Road signs in the United Kingdom

This page is under construction, and perhaps always will be. It is intended to help those mappers in the UK that are new to the project, or those more experienced but encountering something new to them, work out what is probably the best way to tag it.

Please note: This is intended as a guide based on what contributors to the page think is best. There may be other equally acceptable alternatives - if so add them to this page with an "or" separator or discuss first on the discussion page.

Please also note: Some of the tags here may not appear in Map Features and are suggestions instead to cover a requirement. As a result, some validator tools may highlight them as errors to be checked.

Warning signs

Shape is generally triangular.

Note: Not many warning signs are currently shown here, as there doesn't seem to be much in information on how to tag them. In the longer term, many warnings will apply to a section of road between similar warning signs at either end of the section. Feel free to add more warning signs with a suggested tagging method.

Sign	Image	Description	Tags/Comments
510		Roundabout	junction=roundabout on how to tag the roundabout itself.
611.1		Mini Roundabout	highway=mini_roundabout to the intersection node where the mini roundabout is located. Also add direction=clockwise.
516		Road narrows on both sides ahead	traffic_calming=choker on the part of the way
523.1		Steep hill downwards	incline=value% Note: in OSM the percentage is +ve or -ve to indicate up or down relative to the direction the way has been drawn. See Key:incline. The tag should be applied between the warning of steep hill downwards at the top and (if present) the warning further down the hill of steep hill upwards for oncoming traffic.
524.1		Steep hill upwards	incline=value% Note: in OSM the percentage is +ve or -ve to indicate up or down relative to the direction the way has been drawn. See Key:incline
530		Height restriction warning	maxheight=14'6" Where only imperial dimensions are given, it is recommended that the tag value be entered exactly as is on the sign, which is likely to always include inches even if they are 0. A conversion to a metric height is unlikely to be the same as the limit imposed if the restriction is later updated to a dual units sign, as there are rules to do with rounding that are used for safety reasons. Signs installed after 2016 will have both imperial and metric measurements. Use Metric on OSM if displayed.
543		Traffic Lights	highway=traffic_signals + traffic_signals=signal
545		Children Crossing / Playing	hazard=children to a way/node.
549		Sheep	hazard=animal_crossing + hazard:animal=livestock to a way/node.
548		Cattle	hazard=animal_crossing + hazard:animal=livestock to a way/node.
550.1		Horse riders	hazard=horse_riders to a way/node.
551		Wild animals	hazard=animal_crossing + hazard:animal=wild_animal to a way/node.
552		Cattle Grid	Mark a node on the way where the grid is located and tag it as barrier=cattle_grid
557		Slippery road	hazard=slippery to a way/node.
528		Hump Back Bridge	Mark the bridge with bridge=humpback
559		Falling rocks	hazard=falling_rocks on a way/node.

Regulatory signs

Shape is generally round.

Speed limit signs

Sign	Image	Description	Tags/Comments
670V50		Maximum speed	maxspeed=50 mph Note: While units are (usually) mentioned as being allowed in Map Features, there is a time when they weren't and some mappers tried tagging with just a number based on the speed converted to km/h (with no units, maxspeed is in km/h) with various different roundings, most of which didn't match those posted on signs at exits of ports. It is therefore better to add the mph suffix to be precise. Note: When a speed limit begins at a T-junction, the sign may be up to 20 metres from the start of the limit. It's not correct to tag a short way with the same limit as the main road!
671		National speed limit	maxspeed=60mph + maxspeed:type=GB:nsl_single or maxspeed=70mph + maxspeed:type=GB:nsl_dual or maxspeed=70mph + maxspeed:type=GB:motorway The relevant national speed limit applies. For cars, this is currently 70 mph on motorways and dual carriageways, 60 mph on non-motorway single carriageways, including street-lit roads - but only when signed with the national speed limit sign. Because the national limit varies by road type and vehicle type, and because Parliament could change the limit in future without all signs needing changing, it was previously suggested that it might be better to use maxspeed=national rather than maxspeed=60 mph (or whatever) in case any future changes then force a resurvey of every way tagged with =60 mph. The current recommendation is to tag the highest limit across all vehicle types using the maxspeed key and then add a maxspeed:type key with country-specific values, such as GB:nsl_single or GB:nsl_dual (the non-standard country code "UK" is also seen in places). This has the benefits that clients such as the Open Source Routing Machine can simply use the maxspeed key (but could additionally support country-specific, vehicle-specific maximum speeds), but still permit the update of country-specific national speed limits non-ambiguously.
672		Minimum speed	minspeed=30 mph Vehicles must keep their speed above the stated minimum speed.
674		Entering 20mph zone	maxspeed=20 mph 20 zones tend to be residential areas with traffic calming measures, with a 20 mph maximum speed throughout the zone. At the exits from the zones there is a different sign which indicates both the end of the 20 mph limit and what the new speed limit is beyond the zone. Unlike ordinary 20mph limits, 20 zones are intended to be self-enforcing by the traffic calming system. Note: The similar looking 'Twenty's Plenty' signs (with a green, not red, circle) are not legal limits and should be signed with maxspeed:advised=20 mph.

