Warning signs
K53 warning signs: symbols and meanings
Every symbolic warning sign in the South African K53 learners test — bends, crossings, animals, hazards — with the meaning and the action expected of you. There are 59 symbolic warning signs in the K53 Examiner study library below.
Traffic signals ahead(W22)On any road before an intersection with traffic light.
Traffic control “YIELD” ahead(W23)Slow down and be ready to stop if necessary.
Traffic control ahead(W24)Slow down and be ready to stop the vehicle if the officer instructs you to do so.
Scholar patrol ahead(W25)Slow down and look out for a stop sign displayed by the scholar patrol. Look out at all times for children who may suddenly cross the road.
Pedestrian crossing(W26)Slow down and stop if a pedestrian is waiting at the crossing.
Do not overtake other vehicles that have stopped at the pedestrian crossing.
Pedestrians(W27)Slow down and look out for pedestrians who may be crossing the road.
Children(W28)Slow down immediately and look out for children who could be crossing the road unexpectedly or even be playing the road.
Pedal Cyclists(W29)Slow down and be on the lookout for cyclists using or crossing the road for the next 2 km.
Domestic Animals(W30)Slow down and be on the lookout for the next 2 km for animals.
Wild animals(W31)Slow down and be on the lookout for the next 2 km for wild animals.
Gate(W32)Slow down and be prepared to stop should the gates be closing or are closed.
Motor gate(W33)Slow down and make sure there is no oncoming traffic about to cross the same gate.
Railway crossing(W34)Slow down and look to the right and left for oncoming trains. If a train is approaching stop in time, but not within the railway crossing reserve.
Tunnel(W35)Slow down and switch your car’s headlights on in the dim position.
Height restricted(W36)If your vehicle is higher than the bridge or structure as indicated by this sign, find an alternative route
Length restricted(W37)Find an alternative route if your vehicle is longer that the length indicated in metres on this sign.
Steep ascend and steep descend(W38)Be aware of slow-moving traffic, particularly in mountainous areas with sharp curves. Allow for a longer stopping distance on a descent and especially when your vehicle is heavily laden.
Slow-moving heavy vehicles(W39)Slow down and, particularly in mountainous areas with sharp curves, be able to stop within the distance you can see. Remember to allow for a longer stopping distance on a descent especially when your vehicle is heavily laden.
Gravel Road begins(W40)Slow down and look out for a ditches or potholes at the joint between the gravel and the tarred surface. Steering will be lighter on the gravel; vehicles will tend to skid easier and will need a longer stopping distance.
Narrow Bridge(W41)Slow down and, if there is oncoming traffic, try not to cross the bridge at the same time as an approaching vehicle.
One vehicle width structure(W42)Slow down if there is oncoming traffic, stop at least 6m from the structure and yield to the other vehicle.
Road narrows from both sides(W43)Slow down and adjust your position on the carriageway since oncoming vehicles will pass close to you.
Road narrows from one side only(W44)Slow down and adjust your position on the roadway.
Uneven roadway(W45)Slow down to avoid potholes without endangering other traffic.
Speed Humps(W46)Slow down so that you can drive over the speed humps without damaging your vehicle or losing control.
Slippery Road(W47)Slow down since any sudden braking or harsh steering could cause your vehicle to start skidding sooner than usual for the next 2 km.
Falling Rocks(W48)Slow down to be able to stop within their sight distance if a fall occurs or has occurred. Such falls occur more often when it rains and therefore reduce your speed further since your stopping distance during rainy weather will be longer.
Road works(W49)Slow down and look out for other temporary road traffic signs, people regulating the traffic or who might be crossing the road.
Grader Working(W50)Slow down and drive slowly past the grader. The full width of the road may not be available and there could be sand or gravel on the carriageway that could affect the handling of their vehicles.
Loose Stones(W51)Slow down and be aware that oncoming vehicles could throw up stones that could cause damage. Your vehicle’s braking and turning capacity could also be affected negatively.
General Warning(W52)Slow down and look out for anything on or next to the carriageway that could cause you to change speed or direction.
Surface Step(W53)Slow down and be aware that your vehicle may tend to the left or right if you straddle the step between the higher and lower level. Because of the ridge vehicles may also be slow to return to the higher level and could react suddenly if the wheel mounts the ridge. Do not make any sudden jerking steering motions, because it could cause you to lose control completely.
Soft Shoulder(W54)Do not drive or stop on the shoulder. If this is unavoidable, for example to avoid a collision, slow down as much as possible because the vehicle will pull in the direction of the shoulder when you move off the road.
Stop-Go Control Ahead(W55)Slow down and get ready to stop.
Truck Crossing(W56)Look out for trucks that could force you to slow down. Slow down and look out for trucks that want to cross or join the road. Also look out for anything spilt or dropped on the road by the trucks like gravel, sand or water that could affect the handling of your vehicle.
Emergency Flashing Light(W57)Slow down and look out for other road traffic signs that indicate a specific hazard.
Temporary Police Flashing Light(W58)Be ready to stop at the stop sign that follows after the flashing blue light or on demand of a police officer.
Jetty Edge or River Bank(W59)Slow down and look out for the end of the road so that you can stop in time.
Crosswinds(W60)Determine if a wind is blowing and from which direction. Any shielding of the wind by a truck, bridge or excavation will affect your vehicle and you should adjust the steering in time.
Drift(W61)Slow down and if it is not known how deep the water is, stop. If passable, drive through the water slowly.
Low-flying Aircraft(W62)Look out for agricultural vehicles and slowdown of they want to cross the road or are crossing it.
Agricultural Vehicles(W63)On any road especially in rural areas.
Collision(W64)On any road.
Reduced Visibility(W65)Look out for Fog or smoke and slow down. Be on the lookout for other slow-moving vehicles.
Congestion(W66)Look out for slow moving vehicle and adapt speed accordingly.
Horses and Riders(W67)Look out for horses and riders ahead and be prepared to slow down or stop.
Elephant(W68)Look out for elephants ahead and be prepared to slow down or stop.
Warthog(W69)Look out for warthogs ahead and be prepared to slow down or stop.
Hippo(W70)Look out for hippos ahead and be prepared to slow down or stop.
Width(W71)Do not continue of your vehicle is wider than indicated on the sign.
Electrical Shock(W72)Look out for electrical cables on the road way ahead.
Gravel Road Ends(W73)Look out for an asphalt, tar or concrete road ahead.
Danger Plates / Delineator Plates(W74)Slow down and if a train is approaching the crossing, stop. If there is no stop line or sign, the driver should stop no closer than 3m from the nearest track, and not on the track or in the railway reserve.
Railway Crossing(W75)On any road close to a railway line.
Sharp Curve Chevron: Left or Right(W76)Slow down to take the curve at a safe speed or to be able to stop within the distance you can see.
T-junction Chevron(W77)Slow down to turn left or right or to stop.
Dead-end / Road Closed Chevron(W78)Decide which direction to go and slow down.
Barricade(W79)Slow down and do not attempt to drive past the sign. Look out for a additional regulatory signs that will indicate an alternative route.
W80 Speed limit (on high visibility background),
reduced visibility (on high visibility background),
for a distance
Traffic Signals Out of Order(W81)Slow down, yield to other traffic and be ready to stop if traffic intensity and volume require it. Look out for a traffic officer or stop sign that might be controlling the traffic.