Turn left ahead sign

What it means

At the junction ahead, traffic must turn left. With the symbol reversed, the sign means turn right ahead.

A blue circle generally gives a positive, mandatory instruction. It tells you what you must do, rather than what you must not do.

Compare it with No right turn: that red sign bans one direction, while this blue sign tells you the direction you must take.

Rules to know

• The sign means turn left ahead; with the symbol reversed, it means turn right ahead.

  Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 19

• A blue circle generally gives a positive (mandatory) instruction.

  Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 16

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Treating it as a suggested route.

  Instead: It's a mandatory instruction. Route and direction signs are rectangles, not blue circles.

Test yourself

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

Question 1 of 1

What does this sign mean?

• ANo stopping on the main carriageway at any time, not even to pick up or set down passengers.
• BYou must not go faster than the number shown, in mph.
• CYou must not go slower than the speed shown, unless it's impracticable or unsafe.
• DYou must turn left at the junction ahead.

Full road sign quizzes are coming soon. See what's planned