Selective restriction signs

Selective restriction signs: how to read them

This chapter teaches 6 signs from the official manual: Maximum stay during two periods/days, Reserved movement left by vehicle class, Pay and display, Operator identity, Maximum number of vehicles, De-restriction sign.

Read the wording and symbol on each sign carefully. They tell you who the sign applies to, where it applies and what you must do, and two signs that look alike can apply to different road users.

Key idea: Check who a sign applies to before deciding what it means for you.

Maximum stay during two periods/days — R505

How to read it. This is a selective restriction sign. It is placed below a regulatory sign and limits the times and periods of stopping.

Where you meet it. Below a regulatory sign on any public road.

What to do. Do not stop or park for longer than the times indicated. Read the regulatory sign above together with this sign. The limits apply to the periods shown on this sign.

In practice. You park below a regulatory sign with this plate under it. You check the times shown and leave before the limit is up.

Key idea: Plate under the sign sets your stopping times.

Reserved movement left by vehicle class — R520

How to read it. This selective restriction sign has an arrow. It shows that the restriction on the regulatory sign above applies in the direction of the arrow.

Where you meet it. Below a regulatory sign.

What to do. Obey the primary sign according to the direction indicated by the arrow. The restriction on the sign above applies in that direction only.

In practice. You see a regulatory sign with this arrow plate beneath it. You apply the restriction on the sign above in the direction the arrow points.

Key idea: Arrow plate: restriction applies that way.

Pay and display — R523

How to read it. This selective restriction sign says parking fees must be paid in the parking area. It is placed below a regulatory sign.

Where you meet it. Below a regulatory sign.

What to do. Pay the parking fee and display the receipt on or within your vehicle. The sign applies to the parking area covered by the regulatory sign above.

In practice. You park in a bay under a sign with this plate. You pay the fee and place the receipt on or inside your vehicle.

Key idea: Pay, then display the receipt.

Operator identity — R530

How to read it. This selective restriction sign names a company, owner or organisation with a logo or words. The regulatory sign above applies to vehicles operated by that company or organisation.

Where you meet it. Below an appropriate regulatory sign.

What to do. If your vehicle belongs to the company or organisation shown, obey the regulatory sign above. The sign applies to drivers of vehicles operated by the named operator.

In practice. You drive a vehicle for the organisation named on the plate under a regulatory sign. You obey the sign above because it applies to your organisation's vehicles.

Key idea: Operator named? The sign above is for you.

Maximum number of vehicles — R540

How to read it. This selective restriction sign limits the reservation on the regulatory sign above by a maximum number of vehicles. The number is shown on this sign.

Where you meet it. Below the appropriate regulatory sign.

What to do. Do not enter the area if doing so would mean there are more vehicles than the number shown. The limit adds to the reservation on the sign above.

In practice. You wait at the entrance to an area whose sign has this plate. You enter only when your entry will not take the number of vehicles above the number shown.

Key idea: Do not exceed the vehicle number shown.

De-restriction sign — R600

How to read it. This is a de-restriction sign. It cancels a restriction. The official text says it looks like the restriction sign's symbol but without the red cross.

Where you meet it. On any public road.

What to do. From the sign onward you do not have to comply with the restriction sign that has a similar symbol. The restriction is cancelled from here.

In practice. You have been following a restriction sign and now reach a de-restriction sign. From here you no longer have to comply with that restriction.

Easily confused. Do not read it as a new restriction: it cancels the one with a similar symbol.

Key idea: De-restriction: the earlier restriction ends here.

Quick recap

• Maximum stay during two periods/days (R505): Plate under the sign sets your stopping times.
• Reserved movement left by vehicle class (R520): Arrow plate: restriction applies that way.
• Pay and display (R523): Pay, then display the receipt.
• Operator identity (R530): Operator named? The sign above is for you.
• Maximum number of vehicles (R540): Do not exceed the vehicle number shown.
• De-restriction sign (R600): De-restriction: the earlier restriction ends here.