Quiz: How well do you know your road markings?

Road sign quiz

The Highway Code and its extensive list of road signs and markings is one of the fundamentals of motoring. But how well do you know it?

If you take our quiz and you’re a bit rusty, don’t worry: you’re not alone. A recent survey found that half of drivers don’t know what a roundabout sign is when it’s shown to them. And two thirds don’t know how far behind the car in front they should be travelling.

The survey was conducted by driver training organisation IAM Roadsmart. It is calling for road safety to be part of the National Curriculum so that it’s drilled into drivers from an early age. Take our quiz to see how you get on.

Results

Well done! You got at least 90 per cent which means you really know your road markings

Sorry to break this to you but if you took the theory part of the driving test now you may not pass! Best brush up on your Highway Code.

#1. We all know what a speed limit sign looks like. But what does this sign mean?

Oh dear. You don’t seem to know your road markings. Either you’ve been careless or you should dig out that copy of the Highway Code before you have another go.

#2. This sign is to encourage you to stay a safe distance behind the car in front. How far is the minimum distance in seconds?

Oh dear. You’re one of the many who doesn’t seem to know their road markings. Either you’ve been careless or you should dig out that copy of the Highway Code.

#3. What must you NOT do if you see this sign?

Oh dear. You’re one of the many who doesn’t seem to know their road markings. Either you’ve been careless or you should dig out that copy of the Highway Code.

#4. Cycling is becoming increasingly popular so what should you do when you see this?

Oh dear. You’re one of the many who doesn’t seem to know their road markings. Either you’ve been careless or you should dig out that copy of the Highway Code.

#5. What should you expect when you see this sign?

Oh dear. You’re one of the many who doesn’t seem to know their road markings. Either you’ve been careless or you should dig out that copy of the Highway Code.

#6. What colour are the cats’ eyes between the motorway and a slip road?

Oh dear. You’re one of the many who doesn’t seem to know their road markings. Either you’ve been careless or you should dig out that copy of the Highway Code.

#7. You will start to see an increasing number of these, particularly going into cities. They mean:

Oh dear. You’re one of the many who doesn’t seem to know their road markings. Either you’ve been careless or you should dig out that copy of the Highway Code.

#8. What does this sign mean?

Oh dear. You’re one of the many who doesn’t seem to know their road markings. Either you’ve been careless or you should dig out that copy of the Highway Code.

#9. What does this road sign mean?

Oh dear. You’re one of the many who doesn’t seem to know their road markings. Either you’ve been careless or you should dig out that copy of the Highway Code.

#10. When this sign appears you can expect the road to…

Oh dear. You’re one of the many who doesn’t seem to know their road markings. Either you’ve been careless or you should dig out that copy of the Highway Code.

Finish

82 comments on “Quiz: How well do you know your road markings?

  1. Margaret Berry 27/11/2018 8:30 AM

    Better re-read the highway code, felt very confident with my answers, Oops!!

    • Ray Stevens 01/12/2018 1:40 PM

      seems as though perhaps you drive around with your eyes closed, there are loads of them around, sounds to me an eye test should be taken

    • Ade 14/10/2019 8:26 PM

      It’s in the Highway Code so you don’t ever read it do you

  2. JOE BLOGS 14/12/2018 6:10 AM

    I LIVE IN CYPRUS NO ONE EVER TAKES ANY NOTICE OF HIGHWAY CODE PARK WHERE AND WHEN YOU LIKE NO CRASH HELMETS USE PHONE WHILE DRIVING MUST WATCH OUT WHEN I HOLIDAY BACK IN UK

    • Gail Wilkins 14/10/2019 8:20 AM

      Scroll back and see or do it again

      • Gail Wilkins 14/10/2019 8:22 AM

        Will watch out.

  3. Valerie 08/02/2019 7:40 AM

    Wish I could see my answers again as am sure I achieved 10/10 not 7/10

    • Gail Wilkins 14/10/2019 8:21 AM

      Scroll back or do it again

  4. M. Walker 07/03/2019 9:01 PM

    Well I got 2 wrong, 30 in a blue circle, I always thought this was a maximum speed limit, 3 answers and not 1 says that, the other was a cycle sign which I must say I wasnt sure of. Shame it doesnt give the answers so you can see where you have gone wrong

    • Sharon Marshall 09/03/2019 1:27 PM

      You can scroll back through your answers and see which ones are wrong

    • Nigel Aslett 10/03/2019 8:56 PM

      No Blue sign means compulsory .Red if for prohibitive i.e max 30mph

  5. L.McQuoid 07/03/2019 9:13 PM

    Took me back to my days of learning to drive with my old faithful The Highway Code Book.

  6. Karen Earwicker 08/03/2019 12:16 AM

    Enjoyed doing this I still know my signs

  7. John 08/03/2019 1:17 AM

    i disagree with no. 5 as I drive to the Smith system and that states 4 seconds behind the vehichle in front

    • Stephen 08/03/2019 5:07 PM

      There’s actually a handy little hint: pick a marker, as soon as the car in front of you passes it say, ‘Only a fool breaks the two second rule’. If you’ve passed that same marker before you’ve said that, you’re too close!

