Temporary sign
Hard shoulder closed sign
What does the Hard shoulder closed sign mean?
Warns that the hard shoulder is temporarily closed for the distance shown, so there is nowhere to pull over.
Also known as: No hard shoulder for 400 yards
What it means
The hard shoulder is temporarily closed for the distance shown.
There is no hard shoulder to stop on through this stretch, often because of works.
Keep an eye on your fuel and your vehicle. If you break down, try to get to an emergency area or past the closure if you safely can.
Where you'll see it
On motorways and dual carriageways at road works.
Rules to know
The sign shows that the hard shoulder is temporarily closed for the distance shown.
Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 161
Common mistakes
Mistake: Expecting to be able to pull over as normal.
Instead: There is no hard shoulder here. Think ahead about where you could stop safely.
Test yourself
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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
Temporary lane closure
Temporary sign
A lane closed at road works.
See also
Red X: lane closed
Motorway sign
A lane closed by a red X.
More temporary signs
All temporary signs
Sources
- Know Your Traffic Signs (Department for Transport, Sixth edition, 2023), Signs for road works and temporary situations, p. 161
Sign image: Department for Transport, Traffic sign images (diagram 7015). © 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