Traffic signsSouth Africa

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of South Africa. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.

Traffic signs

Traffic rules

Traffic signs

A traffic sign is a standardised visual symbol placed along roads to guide, warn, or regulate drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. These signs provide essential information about road conditions, rules, directions, and potential hazards, helping to ensure safety and smooth traffic flow. They come in various shapes and colours—such as triangular warning signs, circular prohibitory or mandatory signs, and rectangular information signs—each designed for quick recognition and clear understanding.

How are traffic signs grouped in South Africa?

The manual separates regulatory, warning, guidance and information signs. Regulatory signs include control, command, prohibition and reservation functions.

🔗 transport.gov.za • South Africa, Department of Transport, SARTSM — traffic-signs

Is a temporary speed limit at roadworks binding in South Africa?

Where an authorised temporary regulatory speed limit is in force, you must obey it. A roadworks warning alone should not be mistaken for a new numerical limit, but conditions may require driving more slowly.

🔗 transport.gov.za • South Africa, Department of Transport, SARTSM — traffic-signs

151. For trailers

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies specifically to vehicles towing trailers.

English • (R)582 • Towed vehicles only: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, this exclusive secondary message makes that regulation apply only to towed vehicles. Read it together with the main sign; it is not a standalone regulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 121 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-17. Wikimedia original unmodified.

152. For taxis

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies specifically to taxis.

English • (R)564 • Taxis only: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, this exclusive secondary message makes that regulation apply only to taxis. Read it together with the main sign; it is not a standalone regulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 120 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-13. Wikimedia original unmodified.

153. For horse-drawn vehicles

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies specifically to horse-drawn vehicles.

English • (R)581 • Animal-drawn vehicles only: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, this exclusive secondary message makes that regulation apply only to animal-drawn vehicles. Read it together with the main sign; it is not a standalone regulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 121 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-18. Wikimedia original unmodified.

154. For tractors

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies specifically to tractors.

English • (R)580 • Agricultural vehicles only: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, this exclusive secondary message makes that regulation apply only to agricultural vehicles. Read it together with the main sign; it is not a standalone regulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 121 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-18. Wikimedia original unmodified.

155. For trucks

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies specifically to trucks. The truck categories covered depend on the applicable local definitions.

English • (R)568 • Goods vehicles only: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, this exclusive secondary message makes that regulation apply only to goods vehicles. Read it together with the main sign; it is not a standalone regulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 120 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-13. Wikimedia original unmodified.

156. For trucks exceeding the indicated mass

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies specifically to trucks exceeding the indicated mass. The legally relevant mass is determined by the applicable local rules.

English • (R)569 • Goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes gvm or gcm only: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, this exclusive secondary message makes that regulation apply only to goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM or GCM. Read it together with the main sign; it is not a standalone regulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 120 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-18. Wikimedia original unmodified.

157. For buses

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies specifically to buses. The vehicle categories covered depend on the applicable local definitions.

English • (R)560 • Buses only: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, this exclusive secondary message makes that regulation apply only to buses. Read it together with the main sign; it is not a standalone regulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 120 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-13. Wikimedia original unmodified.

158. For trams

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies specifically to trams.

English • (R)583 • Trams only: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, this exclusive secondary message makes that regulation apply only to trams. Read it together with the main sign; it is not a standalone regulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 121 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-17. Wikimedia original unmodified.

159. For vehicles carrying water-polluting substances

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies specifically to vehicles carrying water-polluting substances. The substances covered depend on the applicable local rules.

English • (R)571 • Vehicles conveying dangerous goods only: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, this exclusive secondary message makes that regulation apply only to vehicles conveying dangerous goods. Read it together with the main sign; it is not a standalone regulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 120 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-14. Wikimedia original unmodified.

160. For construction vehicles

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies specifically to construction vehicles. The vehicle categories covered depend on the applicable local definitions.

English • (R)570 • Construction vehicles only: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, this exclusive secondary message makes that regulation apply only to construction vehicles. Read it together with the main sign; it is not a standalone regulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 120 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-14. Wikimedia original unmodified.

161. For ambulances

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies specifically to ambulances.

English • (R)576 • Emergency vehicles only: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, this exclusive secondary message makes that regulation apply only to emergency vehicles. Read it together with the main sign; it is not a standalone regulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 121 (May 2012)

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Source revision 2017-07-18. Wikimedia original unmodified.

162. For police vehicles

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies specifically to police vehicles.

English • (R)577 • Police vehicles only: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, this exclusive secondary message makes that regulation apply only to police vehicles. Read it together with the main sign; it is not a standalone regulation.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 121 (May 2012)

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Source revision 2017-07-21. Wikimedia original unmodified.

163. To the left

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies in the direction shown by the arrow, to the left.

English • (R)520 • Regulation applies left: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, the regulation applies in the direction indicated: left. Read the arrow together with the main sign.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 118 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-11. Wikimedia original unmodified.

164. To the left or right

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies in both directions shown by the arrows, to the left and right.

English • (R)522 • Regulation applies left and right: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, the regulation applies in the direction indicated: left and right. Read the arrow together with the main sign.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 118 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-11. Wikimedia original unmodified.

165. To the right

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies in the direction shown by the arrow, to the right.

English • (R)521 • Regulation applies right: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, the regulation applies in the direction indicated: right. Read the arrow together with the main sign.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 118 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-11. Wikimedia original unmodified.

166. For kilometres

This supplementary sign indicates the length of the section to which the main traffic sign applies. The length is shown in kilometres.

English • (R)535 • For 5 km: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, the regulation applies for the indicated distance of 5 kilometres. This is a distance over which it applies, not a distance to the restriction.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 119 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-12. Wikimedia original unmodified.

167. Indicated mass

This supplementary sign shows an indicated vehicle mass. Read it together with the main traffic sign to determine how the mass value affects the applicable rule or restriction.

English • (R)532 • Over 16 t: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, the regulation applies only to vehicles with GVM or GCM exceeding 16 tonnes. This plate is not, by itself, a maximum permitted mass sign.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 119 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-13. Wikimedia original unmodified.

168. During the time shown

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies during the time shown.

English • (R)501 • 06:00–09:00: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, the regulation applies only during 06:00 to 09:00. Read this plate together with the main sign.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 117 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-09. Wikimedia original unmodified.

169. During the times shown

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies during the times shown.

English • (R)502 • 07:00–09:00 and 16:00–18:00: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, the regulation applies only during 07:00 to 09:00 and 16:00 to 18:00. Read this plate together with the main sign.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 117 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-09. Wikimedia original unmodified.

170. During the times shown on the indicated days

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies during the respective times shown for the indicated days.

English • (R)503 • Weekdays and Saturday times: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, the regulation applies only during 08:00 to 16:00 on weekdays and 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays. Read this plate together with the main sign.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 117 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-09. Wikimedia original unmodified.

171. During daytime hours

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies during daytime hours.

English • (R)511 • Daytime: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, the regulation applies only during daytime. Read this plate together with the main sign.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 117 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-11. Wikimedia original unmodified.

172. During night-time hours

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies during night-time hours.

English • (R)512 • Night-time: secondary message. When displayed below a primary regulatory sign, the regulation applies only during night-time. Read this plate together with the main sign.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 117 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-11. Wikimedia original unmodified.