MORE than three-quarters of UK drivers have admitted that they don't know what a basic road sign means.
A recent study quizzed 2,000 UK drivers on a series of driving theory questions, including meanings behind common road signs.
But the study revealed that, on average, only 47% of these signs were matched correctly to their meaning, showing that drivers couldn’t identify more than half of common road signs.
Shockingly, drivers aged 16 to 24 only correctly identified 34% of road signs, increasing to 56% for those over 55.
83% of people incorrectly identified a sign that means an 'emergency diversion route for motorway and other main road traffic,' with the majority assuming they either hadn’t been provided with the correct answer (49%) or that it was a sign for a ring road (15%).
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And fewer than a third (28%) of people managed to correctly guess the symbol that means risk of grounding, with most drivers (55%) thinking it was used to signal an uneven road.
Just one-third of drivers were able to successfully match the no-waiting sign, although another third assuming it actually meant no stopping.
And almost two-thirds (61%) of drivers identified the ring road symbol shown on the above list incorrectly.
Amazingly, some thought it meant risk of grounding (11%), while others thought it was relating to an emergency diversion route for the motorway (6%).
Only 41% of people were able to correctly identify the sign for a tourist attraction.
Given the image, it’s perhaps not surprising that over half (51%) of people believed this was a sign identifying a train station.
The research also shows that drivers from Plymouth got 57% of theory questions correct, making them home to the most educated drivers.
Julie Daniels, car insurance expert at Compare the Market, says: "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."
This comes after people realised why traffic lights are red, amber and green - and it's not down to what you might think.
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