Drivers have been urged to brush up on their knowledge of road signs after a survey indicated that a significant proportion of those on the road don't know the meaning of several common signs that they could be driving past every day.
Price comparison site Compare the Market put motorists to the test by challenging them to identify road signs that they might regularly come across when behind the wheel. However, less than half of the signs (47 per cent) were matched with their correct meaning, with five of them leaving drivers particularly stumped.
The sign that left most motorists confused was for an emergency diversion route, which could prove to be vital knowledge if there are closures on your regular commute. But this wasn't the only one that left drivers scratching their heads, with less than half of people able to correctly name signs for risk of grounding, no waiting, a ring road or a tourist attraction, The Mirror reports.
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Julie Daniels from Compare the Market said: "Having driving theory knowledge is just as important as having practical experience, as it allows drivers to demonstrate safe and legal driving behaviours, while protecting themselves and other road users from potential accidents.
"It's not uncommon for motorists to forget common driving rules or signs over time, or to be unaware of new rules that may have come into force since passing their theory test, so it's important for all drivers to refresh and update their essential driving knowledge to keep themselves and other road users safe."
Take a look below to see if you know these common road signs which have left many drivers stumped:
A black circle on a yellow background signifies an emergency diversion route for motorway and other main road traffic. More than four out of five (83 per cent) of people couldn't identify this sign, with most assuming they either hadn't been provided with the correct answer (49 per cent) or that it was a ring road sign (15 per cent).
This triangular sign, showing a larger vehicle getting stuck on a bump in the road, means risk of grounding. Less than one-third (28 per cent) of drivers were able to guess this sign correctly, and the majority (55 per cent) believed it signified an uneven road.
A red circle with a line through it on a blue background means no waiting. However, just one-third (33 per cent) of drivers tested successfully matched this sign with the correct meaning, while an additional third assumed it actually meant 'no stopping'.
The letter R on a green background with a yellow border indicates a ring road. Nearly two-thirds (61 per cent) of motorists failed to identify this sign correctly, with some assuming it meant a risk of grounding (11 per cent) while others believed it signified an emergency diversion route for the motorway (six per cent).
And finally, a brown sign with white text is used to signpost a tourist attraction - these can incorporate different symbols to indicate the type of attraction, for example a sign with a train as shown above signifies a steam railway. Just 41 per cent of people correctly identified this sign, while more than half (51 per cent) of motorists believed it was a railway station sign.
