---
title: "Driver Location Sign Motorway | UK Road Signs | Fast Track"
url: https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/theory/road-signs/motorway-driver-location-sign
description: "What driver location signs mean on UK motorways, how to read the road, carriageway letter and distance marker in an emergency."
lang: en
---

# Driver location sign — UK road sign

Small blue driver location signs give the road number, carriageway and distance so help can find you fast.

Image: Driver location sign — blue and white rectangle UK road sign (https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/signs/motorway-driver-location-sign.svg)

Driver location signs are small blue plates placed roughly every 500 metres along motorways.

They give a precise position reference that emergency services and control rooms can act on immediately.

## What this sign means

The top line is the road number, the middle letter is the carriageway direction, and the bottom figure is the distance in kilometres from the start of that road.

Carriageway letters such as A and B indicate direction of travel, with J and K used on slip roads.

- Top: road number, for example M6.
- Middle: carriageway letter.
- Bottom: distance marker in kilometres.

## What to do when you see it

You do not need to act on it while driving normally.

If you break down, read the nearest one and quote all three lines when you call for assistance.

## How this sign is tested

Questions focus on breakdown procedure and knowing how to describe your exact location on a motorway.

## Common mistakes

Describing your position by the last junction only, which can be several miles away.

Walking along the carriageway to find a sign instead of staying behind the barrier.

## Test yourself on this one

Road and traffic signs is the biggest category in the question bank with 102 questions, and signs turn up inside other categories too. Work through them free, no sign-up needed.

Practise road sign questions (https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/theory/practice)

## Frequently asked questions

How often do driver location signs appear?

Approximately every 500 metres on motorways.

What does the letter mean?

It identifies the carriageway and direction of travel, which tells responders which side of the road you are on.

## Passed your theory? Get the practical booked

Your theory certificate lasts two years. Most learners who use it quickly do it with an intensive course — a block of hours with a DVSA approved instructor and a practical test at the end, instead of one lesson a week for months.

Intensive course prices: https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/pricing
All courses: https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/courses
Crash courses: https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/crash-courses
Automatic lessons: https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/driving-lessons/automatic
Areas we cover: https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/driving-lessons-in
Driving test centres: https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/driving-test-centres
How it works: https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/how-it-works
Test pass guarantee: https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/test-pass-guarantee

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