      • Giraffa 13/10/2019 6:46 AM

        Love this! Cheers!

    • Roy 09/03/2019 11:21 AM

      Hi John, have you never heard of ‘Only a fool breaks the two second rule’ thus the two chevrons distance.

      • Brian 14/10/2019 12:49 PM

        I added to the 2 second rhyme i.e. . . . . less than 2 seconds, the grim reaper beckons !

    • David Thrower 11/10/2019 8:11 PM

      It’s minimum it could be an hour if like

    • Ian Barber 14/10/2019 8:24 PM

      I always use 3,5,7 or 9
      an old Army drive told me that the “only a fool” etc only works when its dry on a good road and good tyres
      In good conditions note when the vehicle in front passes a fixed point, count to 3 and if you get to that fixed point yo are too close, if it is wet then count to 5, If it Is snowing count to 7 and if there is ice then 9. works quite well

      • Susan Steenton 04/11/2019 7:36 AM

        That’s a great tip. I’ve always used the ‘only a fool breaks the 2 secind rule’, yours sounds more practical. Thanks for sharing.

  8. Kev 08/03/2019 5:46 AM

    Valerie, you can, having completed it just scroll back up the page and your answers will be either red or green 🙂

  9. Stephen Manuell 08/03/2019 10:47 PM

    Some one asked me the right sequence for traffic lights I said red amber green they said what comes after green I said I don’t know I usually driven away by then

    • Martyn Seed 12/10/2019 12:37 PM

      Actually it’s red, red and amber, green. If just amber is flashing it’s proceed with caution.

  10. Katrina 09/03/2019 8:54 AM

    I got 10/10. If some of the people here were more observant they would have seen the answers to this quiz were shown above.

  11. john beadman 09/03/2019 9:09 AM

    did the test and got 8/10 30 sign and the bike one guess I will need to take care but 60 years driving without an accident must count for something

  12. HRC 09/03/2019 2:34 PM

    It seems that on a clearway you can’t stop even if there ‘s a car stopped and blocking the road. On the clearway around us you can’t park, but you do stop if there is a good reason to do so. Never understood that one!!!

  13. Thomas 09/03/2019 8:21 PM

    Did well 9 out of 10 cats eyes wrong

  14. Alan 09/03/2019 8:25 PM

    Didn’t realise how little i know

  15. George Evans 09/03/2019 8:33 PM

    9 out of 10 could do better.

  16. Stephen Dodd 09/03/2019 8:35 PM

    Standard of driving in this country is shocking most drivers cut corners straight line roundabouts don’t know you always give way to the right on a roundabout joining a motorway the person on the inside lane has right of way putting a indicator on the slip road does not give you the right to pull out you are supposed to join in with the flow

    • Ian Grierson 17/10/2019 2:59 PM

      Couldn’t agree more Stephen. Tailgating, not indicating, not wearing seat belts, jumping red lights, speeding, the list is endless. Drivers are much more aggressive these days/

  17. Tom 09/03/2019 8:39 PM

    9/12 Q1 I didn’t read it properly

    • Glen 12/10/2019 9:39 AM

      9/12 ? There were only 10 questions Tom.

  18. Janet Gamage 09/03/2019 9:31 PM

    great quiz. only got 8/10 but I didn’t that too bad.

  19. jackie 10/03/2019 7:43 AM

    Yeay 9 out of 10. Fun quiz. More please

    Good it shows your right and wrongs but would be good on a wrong to show the right answer …… or maybe I should look it up .

  20. Trevor Hart 10/03/2019 10:56 AM

    John, as the TV ad says, DON’T FORGET THE TWO SECOND RULE! Other than the M1 not seen these chevrons elsewhere. Cats eye colours never been asked about this. Scored 10/10 but that means nothing as it is driving behaviour that matters.

    • Stephanie Hughes 11/10/2019 8:02 PM

      There are chevrons on the M11

  21. Lin Willsher 10/03/2019 11:35 AM

    No. 5. Surely two seconds is not enough. I put three seconds and think that is safer.

  22. brian perkin 10/03/2019 11:36 AM

    have put the answers in the right order this time

  23. Yolanda 10/03/2019 3:27 PM

    I felt very confident in doing this quiz, guess I was wrong, 6/10 tutt tutt. Going to get an uptodate highway code for sure. I’m just glad that I did the quiz

  24. Michael Hallett 10/03/2019 7:55 PM

    9 out of ten must admit to never coming across the one I got wrong

  25. Tj 10/03/2019 8:37 PM

    Should have asked what is speed limit for car on dual carriageway. The amount of donuts who brake to 60mph when they spot a speed camera is laughable.

  26. MARK BRAMWELL 11/03/2019 6:23 PM

    I was so confident thinking I’d get 10/10 but only got 8 better do some reading

  27. David Cane 19/03/2019 10:47 AM

    all these questions are based on whats in the highway code, why all this confusion about clearways i dont know. You dont stop or park for no good reason, if other vehicles have broken down, or you break down well you have to stop, common sense.

