Road works sign: what it means

Road works sign: a white triangle with a red border and a person digging
Image: Crown copyright, OGL

The road works sign warns of road works ahead. Take extra care, keep to any temporary speed limit and look for more signs telling you what to do.

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What it means

Rule 288: when the road works sign is shown, take extra care and look for signs with more specific instructions. You must not go faster than any temporary maximum speed limit. Keep a safe distance, get into the correct lane in good time and do not drive through an area marked off by traffic cones.

On motorways and high-speed dual carriageways, lanes may be closed and a lower speed limit may apply (rule 289).

Where you see it

Before road works on any kind of road, from town streets to motorways.

A common mistake

Switching lanes to get past queuing traffic. Rule 288 says not to; follow the signs into the correct lane early and merge in turn where lanes narrow.

Quick quiz

What must you do about a temporary speed limit at road works?

  1. Treat it as advice
  2. Not go faster than it
  3. Ignore it if no workers are visible
Show answer

B. Not go faster than it. Rule 288: you must not exceed any temporary maximum speed limit. Source: The Highway Code, rule 288, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 289, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: signs for road works and temporary situations, GOV.UK; The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Compare with

Next in warning signs: Crossroads sign. See all warning signs or the full road signs list.

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Sources

  1. The Highway Code, rule 288, GOV.UK
  2. The Highway Code, rule 289, GOV.UK
  3. Know your traffic signs: signs for road works and temporary situations, GOV.UK
  4. The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK
  5. Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.