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of a motorway that has three or more lanes.Motorways must not be used by certain classes of traffic: learnerdrivers other than HGV, invalid carriages of less than 254 kgunladen weight, pedal cycles, motorcycles under 50 cc capacity,agricultural vehicles and vehicles incapable of attaining a speedof 25 mph on the level when unladen and not drawing a trailer.Pedestrians and animals are also prohibited.

To ensure that direction signs are absolutely clear to driverstravelling at motorway speeds, it is necessary to limit the numberof destinations shown. Your destination might not appear on themotorway signs: when planning a journey, it is advisable beforesetting off to check the junction number of the exit you require.Junctions can be identified by the number shown on a blackbackground in the bottom left-hand or top left-hand corner ofmotorway signs (or, in the case of overhead signs, in a separatepanel also indicating the distance to the junction). Junctionnumbers are usually shown on road maps, so it is easy to checkthese before starting your journey. On the motorway, thesenumbers can be used as a guide to your location. However, notall junctions have an exit in both directions, so numbers may notbe consecutive. Where new junctions have been constructed, thenumber may be followed by a letter

A road other than a motorway is called an "all-purpose road". Atthe point where you join a motorway, a special symbol is used toindicate the start of motorway regulations. A direction sign on anall-purpose road will normally use this symbol to indicate amotorway slip road or the beginning of a motorway. Where a signshows a motorway route number on a blue background withoutthe symbol, the route indicated will normally be an all-purposeroad that you should follow to reach the motorway.

Blue direction signs, with the motorway symbol and large route numbers, indicate that a motorway or motorway slip road leads directly from a junction with an all-purpose road. The motorway junction number, shown on the black background, may not always be included

On the approach to a junction with a motorway, a direction sign on anall-purpose road has blue panels that include the motorway symbol.The panels may include the junction number on a black background.The name in capital letters is a regional destination

This sign, with the motorway numberin brackets on a blue background, but without the motorway symbol, indicates the route to take from a junction ahead in order to reach the motorway. The motorway is not accessed directly from this junction

Signs for junctions on the motorway

On the approach to a junction, direction signs are usually located1 mile and 1/2 mile in advance, and at the exit point. Wherejunctions are close together, these distances may be reduced,normally to 2/3mile and 1/3 mile respectively. The signs may bemounted at the side of the road or overhead.

Signs located at the side of the motorway. These are used where there is a deceleration lane. The number of lanes through the junction remains the same

The first two signs onthe approach to a junction show the destination and the route number for the exit only. The distance shown (usually 1 mile or ï¿½ mile) is the distance to the exit (start of the deceleration lane). The junction number is shown on the black background

This sign is located at the start of the deceleration lane and includes destinations reached by staying on the motorway

A final route direction signis usually located where the exit slip road separates from the main carriageway

Countdown markers indicate the distance to the start of the deceleration lane. Each bar represents about 100 yards

Overhead sign for junctions with deceleration lanes, wherethe number of lanes through the junction remains the same

This sign is used on the approach to the junction (usually 1 mile andï¿½ mile in advance) and at the start of the deceleration lane. Destinations and route numbers are shown for both the exit and the motorway ahead. Countdown markers are normally provided for the deceleration lane

Signs located at the side of the motorway where one or more lanes leave the main carriageway to become the exit slip road. This type of junction is known as a lane drop

This sign is normally located1 mile and ï¿½ mile before the junction and shows the appropriate lanes to use for various destinations. In this example, the left-hand lane leads directly to the exit slip road; the centre andright-hand lanes continue through the junction

This sign, with the inclined arrow, is normally located just before the left-hand lane leaves the main carriageway

Overhead signs for a lane-drop junction

A confirmatory sign may be provided just after the point where the slip road has separated from the main carriageway. It is used where signson the approach to the junction are either overhead or located at theside of the motorway

Lane-drop junctions do not use the countdown markers, as there is no deceleration lane for drivers to moveinto. A special road marking is used at lane drops between the main carriageway and the lane that leads tothe exit slip road. This marking usually commences at the 1/2 mileadvance sign.

