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South African road signs explained

Learn what every road sign means — in English and Afrikaans — with pictures and where you’ll see each one on the road. The complete study reference for your K53 learner’s licence test.

324 signs · bilingual · free to study

New to road signs? Start with how South African road signs work — the shape-and-colour decode method that lets you read any sign.

Regulatory signs (197)Warning signs (73)Traffic signals (29)Road markings (16)Information signs (9)

Regulatory signs

Instruct road users what they must or must not do — ignoring one is an offence.

Stop sign Stop sign Stop by police sign Stop by police sign Stop/Yield sign Stop/Yield sign 3-Way stop sign 3-Way stop sign 4-Way stop sign 4-Way stop sign Stop/Go sign Stop/Go sign Yield sign Yield sign Yield to pedestrians sign Yield to pedestrians sign Yield at mini-circle sign Yield at mini-circle sign No entry sign No entry sign One-way roadway sign One-way roadway sign Pedestrian priority sign Pedestrian priority sign Yield to oncoming traffic sign Yield to oncoming traffic sign Minimum speed sign Minimum speed sign Vehicles exceeding mass only sign Vehicles exceeding mass only sign Keep left sign Keep left sign Keep right sign Keep right sign Proceed left only sign Proceed left only sign Proceed right only sign Proceed right only sign Proceed straight only sign Proceed straight only sign Turn left sign Turn left sign Turn right sign Turn right sign Pedestrians only sign Pedestrians only sign Pedal cycles only sign Pedal cycles only sign Pedal cycles & pedestrians only sign Pedal cycles & pedestrians only sign Motor cycles only sign Motor cycles only sign Motor cars only sign Motor cars only sign Taxis only sign Taxis only sign Minibuses only sign Minibuses only sign Midibus only sign Midibus only sign Buses only sign Buses only sign Delivery vehicles only sign Delivery vehicles only sign Goods vehicles only sign Goods vehicles only sign Goods vehicles over indicated GVM only sign Goods vehicles over indicated GVM only sign Construction vehicles only sign Construction vehicles only sign Vehicles conveying dangerous goods only sign Vehicles conveying dangerous goods only sign Abnormal vehicles only sign Abnormal vehicles only sign Rickshaws only sign Rickshaws only sign Tour buses only sign Tour buses only sign Agricultural vehicles only sign Agricultural vehicles only sign Animal-drawn vehicles only sign Animal-drawn vehicles only sign Pay toll sign Pay toll sign De-restriction sign - end of pay toll instruction De-restriction sign - end of pay toll instruction Switch head lamps on sign Switch head lamps on sign De-restriction sign - end of switch headlamps on instruction De-restriction sign - end of switch headlamps on instruction Buses & minibuses only sign Buses & minibuses only sign Buses & midibuses only sign Buses & midibuses only sign Buses, midibuses & minibuses only sign Buses, midibuses & minibuses only sign Roundabout sign Roundabout sign Buses & trams only sign Buses & trams only sign Buses, trams & minibuses only sign Buses, trams & minibuses only sign Speed limit sign Speed limit sign Mass limit sign Mass limit sign De-restriction sign - end of mass limit De-restriction sign - end of mass limit Axle massload limit sign Axle massload limit sign Height limit sign Height limit sign Length limit sign Length limit sign Excessive noise prohibited sign Excessive noise prohibited sign Hitch-hiking prohibited sign Hitch-hiking prohibited sign Unauthorized vehicles prohibited sign Unauthorized vehicles prohibited sign Left turn ahead prohibited sign Left turn ahead prohibited sign Right turn ahead prohibited sign Right turn ahead prohibited sign Left turn prohibited sign Left turn prohibited sign Right turn prohibited sign Right turn prohibited sign U-turn prohibited sign U-turn prohibited sign Overtaking prohibited sign Overtaking prohibited sign Overtaking by goods vehicle prohibited sign Overtaking by goods vehicle prohibited sign Parking prohibited sign Parking prohibited sign Stopping prohibited sign Stopping prohibited sign Pedestrian prohibited sign Pedestrian prohibited sign Pedal cycle prohibited sign Pedal cycle prohibited sign Pedal cycle & pedestrian prohibited sign Pedal cycle & pedestrian prohibited sign Motor cycle prohibited sign Motor cycle prohibited sign Motor car prohibited sign Motor car prohibited sign Taxi prohibited sign Taxi prohibited sign Minibus prohibited sign Minibus prohibited sign Midibus prohibited sign Midibus prohibited sign Bus prohibited sign Bus prohibited sign Delivery vehicle prohibited sign Delivery vehicle prohibited sign Goods vehicle prohibited sign Goods vehicle prohibited sign Goods vehicle over indicated GVM prohibited sign Goods vehicle over indicated GVM prohibited sign Construction vehicle prohibited sign Construction vehicle prohibited sign Vehicle conveying dangerous goods prohibited sign Vehicle conveying dangerous goods prohibited sign Abnormal vehicle prohibited sign Abnormal vehicle prohibited sign Rickshaw prohibited sign Rickshaw prohibited sign Tour bus prohibited sign Tour bus prohibited sign Agricultural vehicle prohibited sign Agricultural vehicle prohibited sign Animal-drawn vehicle prohibited sign Animal-drawn vehicle prohibited sign Horses & riders prohibited sign Horses & riders prohibited sign Width limit sign Width limit sign Towed vehicles prohibited sign Towed vehicles prohibited sign Hawkers prohibited sign Hawkers prohibited sign Bus reservation sign Bus reservation sign Bus parking reservation sign Bus parking reservation sign Bus lane reservation sign Bus lane reservation sign Bus lane reservation begins sign Bus lane reservation begins sign Pedal cycle lane reservation sign Pedal cycle lane reservation sign De-restriction sign - end of pedal cycle lane reservation De-restriction sign - end of pedal cycle lane reservation Pedal cycle parking reservation sign Pedal cycle parking reservation sign Parking reservation sign Parking reservation sign Limited parking reservation sign Limited parking reservation sign Motor cycle reservation sign Motor cycle reservation sign Motor cycle parking reservation sign Motor cycle parking reservation sign Delivery vehicle reservation sign Delivery vehicle reservation sign Delivery vehicle parking reservation sign Delivery vehicle parking reservation sign Goods vehicle reservation sign Goods vehicle reservation sign Goods vehicle parking