Main types of signs

Most of the signs you’ll see on our roads are international symbolic signs. This means they use the same shapes and symbols as traffic signs all over the world.

Symbolic signs are used because they’re quick and easy to read and understand.

The signs are generally made of reflective material, making them easier to read at night.

The 3 types of signs

The signs on our roads can be divided into 3 types:

compulsory signs
warning signs
information signs.

You must be able to recognise and understand each type of sign.

Some examples of these signs are shown below.

Note: the examples are only a small sample of the symbolic signs used on our roads. This is to familiarise you with the 3 main types of sign rather than show you all the signs you’ll see when driving.

Compulsory signs

Compulsory signs tell you what you must or must not do. They’re usually red or blue.

Regulatory traffic sign with turn right arrow on a circular blue background

Turn right

Regulatory traffic sign with an arrow pointing up on a circular blue background

Keep going straight ahead

Regulatory traffic sign with keep left arrow on a circular blue background

Keep left

Regulatory traffic sign with the number 50 on a circular red background

You must not go faster than 50km/h

Regulatory traffic sign with the text no entry on a circular red background

You must not drive into this road

Regulatory traffic sign with a red strike on a left turn arrow and it has a circular red border

You must not turn left

Regulatory traffic sign with a red strike on a curving U arrow and it has a circular red border

You must not make a U-turn

Regulatory traffic sign says stop on a red hexagon

You must stop and then give way

Regulatory traffic upside down triangular sign with a red border that says give way

You must slow down and give way (or stop, if necessary)

Regulatory traffic sign that says school patrol stop on a circular red background and it has a handle protruding on the side

School patrol – you must stop

Some compulsory signs have red borders.

Regulatory traffic sign says keep left unless passing and it has a rectangular red border

You must keep left unless passing

Regulatory traffic sign has a bus icon on top and the word lane underneath. The sign has a square red border

Bus lane that can also be used by cycles, motorcycles, mopeds

Regulatory traffic sign has a bus icon on top and the word only underneath. The sign has a square red border

Bus lane that can only be used by buses

Regulatory traffic sign with four lines of text and it has a red border around the sign. The top line says transit lane. The middle line has a T2 icon and a car icon next to each other. The third line in smaller print says 6am-10am. The fourth line also has Mon-Fri in smaller print.

Transit lane – can only be used by passenger service vehicles, cycles, motorcycles, mopeds and vehicles carrying at least the number of people shown on the sign. T2 means 2 or more people, T3 means 3 or more.

Important!

Road authorities, such as local councils, may have special rules for road users in specific areas. These restrictions should be shown by signs or markings.

Warning signs

Warning signs alert you to a hazard on the road ahead. They warn you to be careful for your own safety, the safety of other road users or the safety of road workers carrying out maintenance.

There are 2 types of warning signs:

Those that warn you of a permanent hazard.
Those that warn you of a temporary hazard.

Both types of sign are usually diamond shaped.

Permanent warning signs

These warning signs are yellow and black.

Pedestrian crossing

Look out for children

Slippery surface

Road narrows

Clearance height advance warning

Temporary warning signs

These warning signs are orange and black.

Roadworks

Left lane closed

Slips

Gravel surface

Stop on request

Other hazard

Bilingual traffic signs

You may also see some signs in both te reo Māori and English.

A rectangular yellow sign with a black border and text reading kura school.

Kura school sign

Information signs

These signs give you useful information, for example, the distance to the next town. They’re all rectangular, but come in a range of different colours and sizes.

You may turn left, but first give way to any
pedestrians and vehicles