Driving across an exposed high bridge, you see a triangular warning sign with a red border showing a wind sock or streamer symbol bending sideways. What hazard is this sign warning you about, and how should it affect your driving?
- That the bridge ahead has a weight limit that varies according to wind speed, checked electronically as vehicles approach
- That the road ahead is closed to motorcycles at all times because of the risk of side winds
- That fog is likely to form on the bridge in certain wind conditions, and fog lights should be used at all times when crossing
- That the road ahead is exposed to strong side winds, which can suddenly push a car off line or blow a high-sided vehicle, cyclist or motorcyclist sideways, so you should hold the steering wheel firmly, reduce speed, and leave extra room when passing motorcyclists, cyclists or high-sided vehicles that may be buffeted
Why D? And why not the others?
Correct answer: D. That the road ahead is exposed to strong side winds, which can suddenly push a car off line or blow a high-sided vehicle, cyclist or motorcyclist sideways, so you should hold the steering wheel firmly, reduce speed, and leave extra room when passing motorcyclists, cyclists or high-sided vehicles that may be buffeted
A red-bordered triangle showing a wind sock or streamer bending sideways is the 'side winds' warning sign, used on exposed high ground and bridges where sudden gusts can catch a vehicle. Because a gust can push a car off its line and can buffet a high-sided vehicle, cyclist or motorcyclist far more severely, the correct response is to hold the steering wheel firmly, moderate speed, and give extra room when passing or being passed by vehicles and road users that are more vulnerable to being blown sideways. The option describing an electronically variable, wind-linked weight limit fabricates a mechanism the sign does not describe; it is a simple warning symbol, not a variable message about weight. The option claiming motorcycles are permanently banned invents an absolute prohibition this warning sign does not impose, since it warns of a wind hazard rather than banning any class of vehicle. The option linking the sign to fog and mandatory fog-light use confuses side winds with an entirely separate hazard and sign, since a bending streamer symbol has nothing to do with visibility in fog.
Source: DfT Know Your Traffic Signs — Warning signs: Side winds (GOV.UK)