Know Your Traffic Signs: Official Guide Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, historical committees, and road marking regulations from the UK Department for Transport's official traffic signs guide.

TSRGD

The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions $2016$ (as amended), which summarizes the legislation prescribing the design and use of UK traffic signs.

Milliaries

Ancient Roman stones used to mark off road distances at intervals of $1000$ paces, or approximately $1\,\text{mile}$.

Worboys Committee

The $1961$ committee that recommended the UK adopt the European system of traffic signing, using symbols within red triangles for warnings and red circles for prohibitions.

Regulatory Signs: Circles

Road signs that give orders; red rings or circles indicate prohibitions (what you must not do), while blue circles generally provide mandatory instructions.

Warning Signs: Triangles

Red triangular signs used to alert road users to potential hazards or dangers ahead on the road.

Information Signs: Rectangles

Rectangular signs used to provide information; blue is used for motorways, green for primary routes, and white for non-primary routes.

Primary Route

A road of national or regional importance marked with green background signs, yellow route numbers, and white lettering.

Non-primary Route

Local roads, including other 'A' and 'B' roads, indicated by white signs with black lettering and route numbers.

Double Yellow Lines

Road markings along the edge of the carriageway indicating that waiting is prohibited at all times throughout the year.

Red Route

A system of main roads where yellow lines are replaced by red lines to indicate more stringent prohibitions on stopping and waiting.

Yellow Box Markings

Crossed yellow lines at junctions indicating an area that must be kept clear; drivers must not enter unless their exit is clear, except when turning right.

Puffin Crossing

A 'Pedestrian User-Friendly Intelligent' crossing that uses sensors to detect pedestrian movement and adjust signal timings accordingly.

Toucan Crossing

A signal-controlled crossing designed to be used simultaneously by both pedestrians and cyclists (short for 'two-can' cross).

Zebra Crossing

A pedestrian crossing marked by black and white stripes and flashing amber beacons; drivers must give way when a pedestrian has moved onto the crossing.

Clearway

A road indicated by a red cross on a blue background where stopping on the main carriageway is prohibited at any time for the distance shown.

High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane

A lane reserved for vehicles (other than lorries) with a driver and at least one or more passengers, such as $2+$ or $3+$ occupants.

Clean Air Zone (CAZ)

A designated area where some drivers may be required to pay a daily charge to enter if their vehicle does not meet specific air quality standards.

Home Zone

A residential area where streets are designed as shared spaces for motor traffic, walkers, and cyclists to improve safety.

Quiet Lane

Minor rural roads in England and Wales designated for shared use by walkers, cyclists, horse riders, and motorists.

Restricted Parking Zone

An area where uniform waiting and loading restrictions apply, indicated by repeater signs rather than yellow lines and kerb marks.