K53 road signs and their meanings
All 104 South African road signs you need for the K53 learner's licence test, with what each one means and what to do when you see it.
The K53 learner's test has a full section on road signs and markings, and it is the section where many learners lose marks. Signs are grouped by what they do: control signs make you stop or give way, command signs tell you what you must do, prohibition signs show what is not allowed, and warning signs tell you about hazards ahead. Learning the group helps you work out a sign you have not seen before.
Control signs
Control signs tell you how to enter, cross or use part of the road, for example by stopping or giving way. They are mostly red and white.
StopR1
Four-way stopR1.4
YieldR2
Yield to pedestriansR2.1
No entryR3
One-way roadwayR4.2
Yield to oncoming trafficR6
One-way directionR4.1
One-way directionR4.3
Stop with left-turn yieldR1.2
Three-way stopR1.3
Manual STOP/GO controlR1.5
Yield at traffic circleR2.2
Pedestrian priority zoneR5
Command signs
Command signs tell you what you must do, such as keeping left or using a minimum speed. They are blue circles with white symbols.
Minimum speedR101
Keep leftR103
Keep rightR104
Turn leftR105
Turn rightR106
Proceed straightR107
Turn left aheadR108
Turn right aheadR109
Pedestrians onlyR110
Cyclists onlyR111
Motorcycles onlyR116
Motorcars onlyR117
Toll roadR132
Switch headlights onR133
RoundaboutR137
Vehicles over indicated mass onlyR102
Shared pedestrian and cycle routeR112
Prohibition signs
Prohibition signs show what you may not do, such as overtaking, parking or turning. They are red-ringed circles.
Maximum speed 60R201-60
Maximum speed 80R201-80
Maximum speed 100R201-100
Maximum speed 120R201-120
No hootingR206
No U-turnR213
No overtakingR214
No heavy-vehicle overtakingR215
No parkingR216
No stoppingR217
No pedestriansR218
No cyclistsR219
Maximum speed 30R201-30
Maximum speed 40R201-40
Maximum speed 50R201-50
Gross mass restrictionR202
Axle mass restrictionR203
Height restrictionR204
Length restrictionR205
No hitch-hikingR207
Unauthorised vehicles prohibitedR208
No left turn aheadR209
No right turn aheadR210
No left turnR211
No right turnR212
Reservation signs
Reservation signs show that a road, lane or area is reserved for particular users, such as buses or pedestrians.
Freeway signs
Freeway signs tell you about freeway rules, entrances, exits and restrictions that apply on high-speed roads.
Warning signs
Warning signs tell you about a hazard ahead so you can slow down and prepare. They are red-bordered triangles.
Crossroad aheadW101
T-junction aheadW104
Curve aheadW203
Two-way trafficW212
Traffic signals aheadW301
Stop aheadW302
Yield aheadW303
Pedestrian crossingW306
Pedestrians aheadW307
Children aheadW308
Railway crossingW318
Steep descentW322
Slippery roadW333
Cyclists aheadW309
Cattle aheadW310
Horses aheadW311
Sheep aheadW312
Wild animals aheadW313
Gate aheadW314
Tunnel aheadW319
Height restriction aheadW320
Length restriction aheadW321
Steep ascentW323
Slow heavy vehiclesW324
Unpaved surfaceW325
Narrow bridgeW326
Single-vehicle passageW327
Road narrowsW328
Road narrows on rightW329
Road narrows on leftW330
Uneven surfaceW331
Speed humpW332
Falling rocksW334
Falling rocksW335
General dangerW339
Unprotected water edgeW348
CrosswindsW349
Skewed T-junctionW105
Skewed T-junctionW106
Side road aheadW107
Side road aheadW108
Staggered side roadsW109
Gentle curve aheadW202
Sharp curve aheadW204
Sharp curve aheadW205
Temporary signs
Temporary signs warn about roadworks and other short-term conditions on the road.
Sign artwork: SADC, public domain. Some signs have more than one version or supplementary plate, so always read the full sign on the road.