Primary route direction sign

What it means

The sign gives directions on a primary route. Green backgrounds, white lettering and yellow route numbers mark these main A roads.

Primary routes are the A roads of national and regional importance. With motorways, they form the national network between major towns.

Panels of another colour show a different kind of route from the junction ahead: blue for a motorway, white for a non-primary route and brown for a tourist destination.

Where you'll see it

On the approach to junctions on primary A roads. A map-type version, like this one, shows the layout of the junction.

Rules to know

• Direction signs on primary routes have green backgrounds, yellow route numbers and white lettering. Primary routes always have A numbers.

  Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 111

• On an advance direction sign, blue panels show motorways, green panels primary routes and white panels non-primary routes.

  Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 111

• A map-type sign shows the junction layout. The width of each route on it shows the type of road: wide for primary routes and motorways.

  Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 112

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking every A road has green signs.

  Instead: Only primary routes do. Other A roads are non-primary routes, with white signs.

Test yourself

Recalling the answer helps it stick. Pick an answer to see how you did.

Question 1 of 2

What does this sign mean?

• ATourist information point or centre
• BDirections on a primary route (main A road)
• CDirections on a non-primary or local route
• DRoute for emergency vehicles only

Ready for more? Take the Information Signs Quiz