reservation sign Goods vehicle parking reservation sign Goods vehicle over indicated GVM reservation sign Goods vehicle over indicated GVM reservation sign Goods vehicle over indicated GVM parking reservation sign Goods vehicle over indicated GVM parking reservation sign Construction vehicle reservation sign Construction vehicle reservation sign Construction vehicle parking reservation sign Construction vehicle parking reservation sign Vehicle conveying dangerous goods reservation sign Vehicle conveying dangerous goods reservation sign Vehicle conveying dangerous goods parking reservation sign Vehicle conveying dangerous goods parking reservation sign Abnormal vehicle reservation sign Abnormal vehicle reservation sign Abnormal vehicle parking reservation sign Abnormal vehicle parking reservation sign High occupancy vehicle reservation sign High occupancy vehicle reservation sign High occupancy vehicle parking reservation sign High occupancy vehicle parking reservation sign Emergency vehicle reservation sign Emergency vehicle reservation sign Emergency vehicle parking reservation sign Emergency vehicle parking reservation sign Police vehicle reservation sign Police vehicle reservation sign Police vehicle parking reservation sign Police vehicle parking reservation sign Disabled persons vehicle reservation sign Disabled persons vehicle reservation sign Disabled persons vehicle parking reservation sign Disabled persons vehicle parking reservation sign Authorized vehicle reservation sign Authorized vehicle reservation sign Authorized vehicle parking reservation sign Authorized vehicle parking reservation sign Minibus stop reservation sign Minibus stop reservation sign Bus & minibus parking reservation sign Bus & minibus parking reservation sign Bus & minibus lane reservation begins sign Bus & minibus lane reservation begins sign Bus & midibus parking reservation sign Bus & midibus parking reservation sign Bus & midibus lane reservation begins sign Bus & midibus lane reservation begins sign Bus, midibus & minibus reservation sign Bus, midibus & minibus reservation sign Bus, midibus & minibus parking reservation sign Bus, midibus & minibus parking reservation sign Bus, midibus & minibus lane reservation sign Bus, midibus & minibus lane reservation sign Bus, midibus & minibus lane reservation begins sign Bus, midibus & minibus lane reservation begins sign High occupancy vehicle lane reservation sign High occupancy vehicle lane reservation sign High occupancy vehicle lane reservation begins sign High occupancy vehicle lane reservation begins sign Tram lane reservation begins sign Tram lane reservation begins sign Bus & tram lane reservation begins sign Bus & tram lane reservation begins sign Bus, minibus & tram reservation sign Bus, minibus & tram reservation sign Bus, minibus & tram lane reservation sign Bus, minibus & tram lane reservation sign Bus, minibus & tram lane reservation begins sign Bus, minibus & tram lane reservation begins sign Bus & minibus lane right reservation sign Bus & minibus lane right reservation sign Bus & tram lane right reservation sign Bus & tram lane right reservation sign Bus, minibus & tram lane right reservation sign Bus, minibus & tram lane right reservation sign High occupancy vehicle lane right reservation sign High occupancy vehicle lane right reservation sign Authorized passenger transport vehicle lane reservation sign Authorized passenger transport vehicle lane reservation sign Authorized passenger transport vehicle lane right reservation sign Authorized passenger transport vehicle lane right reservation sign Dual-carriageway freeway begins sign Dual-carriageway freeway begins sign De-restriction sign - end of dual-carriageway freeway De-restriction sign - end of dual-carriageway freeway Single-carriageway freeway begins sign Single-carriageway freeway begins sign De-restriction sign - end of single-carriageway freeway De-restriction sign - end of single-carriageway freeway Woonerf sign Woonerf sign De-restriction sign - end of woonerf De-restriction sign - end of woonerf One period time limit sign One period time limit sign Two periods time limit sign Two periods time limit sign Two periods or days time limit sign Two periods or days time limit sign Three periods or days time limit sign Three periods or days time limit sign Maximum stay during two periods or days time limit sign Maximum stay during two periods or days time limit sign Maximum stay during one period time limit sign Maximum stay during one period time limit sign Day condition sign Day condition sign Night condition sign Night condition sign Reserved movement left by vehicle class sign Reserved movement left by vehicle class sign Reserved movement right by vehicle class sign Reserved movement right by vehicle class sign Reserved movement to left & right by vehicle class sign Reserved movement to left & right by vehicle class sign Pay & display sign Pay & display sign Operator identity (logo) sign Operator identity (logo) sign Operator identity (words) sign Operator identity (words) sign Mass limit sign (text) Mass limit sign (text) Motor cycle engine size limit sign (text) Motor cycle engine size limit sign (text) and Local Access Only limit sign (text) and Local Access Only limit sign (text) Distance For limit sign (text) Distance For limit sign (text) Maximum number of vehicles sign Maximum number of vehicles sign Buses sign Buses sign Pedal cycles sign Pedal cycles sign Motor cycles sign Motor cycles sign Motor cars sign Motor cars sign Taxi sign Taxi sign Minibus sign Minibus sign Midibus sign Midibus sign Delivery vehicle sign Delivery vehicle sign Goods vehicle sign Goods vehicle sign Goods vehicle over indicated GVM sign Goods vehicle over indicated GVM sign Construction vehicle sign Construction vehicle sign Vehicle conveying dangerous goods sign Vehicle conveying dangerous goods sign Abnormal vehicle sign Abnormal vehicle sign Rickshaw sign Rickshaw sign Tour bus sign Tour bus sign High occupancy vehicle sign High occupancy vehicle sign Emergency vehicle sign Emergency vehicle sign Police vehicle sign Police vehicle sign Disabled persons vehicle sign Disabled persons vehicle sign Authorized vehicle sign Authorized vehicle sign Agricultural vehicle sign Agricultural vehicle sign Animal-drawn vehicle sign Animal-drawn vehicle sign Towed vehicle sign Towed vehicle sign Tram vehicle sign Tram vehicle sign De-restriction sign - restriction ends De-restriction sign - restriction ends

