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UK Road Signs

Information sign

Passing place sign

Passing place sign: a white square with a black border and the words Passing place
Sign image: Department for Transport, © Crown copyright

What does the Passing place sign mean?

Marks a passing place on a narrow road: somewhere to pull in so oncoming vehicles can pass. Never park in one.

What it means

This is a passing place on a single-track road, for letting oncoming traffic pass or letting a following vehicle overtake.

On a single-track road there is room for only one vehicle. Passing places are wider spots where two vehicles can get by.

If a vehicle is coming towards you, pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite one on your right. Use them to let faster vehicles behind you overtake too.

Where you'll see it

At intervals along single-track roads, especially in rural areas and the Scottish Highlands.

Rules to know

  • The sign marks a passing place on a narrow road.

    Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 134

  • If you see a vehicle coming towards you, or the driver behind wants to overtake, pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite a passing place on your right.

    The Highway Code, Rule 155

  • Do not park in passing places.

    The Highway Code, Rule 156

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Parking in a passing place to admire the view.

    Instead: Passing places are for passing. Parking in one can leave vehicles with nowhere to pull in.

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What does this sign mean?

White square sign with a black border and two capitalised words in black

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© Crown copyright. Free to reuse under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as long as the sign is reproduced accurately and not in a misleading context.

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Sources

Sign image: Department for Transport, Traffic sign images (diagram 822). © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Last reviewed 6 October 2026. This page explains the sign in our own words; for the full rules, see The Highway Code. How we source and check content