Signs & Markings Directions
These help you find and follow the road you want. They can also direct you to the nearest railway station, car park or other facility or attraction.
The colouts of these signs vary with the type of road.
For example
- motorways - blue with white letters and border
- primary routes, except motorways - green with white letters and border, route numbers showing in yellow
- other routes - white with black letters and black or blue border.
All these roads may also display tourist signs, which are brown with white letters and border.
Types of Signs directions on primary routes
Advance direction signs
You will see these before you reach the junction. They enable you to decide which direction to take and to prepare yourself.
Direction signs at the junction
These show you the way to take as you reach the junction.
Route confirmatory signs
Positioned after the junction, these confirm which road you're on.
These signs also tell you distances and places on your route. If the route number is in brackets, it means that the road leads to that route.
Types of Signs Information signs
These tell you
- where to find parking places, telephones, camping sites, etc.
- about no through roads, etc.
Signs & Markings Waiting restrictions
These are indicated by signs and road markings. Yellow lines along the road parallel to the kerb indicate that restrictions are in force.
Small yellow plates are also mounted on posts or lamp-posts nearby. These give more precise details of the restriction that applies.
Controlled parking zones
In controlled parking zones, the times of operation of the zone will be shown on the entry signs. Yellow lines show where waiting is prohibited or restricted, but yellow plates are not normally provided in these zones.
White markings and upright signs indicate where parking is allowed.
Clearways
Some areas and main roads are designated as 'No Stopping' zones or 'Clearways'. This means no stopping on the main carriageway at any time, not even to pick up or set down passengers.
Loading and unloading
'Loading' is defined as when a vehicle stops briefly to load or unload goods which are so heavy or bulky that it isn't easy to carry them any distance and may involve more than one trip. Picking up items that are able to be carried, like shopping, doesn't constitute loading.
You may be allowed to load and unload in places where waiting is restricted. Yellow markings on the herb show that loading and unloading is prohibited. The times when this is prohibited are shown on the nearby upright signs.
There may also be special bays marked by dashed white lines and the words 'Loading only' marked on the road and upright signs.
Signs & Markings Red routes
On many roads in major cities, Red Route signs and red road markings have been introduced to replace the Yellow-line restrictions.
During the day loading is only allowed in marked boxes.
There are five main types of Red Route controls
- clearways - Red Route clearway signs indicate stopping is not allowed at any time (there are no red lines on the road)
- double red lines - no stopping at any time
- single red lines - no stopping during the day, specific times shown on the signs
- Parking boxes
- loading boxes.
Parking and loading boxes
These may be shown either as
- red boxes which allow parking/loading for a specified period outside rush hours
- white boxes which allow parking/loading for a specified period at any time.
Overnight and on Sundays most controls are relaxed to allow unrestricted stopping.
