Motorists 'baffled by road signs'

The meaning of road signs is lost on many motorists, according to a poll.

And despite having to pass a theory section of the driving test, it is younger drivers who struggle most with signs, the survey by the AA Driving School found.

Based on responses from 2,000 people, the poll found more than three in five could not identify the sign for cycle route ahead.

And more than two in five failed to recognise the sign for an uneven road, with 22% unable to identify the hump-back bridge sign.

Nearly everyone (93%) managed to correctly identify the thick diagonal black line inside a white circle which indicates that the national speed limit applies (which would be 70mph on motorways). But 5% of all respondents and 8% of women thought this sign meant no stopping at any time.

Overall, 23% of those polled were unable to correctly identify the seven signs put before them.

The AA Driving School said the theory part of the driving test was introduced in 1996 to aid and increase understanding of the Highway Code. But it added that it was motorists aged 35 or more - who had not had to take the theory test - who fared better than the 18-34-year-olds when spotting signs.

AA Driving School director Simon Douglas said: "The road signs we selected for this test are all common on British roads, so it's worrying that so many motorists don't fully understand their meaning.

"While strong intuition and an awareness of your surroundings are valuable skills to have when driving, there is no substitute for a sound knowledge of the Highway Code and drivers who don't know what these important signs mean may be putting lives at risk, including their own."