Regulatory sign
No vehicles carrying explosives sign
What does the No vehicles carrying explosives sign mean?
A car and an explosion in a red ring means vehicles carrying explosives must not enter.
Also known as: No explosives
What it means
No vehicles carrying explosives.
The red ring prohibits entry. The picture of a vehicle and an explosion shows the load that is banned.
It is often used with a plate saying No explosives.
Where you'll see it
At tunnels, bridges and restricted roads where explosives must not be carried.
Rules to know
The sign means no vehicles carrying explosives.
Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 17
You must obey traffic signs that give orders.
The Highway Code, Rule 109
Common mistakes
Mistake: Thinking it covers all dangerous goods.
Instead: This sign is about explosives only. Other dangerous loads have their own signs and codes.
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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.
Related signs
See also
No vehicles
Regulatory sign
An empty red ring bans all vehicles.
More regulatory signs
All regulatory signs
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- Know Your Traffic Signs (Department for Transport, Sixth edition, 2023), Regulatory signs, p. 17
- The Highway Code, Rule 109
Sign image: Department for Transport, Traffic sign images (diagram 622.8+622.9). © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Last reviewed 11 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