Green direction signs mark primary routes, the network of important A roads that link major towns. The place names are in white and the route numbers in yellow.
Colour is the fastest way to work out what kind of road a sign is pointing you onto, which is exactly why the theory test tests it.
What this sign means
The route ahead is a primary route. Any blue panel on the sign shows a motorway you can reach, and any white panel shows a non-primary road.
Yellow numbering distinguishes the route number from the destination text at a glance.
What to do when you see it
Read the sign early and choose your lane before the junction.
- Identify your destination or route number on the sign.
- Move into the lane the arrow indicates in good time.
- Check mirrors before any lane change.
- Do not slow sharply while reading a sign.
How this sign is tested
Questions show a coloured sign and ask what type of road it indicates. Green means primary route, blue means motorway and white means a minor or local road.
Panels within a sign are also tested, since a blue panel on a green sign points to a motorway.
Common mistakes
Assuming green means the road ahead is a motorway.
Ignoring panels inside a sign, which change the road type for that destination only.
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 questionsFrequently asked questions
What does a green direction sign mean?
The route is a primary route on the main A road network.
What does a blue panel on a green sign mean?
That destination is reached by joining a motorway.
Why are route numbers yellow?
Yellow separates the number from the destination text for quick reading at speed.