New England Online > Geography > Transport > Roads & Motorways > Road Signs & Markings
Road Signs & Markings
The various road signs and markings are defined by the Road Code, which is the law of the road for New England. The code contains 330 numbered rules and 11 annexes covering pedestrians, animals, cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers. The code also contain information on vehicle maintenance, licence requirements, documentation, penalties and vehicle security. Certain rules in the Road Code represent various road traffic laws and must be obeyed, while others are not compulsory, but advisable. Signage is defined by a number of categories, the most critical being compulsory signs and hazard signs.
- Compulsory Signs
- Hazard Signs
- Supplemental Signs
- Information Signs
Compulsory Signs
The most important road signs, compulsory signs show you what you must or must not do. All are heavily inspired by German and British road signs. Compulsory signs are divided into two categories: red and blue. Red signs are mostly prohibitive and may have a white sign below to qualify their message. Blue signs give positive instruction and also may have a white sign below to qualify their message.
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| no entry | no u-turn | height limit | no right turn | no bicycles |
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| keep left | roundabout | bus lane | turn left | one way street |
Green signs are used on non-vehicular paths and tracks, and are predominately for the benefit of cyclists, pedestrians and riders. They are not used on roads that carry motorised vehicles. These signs designate the presence of a non-vehicular route, and what is permitted on them. Examples include:
Hazard Signs
The most common signs on the road, hazard signs warn of a particular hazard on the road ahead. Hazard signs are either yellow or orange, and all are diamond shaped. Both may have a sign below to qualify their message, which is always the same colour as the hazard sign. Yellow signs warn of a permanent hazard, while orange signs warn of a temporary hazards, usually involving roadworks or construction.
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| intersection ahead |
wildlife ahead | bumpy surface | steep ascent ahead |
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| road narrows |
airfield ahead |
high wind area | zebra crossing |
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| roadworks ahead | temporary traffic lights |
loose surface |
traveling livestock |
Supplemental Signs
Both compulsory and warning signs are often sign with a black and white rectangular or square signs mounted below them. These signs are used to modify the main sign or may give additional information.
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| no right turn 16:00 - 18:00 |
no overtaking on bridge |
80km/hr limit for lorries only |
bus lane peak hours |
one way street bicycles excepted |
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| windy road next 5km |
shape curve reduced speed |
level crossing on side road |
traffic lights 200m ahead |
grid ahead |
Information Signs
Easily the most varied signs on the road, information signs are rectangular and either white or brown. They do not give legal instruction or warnings, but merely provide useful information to the motorist to help them when driving. White coloured signs provide geographical information, while brown signs provide tourist and recreational information.
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| entering urban area | river crossing | mountain range |
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| street sign | no through road | tourist information |
Railway Crossings
A crossing of a road and railway on an at-grade intersection is known as a level crossing. The name also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way (or a reserved track tramway) crosses a road. Level crossings are not particularly common, owing to their dangerous nature and the interruption to road and rail traffic they cause. After independence, most existing level crossings were bypassed with bridges, tunnels or were closed off altogether. Where such crossings do remain, they must feature bells, lights and boom gates. Additional indicators may also inform the motorist how many railway tracks lay ahead, and if there is a clearance restriction due to overhead wires.
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| level crossing ahead |
level crossing 240m |
level crossing 160m |
level crossing 80m |
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| overhead wires ahead |
level crossing | multiple tracks | level crossing signals |
Intersections & Pedestrian Crossings
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade. At most intersections turns are usually allowed, but are regulated to avoid interference or collision with other traffic. There are several different types of intersection used, including sign controlled, signal controlled and roundabout controlled. Sign controlled intersections use Stop of Give Way signs, while signal controls involve the use of traffic lights. Roundabouts have their special rules, with traffic giving way to the right.
Pedestrian crossings can also be regulated with lights or ordinary signage. Those Pedestrian crossings that use lights, use red and green lights to regulate the safe movement of pedestrians, cyclists and riders across busy roads. Such crossings are fairly common in New England, and are known as Pelican Crossings. Zebra crossings are controlled by hazard signs and a variant of the Belisha beacon, which warns motorists of a crossing ahead.
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| intersection ahead |
intersection ahead |
intersection ahead |
intersection ahead |
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| stop | give way | roundabout ahead |
roundabout |
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| traffic lights ahead |
red signals | amber signals | green signals |
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| red pedestrian signal |
green pedestrian signal |
zebra crossing ahead |
zebra crossing |
Lane Movements
On some arterial and local roads there is only one lane each way. This makes overtaking difficult and potentially dangerous. In response, overtaking lanes have been built at regular intervals to facilitate the safe movement of traffic along the road. All roads with additional lanes are clearly marked, and have rules that apply to when an additional lane can be used and by whom. On trunk and main roads, there are overtaking lanes every five to ten kilometres.
In a nutshell, additional lanes exist for overtaking only, and therefore all traffic must keep to the leftmost lane unless overtaking. Lorries and cars with caravans and trailers are forbidden from overtaking at all times. Where an overtaking lane exists, it can only be used by traffic flowing in one particular direction, which is always marked. Overtaking against the flow of the lanes is forbidden at all times. All lane movement signs are white and rectangular, with black arrows indicating the presence of additional lanes and also when they come to an end.
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| start overtaking lane |
overtaking lanes | oncoming overtaking lane |
end overtaking lane |
Speed Limits
The maximum speed a vehicle may travel in New England is dependant on the type of road being traversed.
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| maximum speed limit |
temporary speed limit |
minimum speed limit |
end minimum speed |
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| speed zone | end speed zone |
school zone | speed camera |
Parking Signs
Where and when a motorist can park is an important part of driving in New England. All controlled roads have some form of parking restrictions placed upon them, and as such they have signs to indicate where parking is allowed and for how long. Parking signs are complimented with line markings in either white, red or yellow that indicate where a motorist can park or where no standing and stopping zones exist. See the road markings section for more.
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| parking zone 3hr limit |
parking zone 5min limit |
disabled parking | loading zone |
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| no parking | no stopping | bus zone | taxi zone |
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| part-time clearway | permanent clearway | ||
Road Markings
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| Stop line at: - Stop signs - Traffic lights |
Stop line at: - Give Way signs - Roundabouts |
Line at: - Pedestrian crossings |
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| Overtaking Lines | Lane markings | Hatchings | |||
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| No Parking | No Stopping | Part-time Clearway |
Permanent Clearway |
Parking Bay | Bus/Taxi Zone |
