4 uncommon road signs you may not know (but need to)

Let’s be honest: you’ve seen road signs. Sometimes, you don’t even need to be an experienced driver to know all the major ones, such as maximum speed limits, or the big red ones that say STOP in massive letters (those ones are pretty obvious).

However, they’re far from the only signs on our highways, and sometimes even seasoned drivers can get caught out by some of the more uncommon ones – which is really not ideal, because they’re often imparting really important information. So, whether you’ve got plans to hire a car in the near future, or you’re driving your own, here’s a quick heads-up of some of the more unusual road signs you may well spot while out on the roads, and what they mean!

Priority over oncoming vehicles

A white rectangular sign with a red and black arrow is the priority over oncoming vehicles sign, which means you have the right of way over approaching traffic. The red arrow represents the direction where drivers must yield, while the black arrow shows the side with priority. You’ll often see this sign on narrow stretches of road or in areas where one side must give way to allow safe passage, such as one-lane bridges or rural lanes with limited visibility.

Even though this sign helps manage tight spots, it’s still important to proceed cautiously – not every driver is going to automatically yield. If we’re being generous, some drivers may miss the sign or misinterpret its meaning. If we’re being a little more brutally honest, other drivers may well choose to ignore it and blaze down narrow areas anyway – so you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure you’re not in the way when that happens.

Minimum speed limit

While speed limits usually indicate the maximum allowed speed, the minimum speed limit sign might well be less familiar. It’s circular with a blue background and a white number, indicating the lowest speed you must travel on a particular road. The main purpose of a minimum speed limit is to prevent slow-moving traffic in areas where it might be particularly inconvenient (or even dangerous) to go too slowly. You might see this sign in tunnels, on some motorways, or other high-speed routes where slow vehicles could pose a hazard.

However, these signs still do rely on you exercising good judgement. So if you need to slow down for safety reasons – such as poor weather or an obstruction on the road – don’t let the sign stop you from doing so. As ever, just try and slow the car gradually rather than suddenly, so that other drivers have plenty of time to see it and react. They may not necessarily like what you’re doing, but the important thing is that they can react!

No overtaking

The no overtaking sign is another lesser-known but essential road sign that helps maintain safety in areas where overtaking would be especially risky. This circular sign has a white background with a red border, showing two cars side by side, one black and one red. It means that overtaking any vehicle is prohibited until you’ve passed the restriction. It’s common on winding or hilly roads, sharp bends, or other spots where visibility is limited, making overtaking too dangerous.

It's really not one to ignore (although of course there are always some drivers who may attempt it anyway). One thing worth bearing in mind about this particular sign is that it’s often placed in known accident hotspots – which means that if you see it, there’s a good chance that it’s a lesson several other drivers have learned the hard way.

No motor vehicles

The no motor vehicles sign is circular with a white background and a red border, featuring images of a car and a motorbike. This sign indicates that motor vehicles aren’t allowed in the area, though it typically permits pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-motorised forms of travel. You’ll often find it in pedestrian zones, parks, or specific restricted urban areas, where it’s meant to reduce vehicle traffic in spaces primarily used for recreation or high pedestrian activity.

Again, sometimes it’s placed in areas that are specifically designed from the off to be car-free zones – but other times, it’s the result of someone realising cars and other motorised vehicles are simply too dangerous to have in the area. It is of course important not to ignore it – but people who do often don’t get terribly far anyway, because these areas are generally sealed off with anti-traffic measures like bollards or concrete blocks.

Those are all the most crucial ones – so now you’re ready to hit the roads. And if you’re looking to hire the perfect car or van to do that, you’re in exactly the right place. At Intack Self Drive we have a fleet of more than 450 vehicles to choose from, encompassing cars, vans and minibuses – so whatever type of vehicle you need, you can count on us to have you covered. We offer daily hire and weekly hire options here at Intack Self Drive, and if you’re not sure exactly how long you’ll need the car for, we also offer flexi hire to give you maximum freedom and flexibility.

And of course, if you ever have any questions or need any advice, you can always give us a call on 01254 57811 – we’re here to help!