ADI Traffic Signs — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a circular sign with a red border and no other markings inside (other than the white background) indicate?
- Speed limit of 30mph
- No vehicles allowed (except pedal cycles being pushed) (Correct answer)
- National speed limit applies
- One-way street
Correct answer: No vehicles allowed (except pedal cycles being pushed)
A circular white sign with a red border and no other markings is the 'no vehicles' sign, prohibiting all motor vehicles. Pedal cycles may be pushed but not ridden. This sign is used to close roads to motor traffic.
Question 2: A triangular sign with a red border is classified as what type of road sign?
- Mandatory instruction
- Warning sign — alerting drivers to a hazard ahead (Correct answer)
- Information sign
- Direction sign
Correct answer: Warning sign — alerting drivers to a hazard ahead
Triangular signs with red borders are warning signs. They alert drivers to hazards ahead such as bends, junctions, crossings, or road conditions. The shape and colour are standardised across the UK highway sign system.
Question 3: What does a circular blue sign with a white upward-pointing arrow indicate?
- One-way traffic only
- Ahead only — vehicles must proceed in the direction shown (Correct answer)
- Parking available ahead
- Hospital ahead
Correct answer: Ahead only — vehicles must proceed in the direction shown
A circular blue sign with a white upward arrow means 'ahead only' — drivers must continue straight ahead and cannot turn. Blue circular signs give positive (mandatory) instructions, unlike red circular signs which give prohibitions.
Question 4: An ADI is teaching a learner about speed limit signs. What does a white circular sign with a black diagonal stripe indicate?
- 30mph speed limit
- The national speed limit applies (Correct answer)
- No speed limit
- End of all restrictions
Correct answer: The national speed limit applies
A white circular sign with a black diagonal stripe indicates that the national speed limit applies. This is 60mph on single carriageways and 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways. It does not mean 'no limit' — the national speed limit still applies.
Question 5: What does a brown rectangular sign with white text indicate?
- A mandatory traffic instruction
- Tourist information — directing to tourist attractions, heritage sites, or places of interest (Correct answer)
- A road closure ahead
- A speed camera location
Correct answer: Tourist information — directing to tourist attractions, heritage sites, or places of interest
Brown signs are tourist information signs directing drivers to tourist attractions, heritage sites, leisure facilities, and other places of interest. They are distinct from green (primary route) and white (non-primary route) direction signs.
Question 6: A learner encounters a red triangle sign showing two arrows pointing in opposite directions (up and down). What does this warn about?
- Two-way traffic ahead (Correct answer)
- Dual carriageway ahead
- Road narrows ahead
- Traffic merging from the left
Correct answer: Two-way traffic ahead
This warning sign indicates two-way traffic ahead. It is commonly placed on one-way streets or on the approach to the end of a dual carriageway, where drivers need to be aware that traffic will be coming towards them.
ADI Traffic Signs
What does a circular sign with a red border and no other markings inside (other than the white background) indicate?