Warning signs: part 2

Warning signs: part 2: how to read them

This chapter teaches 8 signs from the official manual: Grader working, Loose stones, Surface step, Soft shoulder, Stop/Ry-Go control ahead, Width, Gravel road ends, Railway crossing.

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.

Grader working — TW337

How to read it. This warns that a grader is working on the carriageway ahead.

Where you meet it. On any road.

What to do. Slow down and drive slowly past the grader. The full road width may not be available, and sand or gravel on the carriageway could affect your vehicle's handling.

In practice. You see this sign on a gravel road. You slow down and pass the grader slowly, expecting loose material.

Key idea: Grader ahead: slow down, expect sand or gravel.

Loose stones — TW338

How to read it. This warns of loose stones or gravel on the road.

Where you meet it. On any road.

What to do. Slow down and be aware that oncoming vehicles could throw up stones that cause damage. Your braking and turning could also be affected negatively.

In practice. You see this sign on a road that has gravel. You slow down and keep a safe distance from oncoming vehicles.

Key idea: Loose stones: slow down, braking and steering suffer.

Surface step — TW340

How to read it. This warns of a surface step, where one side of the carriageway is higher than the other. TW340 means the right is higher, and TW341 means the left is higher.

Where you meet it. On any road.

What to do. Slow down. Your vehicle may pull to one side if you straddle the step and may react suddenly if the wheel mounts the ridge. Do not jerk the steering, because you could lose control completely.

In practice. You see this sign on a road with an uneven edge. You slow down and keep your steering smooth.

Key idea: Surface step: slow down, steer smoothly.

Soft shoulder — TW342

How to read it. This warns that the road shoulder may be softer than you expect. It could be dangerous for anyone who moves off the road.

Where you meet it. On any road.

What to do. Do not drive or stop on the shoulder. If unavoidable, for example to avoid a collision, slow down as much as possible because the vehicle will pull toward the shoulder when you leave the road.

In practice. You see this sign and need to avoid a hazard. You slow right down before moving onto the shoulder because the vehicle will pull to that side.

Key idea: Soft shoulder: stay off it, slow down if you must.

Stop/Ry-Go control ahead — TW343

How to read it. This warns that a temporary Stop/Ry-Go sign is controlling traffic ahead.

Where you meet it. On any road.

What to do. Slow down and get ready to stop.

In practice. You see this sign and then queued vehicles. You slow down and stop when you reach the Stop/Ry-Go sign.

Key idea: Stop/Ry-Go ahead: slow down, get ready to stop.

Width — W360

How to read it. This sign warns of an overall width restriction on the road ahead. The width is shown in metres on the sign.

Where you meet it. It can be used on any road.

What to do. Do not continue if your vehicle is wider than the width shown on the sign. It applies to drivers of wide vehicles.

In practice. A truck driver sees this sign and checks the width shown. His load is wider than that, so he does not continue along that road.

Easily confused. Do not confuse this with a height or length sign; this one concerns overall width.

Key idea: Width sign: do not continue if your vehicle is wider than shown.

Gravel road ends — W363

How to read it. This sign warns that the gravel road you are on ends ahead.

Where you meet it. It is used on any gravel road.

What to do. Look out for an asphalt, tar or concrete road ahead. It applies to drivers on the gravel road.

In practice. On a farm gravel road you see this sign. You prepare for the road surface to change to tar.

Easily confused. Do not confuse it with a sign warning of an unpaved surface starting; this one says the gravel ends.

Key idea: Gravel ends ahead: expect a tar, asphalt or concrete road.

Railway crossing — W403

How to read it. This sign warns of a railway crossing ahead. W403 has one track and W404 has more than one track.

Where you meet it. It is used on any road close to a railway line.

What to do. Slow down, and stop if a train is approaching. If there is no stop line or sign, stop no closer than 3 m from the nearest track, and not on the track or in the railway reserve. It applies to all drivers.

In practice. You see this sign as you approach a line. A train is coming, so you stop well back from the nearest track and wait until it has passed.

Easily confused. W403 and W404 differ only in the number of tracks: one or more than one.

Key idea: Railway crossing: slow down, and if a train comes, stop 3 m back.

Quick recap

• Grader working (TW337): Grader ahead: slow down, expect sand or gravel.
• Loose stones (TW338): Loose stones: slow down, braking and steering suffer.
• Surface step (TW340): Surface step: slow down, steer smoothly.
• Soft shoulder (TW342): Soft shoulder: stay off it, slow down if you must.
• Stop/Ry-Go control ahead (TW343): Stop/Ry-Go ahead: slow down, get ready to stop.
• Width (W360): Width sign: do not continue if your vehicle is wider than shown.
• Gravel road ends (W363): Gravel ends ahead: expect a tar, asphalt or concrete road.
• Railway crossing (W403): Railway crossing: slow down, and if a train comes, stop 3 m back.