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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
World
Lee Dalgetty

Common road sign leaves four out of five drivers stumped as research shows motorists are missing important rule

When we drive every day, it can be easy to become complacent. Remaining vigilant on road safety rules, and refreshing ourselves on them, should be done often.

Research has revealed four out of five drivers are unaware of the meaning of one important sign, reports the Mirror.

Compare the Market has put road users' knowledge to the test, and checked out how many signs people could identify. They found less than half the signs were matched with their correct definition.

Read on below to see if you know the road signs, and what they stand for.

READ MORE - Jaw-dropping Edinburgh flat with stunning views of Leith Shore hits the market

Number One: Roundabout or Diversion?

A staggering 83 per cent of people didn't know what this sign meant (NottinghamPost WS)
  • Meaning: Emergency diversion route for motorway and other main road traffic

More than four out of five (83 per cent) of people couldn't identify this road sign, which means that there is an emergency diversion up ahead for main road traffic.

Most people assumed they either hadn't been provided with the real answer (49 per cent), or it was a ring road sign (15 per cent).

Number Two: Uneven road?

More than half believed this sign meant uneven road (NottinghamPost WS)
  • Meaning: Risk of grounding

Less than a third (28 per cent) of motorists were able to guess this sign correctly - with the risk of getting stuck on roads more applicable to larger vehicles.

The majority of people (55 per cent) thought this sign stood for an uneven road.

Number Three: Don't stop?

Many believed this sign meant 'no stopping' (NottinghamPost WS)
  • Meaning: No waiting

This sign is an easy one to mix up - with 33 per cent believing it meant you weren't allowed to come to a stop on the road.

A third of people (33 per cent) guessed successfully what this sign meant - no waiting on any part of the road.

Number Four: Alternative road?

Almost two-thirds of motorists failed to identify this sign (NottinghamPost WS)
  • Meaning: Ring Road up ahead

Almost two-thirds (61 per cent) of drivers failed to know what this sign actually means.

It actually signifies there is a ring road up ahead, which is a bypass surrounding a town.

But 11 per cent assumed this sign meant a risk of grounding up ahead, while others believed it stood for an emergency diversion route for the motorway (six per cent).

Number Five: Train station up ahead?

Many assumed this was a sign for a railway station (NottinghamPost WS)
  • Meaning: Tourist attraction this way

This sign actually means there is a tourist attraction up ahead, or wherever the sign points to. Just 41 per cent of people correctly identified the sign, while more than half (51 per cent) of drivers thought it stood for a railway station.

Julie Daniels from Compare the Market stated: "Having driving theory knowledge is just as important as having practical experience, as it allows drivers to demonstrate safe and legal driving behaviours, while protecting themselves and other road users from potential accidents.

"It's not uncommon for motorists to forget common driving rules or signs over time, or to be unaware of new rules that may have come into force since passing their theory test, so it's important for all drivers to refresh and update their essential driving knowledge to keep themselves and other road users safe."

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