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K53 road signs and their meanings
51 South African road signs, markings and traffic signals with pictures, their official numbers and what they mean, grouped the way the learner's licence test asks about them. Shape and colour tell you a lot: round with a red ring means not allowed, round and blue means you must, and a red triangle warns of danger.
Control signs
Control signs tell you who must stop or give way at intersections. They are the most important signs in the test.
Stop
R1.1Stop completely behind the stop line, or in line with the sign if there is no line. Go only when it is safe.
4-way stop
R1.4Traffic from all four directions must stop. The vehicle that stopped first moves off first.
Yield
R2Give way to other traffic. Slow down, and stop if necessary.
No entry
R3No traffic may go past the sign. Usually at the end of a one-way street or off-ramp.
Command signs (blue)
Blue round signs tell you what you must do.
Minimum speed
R101Do not drive slower than the speed shown.
Keep left
R103Pass to the left of the obstruction, such as a traffic island.
Proceed left only
R105You may only go in the direction of the arrow.
Roundabout
R137Drive clockwise around the junction and yield to traffic approaching from the right within it.
Switch headlamps on
R133Switch your headlights on (dipped), for example before a tunnel.
Prohibition signs (red ring)
A red ring means something is not allowed. A number in a red ring is a speed limit.
Speed limit
R201The maximum speed is the number shown, in km/h, from the sign onwards.
Left turn prohibited
R211You may go straight or turn right, but not left.
Right turn prohibited
R212You may go straight or turn left, but not right.
U-turn prohibited
R213Do not turn your vehicle around to face the other way.
Overtaking prohibited
R214Do not overtake any vehicle for the next 500 m.
Parking prohibited
R216Do not park here, day or night. You may stop briefly to drop someone off.
Stopping prohibited
R217Do not stop, except for a robot, a traffic officer or to avoid a collision.
Excessive noise prohibited
R206No hooting for 100 m after the sign. Often near hospitals.
Hitch-hiking prohibited
R207Drivers may not pick up passengers for the next 500 m.
Pedestrians prohibited
R218Pedestrians may not go past the sign, but still look out for them.
Pedal cycles prohibited
R219Cyclists may not go past the sign.
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Comprehensive signs
These signs mark the start of an area with its own rules.
Freeway begins
R401Freeway rules apply from here: no pedal cycles, no pedestrians, no stopping except in emergencies.
Warning signs (red triangle)
Triangular signs warn you of a danger ahead. Slow down and be ready to act.
Crossroad
W101A crossroad ahead. Be ready to stop for cross traffic.
T-junction
W104The road ends ahead and you must turn left or right.
Side road from the left
W107Another road joins from the left. Watch for traffic that may not yield.
Traffic circle ahead
W201Unless signs say otherwise, yield to traffic approaching from the right.
Sharp curve right
W204Slow down before the curve. Do not overtake.
Two-way traffic
W212The one-way road you are on will soon carry traffic both ways.
Traffic signals ahead
W301Robots ahead. Be ready to stop.
Stop sign ahead
W302A stop sign you may not see in time. Slow down early.
Pedestrian crossing
W306Slow down and stop for anyone waiting. Never overtake a vehicle stopped at the crossing.
Children
W308Children may cross or play near the road, often near schools.
Domestic animals
W310Animals such as cattle may be on the road for the next 2 km.
Railway crossing
W318Look both ways for trains. Stop outside the railway reserve if one is coming.
Road narrows
W328The road gets narrower from both sides. Adjust your position.
Speed humps
W332Slow down so you can drive over the humps safely.
Slippery road
W333Avoid sudden braking or harsh steering for the next 2 km.
General warning
W339Danger of some kind ahead. Look for what it is.
Road markings
Lines painted on the road carry the same legal weight as signs.
Stop line
RTM1Stop with the front of your vehicle behind the line.
Yield line
RTM2Give way to anyone crossing your path, even without a yield sign.
Pedestrian crossing
RTM3Give priority to pedestrians crossing or about to cross.
No-overtaking line
RM1Do not cross it, except to reach an entrance or pass a stationary obstruction when safe.
Yellow edge line
RM4.1Only drive left of it in daytime while being overtaken, when safe and you can see 150 m.
Box junction
RM10Do not stop inside the box. Enter only if your exit is clear.
No-stopping line
RM12No stopping, except in an emergency.
Dividing line
WM3Traffic on the other side moves in the opposite direction.
Traffic signals (robots)
What each robot light means.
Red
SignalStop.
Amber
SignalStop, unless you cannot do so safely.
Green
SignalGo, if it is safe.
Flashing amber
SignalDrive on carefully and give way to pedestrians.
Flashing red
SignalStop, then go when safe, as at a stop sign.
Flashing green arrow
SignalYou have right of way in the direction of the arrow.
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Frequently asked questions
How many road sign questions are in the learner's test?
The road signs, signals and markings section has 28 questions, and you need at least 23 right to pass it.
What do the shapes of road signs mean?
Regulatory signs are usually round (red ring for prohibitions, blue for commands), warning signs are triangles, and guidance signs are rectangles. The exceptions are the octagonal stop sign, the triangular yield sign and the diamond-shaped pedestrian priority sign.
What does a yellow road sign mean?
A sign with a yellow background is a temporary sign, for example at road works. Its number starts with T.
Is there a K53 road signs PDF?
The Department of Transport publishes a road traffic signs learner manual. This page covers the signs most often asked about, with pictures, and Phasa's practice tests let you drill all 118 sign, signal and marking questions.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from these official documents. Phasa is independent and not affiliated with the Department of Transport or the RTMC.