When we learn to drive, one thing we have to understand is the various road signs we encounter on our drives. Some are quite simple to understand, such as speed limits, stop signs, or no entry signs. Yet there are a few, even after we have got our license, that can still leave us baffled.
The United Kingdom is no stranger to this sort of problem. Because in the country, there are all sorts of weird and wonderful road signs that people don’t understand. Some of them, such as national speed limit signs, occasionally just need reintroducing to people to remind them they exist.
Others, though, are completely baffling. Such as this one, posted on Reddit by user spacey003, who was left utterly bewildered by a large black and white chequered square sign that they suddenly encountered while out on a drive.
The posting of this road sign on Reddit led to quite an interesting discussion as to what it actually meant. Some drivers said they had never seen it before, so were incredibly confused by it. Others, however, were able to work out what it was, but the answer still left some people stumped.
What Did the Road Sign Actually Mean?
Strange sign
by
u/spacey003 in
drivingUK
The image of the sign was posted a few months ago into the r/drivingUK SubReddit by user spacey003. They posted an image of it next to regular direction signs, and said that they had no idea about the sign and had to look up what it meant. They then opened the floor to other users to see if they could identify it.
So what does the sign mean? Well, spacey003 was able to clarify below their own photo. “It basically means a sharp deviation/warning. It’s meant to highlight that the road doesn’t continue straight and it’s a give-way,” they posted under the main photo. Essentially, it means that the road ahead has a kink or sudden deviation in it, and that you should be prepared for it.
Another user, HurktheLurker, explained it more amusingly. “I’ve seen them on slightly offset crossroads. To alert to the fact that a shimmy is required to avoid bendage,” they said. It was a novel way to describe it, but it certainly got the job done. The sign would find more use at night, when any deviation in the road will be harder to see until you are quite close to it.
Other Users Poked Fun at Those Who Needed To Use the Sign
Other users on Reddit decided to poke fun at people who wouldn’t notice a change in the road layout. “You would have thought the kerb, grass verge and hedge would give that away, but clearly some drivers just need that extra helping hand,” said Reddit user No-Locksmith6662. Another said, “Checkered flag! You are the winner,” joking about what the sign actually stood for.
It isn’t the only sign that UK road users seem confused about. A post in the same SubReddit a few years ago mentioned the national speed limit sign we previously discussed. It is common in the UK, and essentially means the road ahead has a national speed limit of 60mph. It is a sign drivers learn about in a theory test, yet seemingly quite a lot of people have forgotten what it actually means. Maybe a refresher of the theory test is needed for some drivers.