You see a road sign that is circular with a red border. What type of instruction does this shape and colour combination give?
- A warning about a hazard ahead
- An order telling you what you must not do
- General information about the road
- Directions to a motorway
Correct answer: B. An order telling you what you must not do
UK traffic signs follow a consistent shape code. Circular signs give orders, and within that group a red border means prohibition: the sign tells you what you must not do, such as exceeding a speed limit or entering a street. Blue circles give positive orders, such as turn left ahead. Triangular signs are the warning family, alerting you to hazards like bends or junctions, so option A describes the wrong shape. Rectangular signs give information or directions, with blue used on motorways, which covers options C and D. Learning the shape code first makes unfamiliar signs far easier to decode in the test and on the road.
Source: The Highway Code: Traffic signs — signs giving orders (GOV.UK)