Cautionary Signs — Watch Out
A Steep Descent sign appears on a mountain road. The vehicle behind you ignores it and brakes hard 50 metres later — tyres screech, load shifts. You saw the sign, engine-braked early, and arrived at the bottom in control. Reading cautionary signs is a survival skill.
Warnings — not commands, but never ignore them
Cautionary signs are triangular with a red border on a white or yellow background. They do not issue a legal command — but they tell you about a hazard that requires a reaction. The sign appears before the hazard so you have time to respond. Ignoring them does not lead to a fine — it leads to accidents.
cautionary signs in IRC:67-2022
From bends and dips to cattle, falling rocks, and unguarded railway crossings
Source: IRC:67-2022
Road surface and geometry hazards
Right Bend Ahead
Triangle with right-curving arrow — the road is telling you its own shape ahead.
Left Bend Ahead
Triangle with left-curving arrow — mirror of the right bend.
Double Bend Ahead (Right First)
Triangle with S-curve arrow starting right — S for serpentine, right first.
Steep Ascent
Triangle with upward arrow on slope — the road is climbing, so must your engine.
Steep Descent
Triangle with downward arrow on slope — gravity is taking over; let the engine resist.
Narrow Road Ahead
Triangle with two converging lines — the road is pinching shut.
Slippery Road
Triangle with car and wavy lines — the car is literally sliding on the sign.
Loose Gravel / Chipping
Triangle with dots — the dots are the stones flying up.
Hump / Speed Breaker Ahead
Triangle with a bump shape — the sign is shaped like the hump itself.
Dip Ahead
Triangle with a valley shape — opposite of the hump.
Crossings, junctions, and road users
Crossroads Ahead
Triangle with a plus-sign inside — plus = cross = crossroads.
T-Intersection Ahead
Triangle with T inside — the road becomes a T and you must choose a direction.
Pedestrian Crossing Ahead
Triangle with walking figure — someone is about to cross your path.
School Ahead
Triangle with children figures — small unpredictable humans ahead.
Cattle / Animals on Road
Triangle with cow figure — the animal has not read the highway code.
Cyclist Crossing Ahead
Triangle with bicycle — two wheels on a crossing path.
Railway Level Crossing (With Gate)
Triangle with train and gate symbol — the train always wins; the gate is your lifeline.
Railway Level Crossing (Without Gate)
Triangle with train, no gate — no one is protecting you but yourself.
Road Works Ahead
Triangle with figure digging — someone is building the road you drive on.
Falling Rocks
Triangle with rocks falling — if you see it, keep moving.
Traffic Signal Ahead
Triangle with three-circle signal — a mini traffic light inside a warning.
A triangle with an X and train symbol and no gate marker. No barrier will stop traffic for you — you must stop, look both ways, listen, and only cross when you are certain no train is approaching from either direction. Trains cannot stop quickly. You must.
A triangle showing two children walking. When you see this sign, a school zone is ahead. Mandatory 25 km/h speed applies during school hours even without a posted speed limit sign. Children do not follow traffic rules predictably.
A triangle with a car skidding. Posted on roads where wet conditions, oil, mud, or loose gravel make the surface unpredictable. Your braking distance can triple on a slippery surface — slow down before you need to brake, not during.
You see a triangular sign showing a person walking. What is the correct response?
Tap an option to reveal the answer
- ✓All triangular signs = cautionary — hazard ahead, slow down and prepare
- ✓Cautionary signs appear before the hazard, giving you time to react
- ✓Railway crossing without gate: stop, look, listen — then proceed
- ✓School ahead: 25 km/h during school hours, children are unpredictable
- ✓Slippery road: slow before you need to brake — not while braking
Lawful provides legal information, not legal advice.