Road signs are a language of their own. On the K53 learner's test, you'll need to recognise over 100 different signs – but once you understand the system of colours and shapes, they become much easier to remember. This guide breaks down everything you need to know.
🧠 Memory trick: Colours tell you the type of information (danger, instruction, guidance), and shapes often reinforce the meaning. Learn the system, and you'll be able to guess the meaning of a sign you've never seen before.
Colour Meanings
Each colour on a road sign has a specific purpose. Here's what they mean in South Africa:
- 🔴 Red: Prohibition or danger – stop, yield, no entry, no turns. Red commands immediate attention.
- 🔵 Blue: Mandatory instruction (you must do something) or service information – e.g., minimum speed, keep left, parking area.
- 🟡 Yellow: Warning – slow down, be alert for hazards like curves, children crossing, animals, or traffic lights ahead.
- 🟢 Green: Directional guidance on highways – distance to towns, route numbers, exits.
- 🟠 Orange (or fluorescent): Temporary warnings – roadworks, detours, construction zones.
- ⚪ White / Black: Regulatory signs with text or symbols (e.g., speed limit signs are white with black text/red circle).
Shape Meanings
Shapes are often the first thing you notice. In South Africa:
- 🔺 Triangle (point up): Warning – slow down and be prepared to stop. Examples: stop ahead, pedestrian crossing, sharp bend.
- ⏹️ Octagon: Stop sign – the only sign with this shape. Come to a complete stop.
- ⚪ Circle: Regulatory – tells you what you must or must not do. Examples: speed limits, no right turn, one-way.
- ⬛ Rectangle (horizontal or vertical): Guidance or information – direction boards, parking signs, route markers.
- 🔷 Diamond: Warning for special hazards (often used for pedestrian crossings or school zones).
Categories of Road Signs
1. Regulatory Signs
These signs give orders. Ignoring them is illegal and dangerous. They are usually circular with a red border (prohibition) or blue background (mandatory).
- Prohibition signs – red circle with a diagonal slash. Examples: No entry, no parking, no left turn.
- Mandatory signs – blue circle. Examples: Keep left, minimum speed, cycle lane.
- Speed limits – white circle with red border, black numbers.
- Stop / Yield – Stop is an octagon; yield is a triangle pointing down.
2. Warning Signs
Yellow diamond or triangle shapes alert you to hazards ahead. You should slow down and be ready to react.
- Sharp bend left/right
- Children crossing (school zone)
- Traffic lights ahead
- Slippery road
- Animals crossing (e.g., cattle, game)
3. Guidance Signs
These help you navigate. They are usually rectangular and coloured green on freeways, blue on other roads, or white for local directions.
- Route numbers (e.g., N1, R512)
- Distance to towns
- Lane direction arrows
- Parking area signs
Quick Reference Table
| Colour | Meaning | Shape (typical) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Prohibition / Danger | Circle / Octagon | Stop, No entry |
| Blue | Mandatory / Service | Circle / Rectangle | Keep left, Parking |
| Yellow | Warning | Triangle / Diamond | Sharp bend, Children |
| Green | Guidance (freeways) | Rectangle | Distance signs |
| Orange | Temporary warning | Rectangle / Diamond | Roadworks ahead |
Common K53 Test Questions About Signs
The K53 learner's test often includes questions like:
- "What does a red circle with a white horizontal bar mean?" (No entry)
- "What shape is a warning sign?" (Triangle pointing up)
- "What colour are mandatory instruction signs?" (Blue)
- "What must you do at a yield sign?" (Give way to traffic, stop if necessary)
To practise, take our Road Signs Practice Test – it includes all the signs you'll need to know.
Tips to Memorise Road Signs
- Flashcards: Create a set with the sign on one side and the meaning on the other. Review them daily.
- Group by colour/shape: Learn all prohibition signs together, then all warning signs, etc.
- Use mnemonics: For example, "Red circle with a slash – it's a ban!"
- Take practice tests repeatedly: Repetition is key. Aim for 100% on our signs test.
📝 Free resource: Download our printable Road Signs Cheat Sheet (PDF) to keep on your phone or wall.