3.3 Guidance and Information Signs
While regulatory signs command and warning signs alert you to danger, guidance and information signs are your navigators. They help you find your way, identify your route, and locate services. These signs are typically rectangular. Their colours vary depending on their purpose, with green, blue, and brown being the most common.
A. Direction Signs
These signs are used to guide you to destinations.
- Freeway Direction Signs: These are the large, overhead green signs you see on freeways. They show the destination(s) ahead, the route number, and often the distance. Smaller versions are also placed on the side of the road before an off-ramp.
- (Image: A large, overhead green freeway sign showing a route number like “N1” and city names like “Polokwane” and “Pretoria” with arrows pointing to the correct lanes.)
- Non-Freeway Direction Signs: On other roads, you will see green rectangular signs, often with a pointed end (fingerboards), showing directions to towns and cities.
- (Image: A stack of green “fingerboard” signs at an intersection, pointing in different directions with town names and distances.)
B. Route Markers
Route markers are specific signs used to identify the road you are travelling on. It is essential to recognize them.
- National Routes (N): Indicated by a pentagonal (5-sided) sign with a yellow ‘N’ and the route number on a green background. These are the major national highways (e.g., N1, N2).
- Provincial Routes (R): Indicated by a rectangular sign with a white ‘R’ and the route number on a blue background.
- Metropolitan Routes (M): Indicated by a rectangular sign with a white ‘M’ and the route number on a blue background, often with the city’s logo.
- Regional Routes (also R): These are also rectangular but often have black text on a white background.
- Tourist Routes (T): Indicated by a pentagonal sign with a white ‘T’ and route number on a brown background.
(Image Suggestion: A clear grid displaying one example of each type of route marker: N, R (provincial), M, and T, side-by-side for easy comparison.)
C. Information Signs
These signs inform you of services or facilities ahead. They are typically a blue square with a white symbol or letter.
- (Image: Blue square with a white ‘P’) – Parking: A designated parking area is available.
- (Image: Blue square with a white ‘H’) – Hospital: A hospital is nearby. In an emergency, follow these signs.
- (Image: Blue square with a fuel pump symbol) – Filling Station / Petrol: Fuel is available ahead.
- (Image: Blue square with a telephone receiver) – Public Telephone: Indicates the location of a public phone.
- (Image: Blue square with a bus symbol) – Bus Stop: A designated stopping place for buses.
- (Image: Blue square with a train symbol) – Railway Station: A train station is ahead.
(Image Suggestion: A gallery of these common blue and white information signs.)
D. Tourist Information Signs
These signs guide you to places of public interest and tourist attractions. They are always brown with a white border and a white symbol.
- (Image: Brown sign with a picnic table symbol) – Picnic Site: A designated area for picnics.
- (Image: Brown sign with a tent symbol) – Camping Site: A designated camping or caravan park.
- (Image: Brown sign with a hiker symbol) – Hiking Trail: A starting point for a hiking trail.
- (Image: Brown sign with a person fishing) – Fishing Spot: Fishing is permitted in this area.