Regulatory signs are the ones with the force of law behind them. Ignoring a warning sign is careless; ignoring a regulatory sign is an offence, and the learner's licence test treats the difference as something you are expected to know cold.
Almost all of them are round. A red ring around a black symbol prohibits something. A blue disc with a white symbol commands it. A red bar struck through the symbol ends a restriction that was set earlier. The two exceptions are the octagonal STOP and the triangular YIELD, given their own shapes so that they can still be read from behind or in the dark, when the colour and the wording are gone.
The groups below follow the way the manual splits them, because that is the way the test asks about them: control signs first, then commands, then prohibitions, the limits and their de-restrictions, and finally the signs that reserve a lane or a stretch of road for one kind of vehicle.
In the test: A prohibition sign is a red ring; a command sign is a solid blue disc. If you remember nothing else about the round signs, remember that red forbids and blue instructs.
Control signs
Come to a complete halt in line with the stop sign, or before the stop line. Remain stationary and move only when it is safe to do so.
Give way to any pedestrians on or about to enter the pedestrian crossing on your side of the road.
This is a manually operated sign, with the word STOP on one side and GO on the other. Stop when necessary and proceed cautiously when GO is displayed.
Traffic circle ahead ( mini circle or round about).
The area is set aside for use by pedestrians. Vehicles may enter only to deliver or work, or to attend to an emergency. Such vehicles must yield right of way to any pedestrian/s crossing or about to cross their path, and must not move faster than 15km/h unless a road sign indicates a higher speed limit.
No vehicles may enter this road at any time.
This is to indicate that there is a one-way carriageway to the left, proceed in the direction of the arrow indicated.
This is to indicate that there is a one-way carriageway to the right, proceed in the direction of the arrow indicated.
This is to indicate that there is a one-way carriageway straight ahead, proceed in the direction of the arrow indicated.
Command signs
To indicate that you must switch on your headlights to see and be seen. Switch lights on in the dip position.
To give drivers an opportunity to follow an alternate route or proceed on the route and pay toll fees.
To indicate that road users must drive to the side of an obstruction where the sign is displayed.
Indicates the direction in which you must proceed, drive only in the direction indicated by the arrow.
Indicates the direction in which you must proceed, drive only in the direction indicated by the arrow at the next junction.
To indicate that you must move in a clockwise direction at the junction.
To indicate that the road or part of it is set aside for use by taxis only.
To indicate that the road or part of it is set aside for use by buses and minibuses only.
To indicate that the road or part of it is set aside for use by goods vehicles with a gross vehicle mass or gross combination mass exceeding the mass indicated in tons by a number on such a sign.
To indicate that the road or part of it is set aside for use by goods vehicles only.
To indicate that the road or part of it may be used by pedestrians only.
To indicate that the road or part of it may be used by cyclists and pedestrians only. Indicates to cyclists and pedestrians which part of the road they may use.
Prohibition signs
To prohibit vehicles from turning left.
To prohibit vehicles from turning right.
To prohibit vehicles from turning left at an intersection.
To prohibit vehicles from turning right at an intersection.
To prohibit vehicles from turning around (u-turn) so that it faces the opposite direction.
To prohibit drivers from parking during any time of the day or night.
Over taking vehicles is prohibited for the next 500m.
No over taking vehicles by goods vehicles for the next 500m.
To prohibit noise, if the noise level of your vehicle is high, you may not proceed past the sign. Vehicles hooter may not be used for 100 meters after pass this sign.
To prohibit pedestrians and stationary vehicles. A driver of a vehicle may not pick up passengers for the next 500m.
To prohibit motorcycles on a part of a carriageway for safety reasons.
To prohibit hawkers in this area during any time of the day or night.
To prohibit pedestrians from proceeding past this sign where they could cause danger to themselves and vehicles.
Limit prohibition signs
REGULATORY SIGNS: LIMIT PROHIBITION SIGNS.
De-restriction signs
End of toll road.
You no longer need to drive with your headlights switched on.
Vehicle mass restriction no longer applies.
End of lane use reservation and all vehicles may now use this lane.
End of dual carriage freeway and freeway rules no longer apply.
End of single carriage freeway and freeway rules no longer apply.
End of residential area and rules for a residential area no longer apply.
Reservation signs
The lane on the left of the yellow line is reserved for the exclusive use of the class of vehicle indicated, in this case buses.
The curved yellow line indicates the start of a lane reserved for the exclusive use of the class of vehicle indicated.
The lane on the right of the yellow line is reserved for the exclusive use of the class of vehicle indicated.
The lane on the left of the yellow line is reserved for the exclusive use of authorized public transport vehicles.
The lane on the right of the right of the yellow line is reserved for the exclusive use of authorized public transport vehicles.
This stop zone is reserved for the exclusive use of the class of vehicle and organization shown by the symbol and logo.
This portion of roadway is temporarily reserved for the exclusive use of the class of vehicle indicated.
This area is reserved for parking.
This area is reserved for parking by the class of vehicle shown.
Parking here is reserved for a vehicle carrying people with disabilities.
This area is temporarily reserved for parking by the class of vehicle shown.
This area is reserved for parking by authorized vehicles.
This area is reserved for parking, up to a maximum of 60 minutes.
This area is reserved for parking by police vehicles.
Selective restriction signs
Applies during the times shown.
Applies on the days and during the times shown.
Applies for the period and during the times shown.
Applies during day time only.
Applies at night only.
Applies only when proceeding left.
Applies only to mini-buses.
Maximum of 15 vehicles.
Parking only if you pay the parking fee.
Applies only to the operator as indicated.
Local access is also allowed.
Applies for the next 5km.
60 – min parking area requiring a parking fee.
U-turn prohibited at night.
Turn right at the next junction during these times.
Speed limit of 60km/h applies to motorcycles only.
No right turn by buses allowed at the next junction.
Goods vehicles must travel at 50km/h or faster.
Overtaking prohibited for the next 2km.
The other signs
Learn them properly, not by scrolling
A reference page is for looking something up. The course teaches the same signs in short narrated lessons and then asks you about them until you stop getting them wrong.
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