Prohibition signs and restricted movements

Reading a prohibition sign

Prohibition signs prevent an action or a class of road user from using a place. Many use a red-bordered circle with the prohibited symbol inside; parking and stopping signs use their distinctive blue centre and red bars. Read the full symbol rather than interpreting a red circle only as “danger”.

They may apply at a movement, along a road section or to a specified class. Supplementary plates can add time periods, vehicle types, distances or directions. A rule applying only to a specified class must be read with that condition; it is not permission to ignore other rules.

Plan a permitted alternative before reaching the restriction. A quiet road or empty parking bay does not cancel the sign.

Key idea: Read the action, place and conditions together.

No parking and no stopping

No parking uses a red diagonal bar across a blue circle. No stopping uses a red cross across the blue circle. Parking means remaining stationary longer than reasonably necessary for actual loading or unloading under the legal definition; sitting in the car does not automatically avoid that definition.

A no-stopping restriction also prohibits a brief voluntary passenger pickup or drop-off. Stops needed to obey a traffic officer or signal, avoid a collision or deal with circumstances beyond your control are different from convenience stops.

A no-parking sign is not blanket permission to load anywhere: the separate stopping rules, visibility, access and obstruction risks still apply. Check the signed extent and any time plates, and find a lawful place.

Key idea: No stopping is more restrictive than no parking for voluntary stops.

U-turns and prohibited left or right turns

A U-turn reverses your direction of travel so you face the opposite way. The crossed U-shaped arrow prohibits that manoeuvre. Continue to a safe, permitted route rather than attempting a quick turn because traffic seems clear.

A crossed left or right arrow prohibits that direction at the signed point or junction ahead, depending on the illustrated arrow. Check whether the turn is prohibited now or at the next junction. Choose a different permitted movement, observing lane markings and signals.

A turn being allowed does not mean it is safe at that moment. Give way to relevant traffic and pedestrians and avoid abrupt changes from a wrong lane.

Key idea: A prohibition removes a movement; all conditions still govern the alternative.

Overtaking and excluded road users

The no-overtaking sign prohibits the indicated passing movement for the applicable road section. The selected reference gives a 500-metre effect for the ordinary sign unless the signed conditions specify otherwise. The heavy-vehicle version is a separate restriction on heavy vehicles overtaking other heavy vehicles.

Pedestrians-prohibited and cyclists-prohibited signs exclude the pictured users from the controlled route. Those road users need an alternative permitted path. A motor driver must nevertheless look out for anyone who enters despite the restriction and act to prevent a collision.

Vehicle mass, height, length and width signs require comparison with the actual vehicle and load. A guess based on the cab alone is not an adequate clearance check.

Key idea: Identify the restricted movement or user; keep observing despite the prohibition.

Quick recap

• No parking and no stopping differ.
• A sign’s condition is part of its instruction.
• Do not make a prohibited turn.
• Continue observing road users who may ignore a restriction.