Warning signs

Alert you to a hazard or a change in the road ahead so you can slow down and prepare.

Crossroad sign Crossroad sign Priority crossroad sign Priority crossroad sign Secondary crossroad sign Secondary crossroad sign T-junction sign T-junction sign Skew T-junction sign Skew T-junction sign Side road junction sign Side road junction sign Staggered junction sign Staggered junction sign Sharp junction sign Sharp junction sign Y-junction sign Y-junction sign End of dual roadway sign End of dual roadway sign Beginning of dual roadway sign Beginning of dual roadway sign Traffic circle sign Traffic circle sign Gentle curve sign Gentle curve sign Sharp curve sign Sharp curve sign Hairpin bend sign Hairpin bend sign Winding road sign Winding road sign Combined curves sign Combined curves sign Two-way traffic sign Two-way traffic sign Two-way traffic crossroad sign Two-way traffic crossroad sign Lane ends sign Lane ends sign Concealed driveway sign Concealed driveway sign Traffic signal ahead sign Traffic signal ahead sign Traffic control STOP ahead sign Traffic control STOP ahead sign Traffic control YIELD ahead sign Traffic control YIELD ahead sign Pedestrian crossing sign Pedestrian crossing sign Pedestrians sign Pedestrians sign Children sign Children sign Cyclists sign Cyclists sign Farm animals sign Farm animals sign Wild animals ahead sign Wild animals ahead sign Gate sign Gate sign Motor gate sign Motor gate sign Railway crossing sign Railway crossing sign Tunnel sign Tunnel sign Height restriction sign Height restriction sign Length restricted sign Length restricted sign Steep descent & ascent sign Steep descent & ascent sign Slow moving heavy vehicles sign Slow moving heavy vehicles sign Gravel road begins sign Gravel road begins sign Narrow bridge sign Narrow bridge sign One vehicle width structure sign One vehicle width structure sign Road narrrows from both sides sign Road narrrows from both sides sign Road narrows from one side only sign Road narrows from one side only sign Uneven roadway sign Uneven roadway sign Speed humps sign Speed humps sign Slippery road sign Slippery road sign Falling rocks sign Falling rocks sign General warning sign General warning sign Emergency flashing light sign Emergency flashing light sign Jetty edge or river-bank sign Jetty edge or river-bank sign Crosswinds sign Crosswinds sign Drift sign Drift sign Low flying aircraft sign Low flying aircraft sign Agricultural vehicle sign Agricultural vehicle sign Reduced visibility sign Reduced visibility sign Congestion sign Congestion sign Horses & riders sign Horses & riders sign Elephant sign Elephant sign Warthog sign Warthog sign Hippo sign Hippo sign Width restricted sign Width restricted sign Electrical shock sign Electrical shock sign Tram sign Tram sign Gravel road ends sign Gravel road ends sign Danger plate sign Danger plate sign Sharp curve chevron sign Sharp curve chevron sign T-junction chevron sign T-junction chevron sign Dead end or road closed chevron sign Dead end or road closed chevron sign Boom barricade sign Boom barricade sign Gore plate sign Gore plate sign Gore chevron sign Gore chevron sign Overhead danger plate sign Overhead danger plate sign Truck escape lane ahead (marking) Truck escape lane ahead (marking)

