Steep hill upwards sign

What it means

The road ahead climbs steeply. The figure gives the gradient as a percentage.

The wedge rises in the direction you are travelling. If it slopes down instead, the sign warns of a steep hill downwards.

Be in a suitable gear before the climb so you do not lose speed or stall, and look out for slow vehicles such as lorries and cyclists on the hill.

Where you'll see it

At the foot of steep hills, often in hilly and rural areas.

Rules to know

• The sign warns of a steep hill upwards. A gradient of 20% is equivalent to 1:5.

  Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 12

• The Highway Code notes that gradients may be shown as a ratio, for example 20% = 1:5.

  The Highway Code, Traffic signs

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Mixing it up with the steep hill downwards sign.

  Instead: Look at which way the slope rises. Here it goes up in your direction of travel.

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?

• AWarns of a bend to the right ahead (to the left when the symbol is reversed).
• BWarns of a steep downhill gradient ahead.
• CA steep hill upwards ahead
• DWarns of a T-junction ahead, where your road ends at another road.

Ready for more? Take the Warning Signs Quiz