Road signs are meant to be quick, simple, and instantly understood.

Yet for many UK motorists, particularly learners, some of them feel like trying to decipher hieroglyphics while travelling at 40mph.

Car Finance 247 has highlighted seven of the most confusing signs spotted on British roads.

Sign of the times

The guide comes as part of a push to help learner drivers prepare for their theory test and ensure experienced drivers don’t get caught out.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) reports that almost 54% of theory test candidates still fail, with road sign knowledge a key stumbling block.

 

                           

1. Minimum Speed

Unlike the familiar red-ringed speed limit signs, the minimum speed sign is blue with white numbers.

It indicates the slowest speed drivers must maintain – provided conditions make it safe – to help keep traffic flowing.

2. Vehicles May Pass on Either Side to Reach the Same Destination

A rare sight, this blue circular sign with two downward-pointing arrows means traffic can pass either side of an obstruction and end up in the same place.

3. Overhead Electric Cable

This red triangular warning sign features a lightning bolt symbol, alerting drivers – especially those in tall vehicles – to electrified overhead cables ahead, often near level crossings or industrial areas.

4. T-Junction with Priority Over Vehicles from the Right

Depicting a wide T with a left-pointing arrow, this sign warns that you’re approaching a T-junction where your road has priority over traffic coming from the right – a reversal of what many drivers expect.

5. No Vehicles

A simple red circle with a blank white centre means no vehicles at all are allowed – including cars, motorbikes, and bicycles – unless the bike is being pushed.

Times of restriction may vary, so drivers should check nearby plates.

6. Two-Way Traffic Crosses One-Way Road

This triangular sign with two horizontal arrows indicates that a one-way street is about to intersect a two-way road.

Drivers need to check both directions before pulling out.

7. Risk of Grounding

Often found at hump-backed bridges or level crossings, this red-bordered triangle with an image of a lorry on a ramp warns that the underside of a long or low vehicle may strike the road.

Why it matters

With DVSA data showing theory pass rates hovering around 46% and practical test pass rates just under 49%, strong road sign knowledge can give candidates an edge.

In 2023–24, over 20,000 learners achieved a perfect zero-fault pass in the practical exam – but they remain the exception.

Confusing road signs are not just a theory test issue, though; there is a very real road safety concern around the problem.

“Misreading a sign can mean failing your test or, worse, causing a collision,” said Steve Gooding of the RAC Foundation.

The government and DVSA are attempting to reduce average test waits, which are currently averaging over 20 weeks at most centres.

Plans include increasing examiner numbers and adding 10,000 extra test slots a month by 2026. 

However, many professionals argue that better early education on road signs, amongst other areas of road safety, particularly the rarer road signs, could cut failures and ease the backlog.

As Gooding put it: “If you can’t understand the sign, you can’t make the right decision.”

Testing times

Latest DVSA figures show notable trends:

  • In Q4 of 2024 (Jan–Mar), 666,000 theory tests were taken, up 12% year-on-year. The pass rate rose to 46.0%, with female candidates leading at 48.3% over male passers at 44.2%.

  • From July to September 2024, theory tests reached 692,000, but pass rates dipped slightly to 45.7%, led again by women (48.1%) over men (43.9%).

  • On the practical side, 449,000 tests were conducted in the same quarter, with a consistent 48.9% pass rate.

  • In March 2025, test volume dropped 12% to 162,259, but pass efficiency improved—the practical pass rate climbed from 46.9% (March 2024) to 49.0%, a 2.1 percentage point increase.

  • Across Q1 2025, 466,446 tests were taken (down 18%), yet the pass rate rose to 48.9%, up from 47%.

The average wait time for a driving test is around 20–22 weeks, with 81% of test centres facing waits up to 24 weeks.