Some junction layouts may bemore complex and designed toallow a heavier flow of traffic toleave the motorway. A traffic lanemay be shared by traffic bothcontinuing ahead and leaving themotorway. This shared lane hasa deceleration lane separatedfrom a lane drop by chevron roadmarkings. In the example, theleft-hand lane is used for the exitslip road only, the centre lane isthe shared lane, and theright-hand lane is for aheadtraffic only. A sign mounted at theside of the motorway shows theroad layout. An overhead signshows the appropriate lanes touse for each destination.

A sign mounted at the side of the motorway shows the arrangement of traffic lanesCentral

Overhead sign showing appropriate lanes for the different destinations

Other types of sign in advance of junctions

Where two junctions are very close, they may both be shown on the same sign, together with the distances and junction numbers. The sign that is located where the deceleration lane starts for the first exit will normally show the second exit place names and route number with the ahead destinations

This overhead sign indicates a junction that has two exits. The first exit has a deceleration lane and is indicated by the upper part of the sign.The second exit is a lane drop. Traffic continuing along the motorway should use the centre and right-hand lanes

Signs showing lanes that join the main carriageway at junctions

The slip road joins the main carriageway as a lane gain to increase the number oflanes from two to three.A distance panel may be added

The right-hand lane of the slip road joins the main carriageway as a merge with an acceleration lane. This is followed by the left-hand lane which joins the main carriageway as a lane gain. Chevron road markings normally separate the two lanes on the slip road. The distance may be omitted

Direction signs on exit slip roads (the green panels indicate a primary route; the white panels indicate a non-primary route)

Direction signs where the main carriageway of a motorway ends at a roundabout

Motorway ends at a junction with anall-purpose road

Motorway ends at a junction with another motorway

Signs for tourist destinations

Tourist destinations are shown on signs with brown backgrounds.On the main carriageway of a motorway, these are separate fromthe main direction signs and are usually sited 3/4 mile and 1/4 milefrom the junction (although they do not show the distance to thejunction). On exit slip roads and where the motorway ends at aroundabout, the main direction signs may show touristdestinations on a brown panel, in the same way that they showother destinations on green and white panels (see page 83).However, separate brown signs are likely to be used at theselocations to avoid putting too much information on a single sign.See pages 100 to 102 for more information about tourist signs.

Where it is not practicable to provide tourist destination signs within 1 mile of a junctionor there are more destinations than can be accommodated on the signs, this sign maybe used in advance of the main 1 mile directionsign for the junction. It may also be used whenthe junction layout is complex "leave at Junction 24"is then varied to "follow" plus a destination

Signs for motorway service areas

On most motorways, service areas are provided at intervals of notmore than 30 miles, half an hour at normal motorway drivingspeeds. These service areas are open 24 hours a day, every dayof the year, and provide fuel, free parking (up to 2 hours),refreshments, toilets and disabled access. Other facilities,including telephones, motels and tourist information, may also beprovided. Some motorway service areas are accessed directlyfrom the main carriageway, others via junctions with other roads,where they will also be available to non-motorway traffic.

After each junction, a sign may show the distance to the next motorway service area

This sign may be used when there is a junction with another motorway before the next service area

About 1 mile in advance of a service area, a sign may inform drivers of the availability of services ahead, including the names of the operators. It will normally show the next two services, and include services on other motorways if the junctions with those motorways are reached before the second service area. Where the first services are located at a junction, this sign is likely to be used about 2 miles in advance; the word "Services" may be added to the junction direction signs as an exit destination

About ï¿½ mile before the service area (further if the services are at a junction), a sign informs drivers of the facilities available, and may include both the name of the operator and the geographical name. The price of fuel, if shown, is usually for a litre of unleaded petrol, indicated by the green pump symbol. The "LPG" symbol means that LPG fuel is available; the "i" symbol refers to an information point; the bed symbol indicates overnight accommodation

