Pedestrian zones cover shopping streets and town centres where vehicles are excluded so people can walk freely. The entry sign sets out which vehicles may enter and during what hours.
Because the rules vary from town to town, the sign has to be read carefully rather than recognised at a glance.
What this sign means
General traffic is banned from the street beyond the sign, usually with exceptions for loading at specified times, buses, cycles or permit holders.
The restriction is a traffic order and is enforceable by camera in many towns.
What to do when you see it
Read the exceptions before entering, and turn away if none applies to you.
- Check whether your vehicle type is listed as exempt.
- Check the hours during which access is allowed.
- Drive at walking pace if you are permitted to enter.
- Give way to pedestrians throughout the zone.
How this sign is tested
Questions ask what the zone restricts and who may still enter, typically loading vehicles within set hours.
The exit sign, which ends the zone, appears in the same question sets.
Common mistakes
Following a delivery van into a zone without checking whether the exemption applies to cars.
Assuming the zone only operates when it is busy.
Test yourself on this one
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Practise road sign questionsFrequently asked questions
Can I drive into a pedestrian zone to unload?
Only if the sign lists loading as an exception and only within the hours shown.
Are pedestrian zones camera enforced?
Many are, and a penalty is issued automatically.
Do cyclists have to dismount?
It depends on the local order. Some zones allow cycling, others require you to dismount.