Vehicular type restrictions

Sign	Image	Description	Tags/Comments
619		No motor vehicles	motor_vehicle=no
617		No vehicles except bicycles being pushed	vehicle=no foot=yes Using bicycle=dismount may be useful to show cyclists can still use the way if they push their bicycle.
619.1		No motor vehicles except solo motorcycles	motor_vehicle=no motorcycle=yes
619.2		No motorcycles	motorcycle=no
622.7		No towed caravans	caravan=no
951		No cycling	bicycle=no or bicycle=dismount
625.1		No pedestrians	foot=no
952		No vehicles designed to carry more than 8 passengers (excluding driver) or local buses	bus=no
622.6		No ridden or accompanied horses	horse=no
622.5		No horse-drawn vehicles	carriage=no
622.4		No articulated vehicles	articulated=no
622.1A		No goods vehicles exceeding maximum gross weight shown (in tonnes)	maxweight=7.5 Or, to perhaps tag more precisely maxweight:hgv=7.5 See also size/weight restrictions below.
622.8		No vehicles carrying explosives	access:explosives=no No relevant tags mentioned in the wiki, example uses the access:<type>=* to suggest that it is access that is prohibited by the carrying of explosives, rather than just have explosives=no (as per discussion here.

Size/Weight restrictions

Sign	Image	Description	Tags/Comments
629.2A		Maximum height (metric and imperial)	maxheight=4.4 Where both metric and imperial dimensions are given, the metric version should be used, which is the default unit for the tag. The metric height is unlikely to be an exact conversion of the imperial.
629.2		Maximum height (imperial only)	maxheight=14'6" Where only imperial dimensions are given, it is recommended that the tag value be entered exactly as is on the sign, which is likely to always include inches even if they are 0. A conversion to a metric height is unlikely to be the same as the limit imposed if the restriction is later updated to a dual units sign, as there are rules to do with rounding that are used for safety reasons.
629A		Maximum width (metric and imperial)	maxwidth=2.0 Where both metric and imperial dimensions are given, the metric version should be used, which is the default unit for the tag. The metric width is unlikely to be an exact conversion of the imperial.
629		Maximum width (imperial only)	maxwidth=6'6" Where only imperial dimensions are given, it is recommended that the tag value be entered exactly as is on the sign, which is likely to always include inches even if they are 0. A conversion to a metric width is unlikely to be the same as the limit imposed if the restriction is later updated to a dual units sign, as there are rules to do with rounding that are used for safety reasons.
626.2AV2		Maximum weight	maxweight=7.5 It is believed maximum weight limit are all signposted in metric, which is the default for this tag.
629.1		Maximum length (imperial only)	maxlength=32'6" Where only imperial dimensions are given, it is recommended that the tag value be entered exactly as is on the sign.

Give way and stop signs

Sign	Image	Description	Tags/Comments
602		Give way	highway=give_way before the junction
601.1		Stop	highway=stop before the junction

Turn restrictions

Note: It should not be necessary to tag restrictions such as no left turn where the destination which is prohibited is oneway in such a way that it would be no entry from that end anyway. Turn restriction relations are more for use in situations such as no right turn onto a busy twoway road from a side road. In other words it isn't necessary to add a turn restriction relation every time there is a sign (though there should be no harm in doing so if correctly tagged and not contradicting other tags).

Sign	Image	Description	Tags/Comments
613		No left turn	restriction=no_left_turn See Relation:restriction for details.
612		No right turn	restriction=no_right_turn See Relation:restriction for details.
614		No U turn	restriction=no_u_turn See Relation:restriction for details.

Other Prohibitory signs

Sign	Image	Description	Tags/Comments
616		No entry	When the direction of the way is the same as the driving direction oneway=yes When the direction of the way is the opposite of the driving direction oneway=yes Reverse the direction of the way.
642		No Stopping	parking:both=no + parking:both:restriction=no_stopping (or parking:left=* / parking:right=*, whichever is applicable, depending on the direction of the way, and on the side for which the restriction applies to).
632		No Overtaking	overtaking=*

Cycle and Pedestrian signs

Tags for cycle tracks drawn as a separate way

Image	Description	Classic tagging style	Alternative tagging style
	Shared cycle/pedestrian path	highway=cycleway	highway=path; foot=designated;bicycle=designated; surface=paved
	Segregated cycle/pedestrian path	highway=cycleway; segregated=yes	highway=path; foot=designated; cycleway=lane; (implies bicycle=designated) surface=paved
	Cycle only path (not intended for pedestrians)	highway=cycleway; foot=no*	highway=path; bicycle=designated; foot=no*; surface=paved

* : The route is not intended for pedestrians, but use is not prohibited. Before tagging as foot=no please check that there is a convenient alternative route for pedestrians nearby (e.g. a footway or road).

Information signs

Shape is generally rectangular.

Sign	Image	Description	Tags/Comments
816		No through road	noexit=yes There is an argument that this tag is unnecessary as it should be possible to determine whether a road is a through route or not based on the topology of ways. Some validation tools apparently can use this tag to distinguish between a no through road that ends near another road, and giving a warning for a road which perhaps hasn't been properly joined to a nearby road.
801		Parking	amenity=parking Laybys are often tagged as amenity=parking fee=no parking=layby
968.1		Cycle parking	amenity=bicycle_parking
820		Unsuitable for motor vehicles warning	motor_vehicle=discouraged This is only a warning, access is not prohibited. Note that there wasn't a method to tag this in the past, so a note such as note=Unsuitable for motors was used.
878		Speed Camera in Operation	See Relation:enforcement#Examples for marking any actual cameras.
2713.1V		SOS Point	emergency=phone on phone's location. highway=emergency_bay if in an emergency layby on an all-purpose road.
2713.1V		Emergency Refuge Area Emergency Layby.	highway=emergency_bay At the ERA's centre point node on highway way.
817.2817.2L		Escape lane	highway=escape
811		Priority over oncoming vehicles	priority=forward/backward

Exceptions

Exception examples and how to handle them.

Image	Description	Tags/Comments
	No cycling during the hours shown	bicycle:conditional=no @ (Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00)
	No motor vehicles except those specified	motor_vehicle=no goods=yes hgv=yes taxi=yes
	No motor vehicles at certain times except those specified	motor_vehicle:conditional=no @ (10:00-16:00) psv=yes goods=destination