The Two Families of Round Signs
Round signs are orders, not suggestions. They divide into two groups:
- Blue circle — mandatory (you must do this)
- Red circle or red cross — prohibitory (you must not do this)
Common Prohibitory Signs (Red Border)
- No entry — white horizontal bar on red; no vehicles may enter. Common at one-way street exits.
- Speed limit — black number inside red circle; you may not exceed this speed
- No overtaking — two cars side by side (red and black); applies until an end sign or new speed limit
- No stopping — red circle with diagonal bar; you may not stop at all, even briefly
- No parking — restricts parking only; brief stopping to drop off may still be permitted
- No U-turn — a U-shaped arrow with a red bar; common near junctions
- Weight / height / width limit — vehicles exceeding the stated dimension may not pass
Common Mandatory Signs (Blue Circle)
- Minimum speed — white number inside blue circle; you must maintain at least this speed
- Keep right / Keep left — arrow pointing to one side; you must pass obstacles on that side
- Bicycle path — bicycle symbol on blue; only cyclists may use it
- Compulsory direction — arrow shows the only permitted direction at a junction
End-of-Prohibition Signs
A grey circle with a diagonal black stripe ends the most recent prohibitory sign. After this point the national default limit applies again.
Key Takeaways
- Round sign = an order, not advice
- Blue = must do it; Red = must not do it
- Prohibitory signs stay in force until an end sign, a new limit, or a junction
- Ignoring a prohibitory sign is a traffic offence and can result in a fine