Driving LicenceRoad signs and what they mean
The shape tells you the kind of sign before you can even read it. A circle orders, a triangle warns, a rectangle informs.
Signs that give orders
A circle means an order. Disobeying it is an offence. Stop and Give way have their own shapes so that they can be recognised even from the back or when covered in dust.
- StopCome to a full stop at the line, look both ways and move only when the road is clear.
- Give waySlow down and let traffic on the road you are joining go first.
- No entryVehicles must not enter this road from this side.
- No parkingYou may not park here. Stopping briefly to drop someone is a different sign.
- No stopping or standingDo not stop here at all, even for a moment, except in an emergency.
- Speed limit 50Do not drive faster than 50 km an hour on this stretch.
- Horn prohibitedDo not sound the horn here. Seen near hospitals, schools and courts.
- U-turn prohibitedYou may not turn round to go back the way you came.
- Right turn prohibitedYou may not turn right at this point.
- Compulsory turn leftAll vehicles must turn left here.
- Compulsory ahead onlyAll vehicles must go straight on. No turning.
Signs that warn
A triangle with a red border warns of something ahead. Slow down and be ready.
- Cross road aheadAnother road crosses yours ahead. Slow down and watch both sides.
- Right hand curveThe road bends to the right ahead. Slow down and do not overtake.
- Hump or rough roadA speed breaker or uneven surface is ahead. Slow down.
- Narrow road aheadThe road gets narrower. Slow down and be ready to give way.
Signs that inform
A blue rectangle gives information: what is nearby and where.
- ParkingA place where parking is allowed.
- HospitalA hospital is nearby. Drive quietly and do not use the horn.
Three shapes to remember
- Circle: you must, or you must not.
- Triangle: be careful, something is ahead.
- Blue rectangle: for your information.
These drawings are simplified for learning. The signs on the road and in your state's sample questions on Sarathi may differ a little in detail.
Questions people ask
How many kinds of road signs are there?
Three: signs that give orders (mandatory), signs that warn (cautionary) and signs that inform (informatory).
What shape is a warning sign?
A triangle with a red border, standing on its base.
What does a circle with a red border mean?
An order. It either forbids something, such as parking or a U-turn, or sets a limit, such as a speed limit.
Why is the Stop sign eight-sided?
So that it can be recognised by its shape alone, from any side and in any condition.
Check before you go. These facts were read on the official Parivahan website and the Delhi Transport Department website on 11 November 2026. Rules and fees change, and states add their own charges and steps. Your state's page on sarathi.parivahan.gov.in is the final word. This is not a government site.