lanes of a three lane carriageway ahead - ![County boundary sign — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2928-county-boundary-sign.webp) County boundary sign - ![Direction to a motorway at the junction shown, indicating route number — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2902-1-direction-to-a-motorway-at-the-junction-shown-indicating-rou.webp) Direction to a motorway at the junction shown, indicating route number - ![Direction to a motorway at the junction shown, indicating route number and destination reached along the motorway — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2902-direction-to-a-motorway-at-the-junction-shown-indicating-rou.webp) Direction to a motorway at the junction shown, indicating route number and destination reached along the motorway - ![Direction to a named service area and showing the name of the operator — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2920-1-direction-to-a-named-service-area-and-showing-the-name-of-th.webp) Direction to a named service area and showing the name of the operator - ![Direction to the nearest emergency telephone on the same side of the road — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2713-direction-to-the-nearest-emergency-telephone-on-the-same-sid.webp) Direction to the nearest emergency telephone on the same side of the road - ![Drivers should check their distance from the vehicle in front — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2934-drivers-should-check-their-distance-from-the-vehicle-in-fron.webp) Drivers should check their distance from the vehicle in front - ![Drivers should keep a distance of two chevron markings from the vehicle in front — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2933-drivers-should-keep-a-distance-of-two-chevron-markings-from.webp) Drivers should keep a distance of two chevron markings from the vehicle in front - ![Drivers should keep their distance from the vehicle in front — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2934v-drivers-should-keep-their-distance-from-the-vehicle-in-front.webp) Drivers should keep their distance from the vehicle in front - ![End of motorway regulations, including the national speed limit — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2931-end-of-motorway-regulations-including-the-national-speed-lim.webp) End of motorway regulations, including the national speed limit - ![End of motorway regulations, including the national speed limit in 1 mile — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2930-end-of-motorway-regulations-including-the-national-speed-lim.webp) End of motorway regulations, including the national speed limit in 1 mile - ![End of temporary restrictions indicated by previous signs — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6012-end-of-temporary-restrictions-indicated-by-previous-signs.webp) End of temporary restrictions indicated by previous signs - ![Entrance for works traffic only — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2922-entrance-for-works-traffic-only.webp) Entrance for works traffic only - ![Entrance to a motorway service area — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2921-entrance-to-a-motorway-service-area.webp) Entrance to a motorway service area - ![Entrance to a motorway service area at a junction ahead on a motorway slip road — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2921-1-entrance-to-a-motorway-service-area-at-a-junction-ahead-on-a.webp) Entrance to a motorway service area at a junction ahead on a motorway slip road - ![Entrance to motorway service area, or similar facility within the length of a motorway where motorway regulations cease to apply — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2932-entrance-to-motorway-service-area-or-similar-facility-within.webp) Entrance to motorway service area, or similar facility within the length of a motorway where motorway regulations cease to apply - ![Exit from a motorway at a junction ahead that should be used for a tourist attraction — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2927-1-exit-from-a-motorway-at-a-junction-ahead-that-should-be-used.webp) Exit from a motorway at a junction ahead that should be used for a tourist attraction - ![Exit from a motorway junction ahead that should be used for a destination along the route advised for goods vehicles — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2929-1-exit-from-a-motorway-junction-ahead-that-should-be-used-for.webp) Exit from a motorway junction ahead that should be used for a destination along the route advised for goods vehicles - ![In 200 yards the number of lanes of traffic lanes ahead on a motorway reduces from three lanes to two. Traffic in the right hand lane must move into the lane on the immediate left — UK road sign](/signs/uk/872-1m-in-200-yards-the-number-of-lanes-of-traffic-lanes-ahead-on-a.webp) In 200 yards the number of lanes of traffic lanes ahead on a motorway reduces from three lanes to two. Traffic in the right hand lane must move into the lane on the immediate left - ![Junction ahead from a motorway exit slip road to the tourist attractions shown — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2924-junction-ahead-from-a-motorway-exit-slip-road-to-the-tourist.webp) Junction ahead from a motorway exit slip road to the tourist attractions shown - ![Junction ahead with another motorway — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2912-junction-ahead-with-another-motorway.webp) Junction ahead with another motorway - ![Light signal conveying the prohibition that vehicular traffic may not use the lane below the sign (gantry-mounted) — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6031-1-light-signal-conveying-the-prohibition-that-vehicular-traffi.webp) Light