At the entrance to a residential cul-de-sac, you see a white rectangular sign showing a black T-shape and the words 'No Through Road'. What does this sign tell a driver, and does it also apply to a pedestrian or cyclist wanting to reach a footpath at the far end?
- It is a legally enforceable ban on entry for any vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian, identical in effect to a 'No Entry' sign
- It means the road is temporarily closed for roadworks and will reopen as a through route once the works finish
- It is an information sign warning drivers that the road ahead has no exit for vehicles and ends in a dead end, but it does not itself restrict pedestrians or cyclists, who may still be able to reach a connecting footpath
- It means heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes are banned from the road, but cars and light vans may still pass all the way through
Why C? And why not the others?
Correct answer: C. It is an information sign warning drivers that the road ahead has no exit for vehicles and ends in a dead end, but it does not itself restrict pedestrians or cyclists, who may still be able to reach a connecting footpath
'No Through Road' is an information sign, not a prohibition sign: it simply tells a driver in advance that the road they are entering has no exit for vehicles at the far end, so there is no point continuing that way expecting to come out onto another road. Because it is informational rather than a legally enforceable restriction like a red-circle 'No Entry' sign, it does not by itself stop pedestrians or cyclists from continuing, since many cul-de-sacs have a connecting footpath or cycle link at the closed end even though vehicles cannot pass through; that link is exactly the kind of route the sign is not addressing. It has nothing to do with a temporary roadworks closure, which would instead be signed with a specific 'road closed' or diversion sign giving a reopening context, and it is not a weight-based restriction on heavy vehicles, which is shown by a completely different red-circle sign carrying a tonnage figure rather than a T-shape and the words 'No Through Road'.
Source: DfT Traffic Signs Manual, diagram 816 — No Through Road (GOV.UK)