Traffic signals

Lights and hand signals that control the flow of traffic at intersections and crossings.

Railway crossing red flashing signal Railway crossing red flashing signal Standard traffic signal face Standard traffic signal face Standard traffic signal face with straight-ahead arrows Standard traffic signal face with straight-ahead arrows Standard traffic signal face with left-turn arrows Standard traffic signal face with left-turn arrows Standard traffic signal face with right-turn arrows Standard traffic signal face with right-turn arrows Bus traffic signal face Bus traffic signal face Traffic signal face with left-turn red arrow Traffic signal face with left-turn red arrow Tram traffic signal face Tram traffic signal face Traffic signal with right-turn green arrow Traffic signal with right-turn green arrow Traffic signal with left-turn green arrow Traffic signal with left-turn green arrow Traffic signal with straight-ahead green arrow Traffic signal with straight-ahead green arrow Traffic signal with straight-ahead and left-turn arrows Traffic signal with straight-ahead and left-turn arrows Traffic signal with left-turn and right-turn arrows Traffic signal with left-turn and right-turn arrows Traffic signal with straight-ahead and right-turn arrows Traffic signal with straight-ahead and right-turn arrows Traffic signal with right-turn arrow signal Traffic signal with right-turn arrow signal Bus signal with separate movement signal Bus signal with separate movement signal Tram signal with separate movement signal Tram signal with separate movement signal Traffic signal face Traffic signal face Left-turn flashing green arrow signal Left-turn flashing green arrow signal Right-turn flashing green arrow signal Right-turn flashing green arrow signal Pedestrian red and green man signal Pedestrian red and green man signal Two-aspect red and green traffic signal Two-aspect red and green traffic signal Traffic signal with multiple direction arrows Traffic signal with multiple direction arrows Overhead lane control green arrow Overhead lane control green arrow Overhead lane control red cross Overhead lane control red cross Overhead lane control yellow arrow left Overhead lane control yellow arrow left Overhead lane control yellow arrow right Overhead lane control yellow arrow right Pedal cycle signal Pedal cycle signal Supplementary flashing light signal Supplementary flashing light signal

Road markings

Painted lines and symbols on the road surface that guide and separate traffic.

Lane line marking Lane line marking Furcation arrow marking Furcation arrow marking Information arrow marking Information arrow marking Bicycle crossing guidelines marking Bicycle crossing guidelines marking Kerbing marking Kerbing marking No stopping line marking No stopping line marking No parking line marking No parking line marking No motor cycles marking No motor cycles marking Disabled persons parking marking Disabled persons parking marking Exclusive use lane symbol marking Exclusive use lane symbol marking Pedestrian crossing lines marking Pedestrian crossing lines marking Block pedestrian crossing marking Block pedestrian crossing marking No overtaking or no crossing line ahead marking No overtaking or no crossing line ahead marking Escape road ahead marking Escape road ahead marking Speed hump marking Speed hump marking End of exclusive use lane arrows marking End of exclusive use lane arrows marking

Information signs

Give you useful information about the road, routes and facilities.

Countdown sign Countdown sign Cul-de-sac sign Cul-de-sac sign Right of way sign Right of way sign Park & ride sign Park & ride sign Supplementary plate sign Supplementary plate sign Information centre sign Information centre sign Co-ordinated traffic signals sign Co-ordinated traffic signals sign Multi-phase traffic signals sign Multi-phase traffic signals sign Modal transfer sign Modal transfer sign

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