Sign located at start of the deceleration lane for a service area with direct access from the motorway

Alternative signs indicating the entrance to a servicearea accessed directly from a motorway. May be used to indicate the direction to a motorway service area located on an all-purpose road

Where a motorway service area issituated on an all-purpose road,the signs off the motorway,indicating the services, shouldhave a blue background (oldersigns may have a green or whitebackground). The geographicalname of the services may beshown on these signs, but notthe operatorï¿½s name (this isshown only on the signs on themotorway). The word "Services"may be incorporated into otherdirection signs, including the signon the exit slip road from themotorway. Where these signshave a green or whitebackground, the word "Services"(with or without a geographicalname) will normally be placed ona blue panel.

Signs may be provided to indicate that services are not availableon the motorway.

Sign on motorway indicating that no servicesare available ahead. Drivers should leave the motorway if service facilities are required

Sign on all-purpose road indicating that no services are available on motorway ahead. The motorway number may include a compass point (e.g. "M 41(N)") if services are available in one direction but not the other

Other signs on motorways

A route confirmatory sign is provided after most junctions. This shows the motorway number and the distances to the main destinations ahead

Where there are more destinations than can be accommodated on the direction signs at a junction, a sign such as this may be used in advance of the 1 mile direction sign. It advises drivers of the route to be followed (or junction to leave at) for destinations that cannot be accommodated on the main junction sign

This sign indicates a slip road that leads to a maintenance compound and is not availableto the general public

Where a motorway has been widened but the original bridges retained, there may be no hard shoulder under or over the bridge. Where this occurs, signs will indicate the distance over which this applies. There will be hatched markings on the hard shoulder at the point where it comes to an end

Observation platforms are sometimes provided at the back of the hard shoulder. These are reserved for authorised vehicles, such as those of the Highways Agency's Traffic Officers or the police

Marker posts, located at the back of the hard shoulder at100 metre intervals, show the direction to the nearest emergency telephone (housed in an orange box). You can use the telephone to contact the control centre in case of an emergency or breakdown

Direction signs for drivers of goods vehicles

Signs indicating the end of motorway regulations

Sign located at the entrance to a service area accessed directly from the motorway, or a maintenance compound

Sign located on main carriageway to indicate the distance to the end of the motorway

Sign located where the motorway ends on either the main carriageway or exit slip road

Motorway signals and variable signs

These advise of abnormal traffic conditions ahead (e.g. laneclosures or fog) and may indicate a speed limit. Where variable speed limit signsare mounted over individual lanes and the speed limit is shown ina red ring , the limit is mandatory. Speed limits thatdo not include the red ring are the maximum speeds advised forthe prevailing conditions.

Signals and variable signs may apply to individual lanes whenmounted overhead or, when located on the central reservation orat the side of the motorway, to the whole carriageway. They arenormally blank, but when they indicate a restriction the reasonmay not always be obvious. There may have been an accidentahead, so take no chances and obey the signals. When redlamps are flashing above your lane, you MUST STOP unlessyou can move safely to a lane where red signals are not showing.

lamps flashing from side to side in pairs, together with a red cross, mean"do not proceed in the traffic lane directly below". These signals are mounted above the carriageway: there is a signal for each traffic lane. A previous signal may direct you into an adjacent lane . More than one lane may be closed to traffic

Signals and variable signs above each lane of the motorway

Signals and variable signs at the side of the motorway

These apply to the carriageway as a whole and are either located on the central reservation or mounted above the hard shoulder in combination with variable signs that display information about road works, congestion and diversions ahead. The amber lamps flash in pairs from top to bottom

All lanes closed (signs for carriageways with four, three or two lanes). Do not enter the motorway when the red lamps are flashing in pairs from side to side

Older type of motorway signal

Road Signs