signal conveying the prohibition that vehicular traffic may not use the lane below the sign (gantry-mounted) - ![Motorway junction ahead leading to a route advised for goods vehicles to the destination shown, which may differ from that for other traffic — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2929-motorway-junction-ahead-leading-to-a-route-advised-for-goods.webp) Motorway junction ahead leading to a route advised for goods vehicles to the destination shown, which may differ from that for other traffic - ![Motorway junction ahead leading to a town or geographical area containing several tourist attractions and a Tourist Information Point or Centre — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2927-motorway-junction-ahead-leading-to-a-town-or-geographical-ar.webp) Motorway junction ahead leading to a town or geographical area containing several tourist attractions and a Tourist Information Point or Centre - ![Motorway junction ahead, displaying the route number and destination reached by taking this route — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2903-motorway-junction-ahead-displaying-the-route-number-and-dest.webp) Motorway junction ahead, displaying the route number and destination reached by taking this route - ![Motorway junction, displaying route number and destination reached as well as destination reached by remaining on the motorway — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2906-motorway-junction-displaying-route-number-and-destination-re.webp) Motorway junction, displaying route number and destination reached as well as destination reached by remaining on the motorway - ![No hard shoulder available for 400 yards — UK road sign](/signs/uk/820-1-no-hard-shoulder-available-for-400-yards.webp) No hard shoulder available for 400 yards - ![Number of route reached from a motorway exit road — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2910-number-of-route-reached-from-a-motorway-exit-road.webp) Number of route reached from a motorway exit road - ![Risk of fog ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6011-risk-of-fog-ahead.webp) Risk of fog ahead - ![Risk of ice ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6011-1-risk-of-ice-ahead.webp) Risk of ice ahead - ![Roundabout ahead leading from a motorway exit slip road to the tourist attractions shown — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2925-roundabout-ahead-leading-from-a-motorway-exit-slip-road-to-t.webp) Roundabout ahead leading from a motorway exit slip road to the tourist attractions shown - ![Route number of the motorway with destinations and distances to places along or reached from that route — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2911-route-number-of-the-motorway-with-destinations-and-distances.webp) Route number of the motorway with destinations and distances to places along or reached from that route - ![Route to be followed at a junction ahead on a motorway for destinations that are not otherwise shown on signs for that junction — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2915-route-to-be-followed-at-a-junction-ahead-on-a-motorway-for-d.webp) Route to be followed at a junction ahead on a motorway for destinations that are not otherwise shown on signs for that junction - ![Services are not available on motorway ahead — UK road sign](/signs/uk/2918-1-services-are-not-available-on-motorway-ahead.webp) Services are not available on motorway ahead - ![Temporary maximum speed of 50 miles per hour advised — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6001-temporary-maximum-speed-of-50-miles-per-hour-advised.webp) Temporary maximum speed of 50 miles per hour advised - ![Vehicular traffic must leave at next junction — UK road sign](/signs/uk/6003-vehicular-traffic-must-leave-at-next-junction.webp) Vehicular traffic must leave at next junction ## Ready to test yourself on road signs? The free [road signs quiz](/theory-test/road-and-traffic-signs/practice-test/) uses the same official artwork, with an explanation for every answer. Revise the rules behind them in our [Motorway Rules guide](/theory-test/motorway-rules/). [Start the road signs quiz](/theory-test/road-and-traffic-signs/practice-test/) ## Frequently asked questions **### How do you recognise motorway signs?** Motorway direction signs have a blue background with white text, and motorway junctions are numbered. Signals above lanes show mandatory speed limits and a red X that closes a lane — you must not drive in that lane. Countdown markers show 300, 200 and 100 yards to the next exit. **### Do motorway signs come up in the theory test?** Yes. Signs appear throughout the theory test, mainly in the Road & Traffic Signs topic and also in topics such as Motorway Rules. Practise with our free questions until you can read each sign from its shape and colour. ## Which other road sign categories should you learn? - [Warning signs](/road-signs/warning-signs/) - [Regulatory signs](/road-signs/regulatory-signs/) - [Speed limit signs](/road-signs/speed-limit-signs/) - [Parking signs](/road-signs/parking-signs/) - [Level crossing signs](/road-signs/level-crossing-signs/) - [Pedestrian and cycle signs](/road-signs/pedestrian-and-cycle-signs/) - [Bus and tram signs](/road-signs/bus-and-tram-signs/) - [Road works signs](/road-signs/road-works-signs/) - [Traffic calming signs](/road-signs/traffic-calming-signs/) - [Information signs](/road-signs/information-signs/) - [Direction signs](/road-signs/direction-signs/) Traffic sign images: Crown copyright, Department for Transport. Reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. [Licence](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) · [Source](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/traffic-sign-images).