Knowing and respecting the traffic signs is essential to drive as safely as possible. For this reason, in the official theoretical tests to obtain a driving license, there is always some question related to the signs and their meaning. The results of these tests reveal that some signals are especially problematic for users, registering error rates of more than 50%. As a result, specialists from the Driver Training area of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) explain in their Traffic and Road Safety magazine the meanings of the signs that generate the most confusion in aspiring drivers and detail the reasons that cause such errors.
LEVEL CROSSING OR MOBILE BRIDGE
These beacons anticipate the presence of a step or a moving bridge. They are always located on the left and right of the road, respectively. They are also accompanied by these three mobile bridge and level crossing signals with or without barriers.
64% of incorrect answers: the majority of examinees who incorrectly answer questions related to this sign, interpret that it warns of the proximity of an intersection.
PROHIBITION OF PASSING WITHOUT STOPPING
This sign indicates that we must stop at a customs office, a toll booth or a police checkpoint, as indicated on the sign itself or on an attached panel. After this sign there may be a barrier.
54% incorrect answers: users tend to confuse this sign with the “no traffic” sign, whose background is completely white. Other applicants also interpret that this sign indicates the beginning of the end of a toll road.
ROAD FOR MOTORCYCLES
This sign forces two-wheeled motorcycles without sidecar to circulate on the road where it is located.
53% wrong answers: future drivers are not clear about which two-wheelers are affected. The most frequent answer is that it forces all types of motorcycles, whether or not they have sidecars, cycles, and/or mopeds.
MANDATORY SENSE
This sign forces you to follow the direction and direction indicated by the arrow. Therefore, making turns and U-turns is strictly prohibited.
50% incorrect answers: users fail because they are not clear that a road can have several lanes in both directions of traffic, because this sign is not only located on one-way roads, and because it does not allow the change of direction, since that forces us to continue straight ahead.
CYCLE PATH
This sign refers to a path for pedestrians and cycles, separated from traffic, that runs through open spaces, parks, gardens, or forests.
50% incorrect answers: users tend to confuse this sign with the “road reserved for mopeds” sign with the same pictogram but round and with a blue background, which does prohibit entry to other users, including pedestrians.
TRACK RESERVED FOR MOPEDS
This sign obliges moped drivers to circulate on the road to whose entrance this sign is located and prohibits entry to other users.
50% incorrect answers: Candidate drivers are not clear that this sign prohibits access to other two-wheelers other than mopeds, such as motorcycles.
DRIVEWAY FOR CARS
This sign obliges drivers of automobiles (except motorcycles without a sidecar) to circulate on the road into which they are located.
46% wrong answers: users also make mistakes with this mandatory signal because they do not know which vehicles it affects (it does not force motorcycle drivers without sidecar).
END OF MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED SPEED
This sign indicates that the section ends where it is recommended, for safety reasons, to drive at the maximum speed indicated.
45% incorrect answers: the error that users make is that they mark as correct the option that says that the sign “advises or forces you to drive, at least at the indicated speed,” instead of at the maximum. The main reason for this error is due to a too hasty reading of the question.
ENTRY PROHIBITED TO MOTOR VEHICLES
This sign prohibits entry to all types of motor vehicles. It does not affect cycles and mopeds, since they are not considered motor vehicles.
44% incorrect answers: approximately half of the aspiring drivers incorrectly answer questions related to this sign because they think it prohibits entry to all types of vehicles, whether motorized or not.
ENTRY PROHIBITED TO MOPEDS
This sign prohibits access to two and three-wheeled mopeds, light quadricycles and vehicles for people with reduced mobility.
43% of incorrect answers: In the same way that it happens with the mandatory signs similar to this one, users often fail the questions related to this sign because they do not know if it affects cycles, mopeds, motorcycles, or all two-wheelers in general.
The signs in the practical test
For the Deputy Directorate of Road Training of the DGT, responsible for the practical tests, the most unfulfilled traffic signs are :
- The verticals of Stop.
- The ones to give way.
- Those prohibiting stopping and parking.
- Those of speed limits.
- Those that prohibit turns or force to take a certain direction and direction.
Likewise, said sub-directorate highlights the non-compliance of other types of signals, such as circular traffic lights for vehicles, road markings for pedestrians, and continuous longitudinal lines. If you want to buy a used car in Kenya, have a look at Auto for Trade.