  28. Annemarie Baxter 11/10/2019 7:57 PM

    Inconsistant No cycles should have red line over it needs addressed. Have cycle lanes with this sign on it

  29. elaine 12/10/2019 4:53 AM

    need the answers

  30. John Tucker 12/10/2019 8:42 AM

    I had to retake the test to get 10/10. My original score was 6/10!

  31. Sandy 12/10/2019 10:07 AM

    10/10 not bad as it’s been a long time since I passed my test

  32. Martyn Seed 12/10/2019 12:42 PM

    So you get 10/10 and it’s “Well done you’ve scored at least 90%” ???? 😀

  33. Rosemary Hill 12/10/2019 2:02 PM

    It would have been helpful to have given the right answer in the comments below wrong ones.

  34. Ann davies 12/10/2019 7:11 PM

    Just want to know how I did !!!!!!!!!??????

  35. Nigel Vizor 12/10/2019 7:32 PM

    7 out of 10 ,I thought this was quite good being the last time I saw the highway code it had hand signals.

  36. William Leicester 12/10/2019 7:36 PM

    If you don’t use the motorways how are you excited to know all the road signs.
    The person who put his all together DOES HE KNOW ALL ROAD SIGNS I BETTER NOT.

  37. Catherine 12/10/2019 8:07 PM

    Great reminder; I’m going to the library tomorrow to study!

  38. Angela Williamson 12/10/2019 8:52 PM

    Interesting

  39. Clive Price 13/10/2019 10:05 AM

    Always good to recap

  40. Pam smith 13/10/2019 4:34 PM

    What did I’d I get

  41. Nigel Foster 13/10/2019 7:40 PM

    I had a second attempt to answer two questions I got wrong, this time I got 10 out of 10. Question 7 was one I got wrong, l thought any signs that does not permit you would have a red diagonal line through the circle. And the 30 mph in blue that’s rare to me, and I have been driving for 38yrs you see some, you miss some.

  42. Lynn 13/10/2019 10:50 PM

    Question 3 means end of dual carriageway

  43. Frankie 14/10/2019 12:44 AM

    10/10 I guess all that studying for advance driving did help 🙂

  44. Mark 14/10/2019 6:34 AM

    The clearway question, is no parking, you have to stop sometimes.

  45. Lynn Atkinson 14/10/2019 7:07 AM

    People who have been driving for years should resit the theory test. More cars on the roads and new signs.

  46. John Howard 14/10/2019 8:01 AM

    9/10 Got the cats eyes wrong. Must be colour bilnd!

  47. Gail Wilkins 14/10/2019 8:13 AM

    It’s good you can take it more than once. 10/10 second go Think I shall read up on highway code though because there are lots of new signs out there.

  48. Gail Wilkins 14/10/2019 8:23 AM

    Will watch out then

  49. Gerry Thompson 14/10/2019 2:20 PM

    Tuning fork ones means end of dual carriageway. May or may not reduce the number of lanes.

  50. leslie footitt 14/10/2019 2:23 PM

    with regard to the time between chevrons it would have helped if you had given a travelling speed as the time difference between doing 50 and 70mph would be quite significant, still got 9/10 though

  51. Elaine Davis 14/10/2019 2:41 PM

    I did this quiz on a message for my husband. Got 7/10 which I thought was ok as I’ve never been a driver.

  52. ian blackwell 14/10/2019 7:20 PM

    9/10, but should have known all.

  53. Sandra Wood 14/10/2019 9:56 PM

    It’s a good idea for all drivers to brush up on highway code as things do change. It would also be good for all drivers to have compulsory brush up driving ‘test’ every 10 years as driving standards have deteriorated in recent years and volume of traffic constantly increasing.

  54. Pete 14/10/2019 10:21 PM

    10/10, happy with the fact that I knew the answers and didn’t guess or eliminate the stupid possible answers to arrive at 100%.

  55. Allydg 15/10/2019 5:17 AM

    Excellent Test! We should all do these periodically. I got 9, and kicked myself about getting the cycle one wrong. Think I better buy myself a copy of the highway code.

  56. Reet 15/10/2019 2:34 PM

    Oh thought I new the answers but only got 5 correct

  57. Christine Williams 15/10/2019 4:59 PM

    An excellent idea for all drivers to check if they know (good) and if not (bad) to re read the Highway Code and brush up so one knows what each sign really means.

  58. Ann 15/10/2019 10:41 PM

    Must do better Ann

  59. John 16/10/2019 4:25 PM

    Where do I find the correct answers to know how many I scored

  60. Josie 16/10/2019 7:24 PM

    I have never seen a blue 30 mile sign on the roads I drive on . In France on the A16 you see speed limits for certain weather conditions. Whoops about the motorway exit cats eyes

  61. Paula 17/10/2019 7:28 AM

    2nd one is
    End off dual carriageway
    6thonge is no cycling
    Need to check the HighwayCode

  62. caroline 19/10/2019 3:40 PM

    been driving for 38 years. feeling smug that I still remember my road signs. 10/10

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