5 Commonly Misunderstood Road Signs That You Should Familiarize Yourself With Before Your Next Trip

Road signs are all around us, and they govern how pedestrians, drivers, and riders should behave on the road. However, most people you will find on the road barely know any road signs, making following them even more challenging.

Before you go on your next trip, you should get to know as many road signs as possible. You should especially familiarize yourself with road signs that are commonly misunderstood, such as: 

The Form One Lane Sign

If the road is narrow or there is road construction happening ahead, drivers may be required to form one lane before passing that section of the road. The form one lane sign means that any vehicle driving ahead of you has the right of way, and you should follow it to create a single lane.

Many drivers confuse this sign, which often results in long traffic jams and, in some cases, accidents. Moreover, the sign is not very common, and many drivers have not seen it before hence the misunderstanding.

The ‘No Motor Vehicles Allowed’ Sign

The ‘No Motor Vehicles Allowed’ sign is undoubtedly one of the most misunderstood road signs, particularly when witnessing how most motorists react to the traffic sign. It is typically a white sign with red trim and consists of pictures of cars and motorcycles.

Many motorists misunderstand the sign and think that only cars and motorcycles are allowed on that road. The confusion is primarily caused by the lack of a strike-through line through the sign, which is the typical indicator of the sign’s contents being prohibited.

Motorists should learn road signs and how to differentiate their categories and meaning. If they did, there would be less confusion, and a simple warning like the ‘No Motor Vehicles Allowed’ sign would cause much less confusion. 

The ‘No U-Turn’ Sign

Not all points on the road are viable for making a U-turn, and the many accidents that result from drivers doing so are testament to that. Some points are much more dangerous for making U-turns than others.

For that reason, there are typically ‘No U-Turn’ signs at these places. However, many drivers often misunderstand or ignore the warning as you will often find them making U-turns in the presence of such signs.

A cause of the confusion may be that there are many variations of the sign. However, it is a wonder how often it is misinterpreted for such a simple sign. 

The ‘Give Way’ Sign

Another simple sign that is often subject to misunderstanding is the ‘Give Way’ sign. A simple triangular sign with a white background and often emboldened capital letters ‘GIVE WAY’ should be straightforward.

However, many motorists assume the sign tells them to slow down, and you will even find drivers who open their windows to check for oncoming traffic.

The sign does mean that you should slow down or stop as vehicles may be coming from a particular direction which could result in a collision. You will often find the sign at intersections, and all motorists need to do is stop until it is safe to proceed. 

Pedestrian Crossings

When located in an area with slow traffic, such as the suburbs, pedestrian crossings are easy to understand and follow. However, it becomes a different issue when they are on major roads with significant traffic.

Whether there are traffic lights or not, motorists should stop whenever they see a pedestrian crossing sign, including zebra crossings. The sign is commonly placed at intersections or areas where cars have to make turns. 

Motorists misunderstand many signs that they should learn about and follow. The above signs are a small fraction of these signs. However, if motorists can interpret the above signs correctly, they will avoid many accidents.