This section includes the road markings in South Africa you need to know for your South African learner’s license test.

K53 road markings get split into the following categories:

1. Regulatory road markings.
2. Longitudinal regulatory road markings.
3. Exclusive parking bay symbols.
4. Road guidance markings.
5. Road warning markings.

Regulatory K53 road markings

Stop line

You must bring your vehicle to a complete stop just before the line.

Yield line

• When you see this road marking, you must give the right of way to all vehicles that cross before you.
• This line has the same meaning as the yield road sign.

Bus lane

The yellow dotted line indicates that the lane is for buses only.

Pedestrian crossing ahead

Be cautious as you approach this area and stop if pedestrians are crossing or are about to cross the road.

Box junction

You may not stop in the yellow area.

Longitudinal regulatory road markings

Left & right edge line

You may not drive inside the right or left edge line unless it is an emergency lane (yellow line) and you have an emergency.

Painted island

You may only drive in this area if instructed to by a police officer, in an emergency, or to avoid a potentially dangerous situation.

Pedestrian crossing line

When approaching a pedestrian crossing, you may not stop in this area except if pedestrians are crossing or want to cross here.

Mandatory direction arrows

When you approach these arrows, you may not stop in the yellow area and must travel in the direction of the marking.

Exclusive parking bay markings

Ambulance

Only official emergency ambulance vehicles may park in the specified parking zone as indicated by the symbol.

Bus

When you see this symbol in a parking bay, it indicates that only buses may park in the specified parking zone.

Diplomatic

This unique symbol indicates that only official diplomatic vehicles may park in this parking area.

Minibus

You guessed it! Only minibuses may park in this parking area.

Road guidance markings

Bicycle crossing lines

Be cautious of cyclists crossing the street when you see this marking on the road. Treat this area the same as a pedestrian crossing.

Furcation arrows

These arrows indicate that there is going to be an increase in the number of lanes ahead.

Guidelines

At major intersections, you will come across these lines (represented by the dotted lines). They will assist in guiding you along the correct route at those intersections.

Road Warning Markers

Speed bump marker

You may want to slow down when you see this marker as you will be travelling over a speed bump.

Arrestor bed ahead

These road markings signal drivers of heavy goods vehicles that there is an arrestor bed available. Arrestor beds are emergency stops for heavy goods vehicles.

Railway crossing ahead

This big white ‘x’ on the road surface is there to encourage you to take caution as you approach a railway crossing.

Yield control ahead

The triangle illustrated here has the same meaning as a yield sign. When you see this marking, you must slow down and make way for approaching traffic in front of you.

K53 traffic lights and signals are split in three categories. They are traffic lights, traffic officer hand signals and construction worker hand signals.

K53 traffic lights

Red steady lights

At this traffic light, your vehicle must come to a complete stop behind the solid white line. It has the same meaning as a stop sign.

Amber steady lights

When you see this light, you must take caution and begin to bring your vehicle to a complete stop unless it is not safe to do so.

Green steady lights

When the traffic light is green, you may proceed, but make sure it is safe to do so (remember the defensive driving method at all times!).

Steady red arrow lights

A steady red arrow (which means it is not flashing) indicates you must stop.

Steady amber arrow lights

This arrow indicates you must stop unless it is not safe to do so.

Steady green arrow lights

The green arrow light, when not flashing, indicates that you may proceed, but only if you are travelling in the direction of the arrow.

Flashing red arrow lights

When the red arrow light is flashing, you must first stop. Then, when it is safe to do so, and if you are proceeding in the direction of the arrow, you may proceed.

Flashing green arrow lights

When you turn in the direction of the green flashing arrow, you have the right of way. First, you must ensure the intersection is clear before proceeding.

Steady green figure lights

If a green man is showing and he is still, then pedestrians may cross the road, and vehicles must give way.

Steady red figure lights

However, pedestrians may not cross the road when the red man is showing.

Flashing green figure lights

When this light shows, pedestrians may cross the road, and vehicles must give way.

Flashing red figure lights

But when this light is showing and flashing, pedestrians may not cross the road.

Traffic officer hand signals

Remember that traffic officers overrule any rule of the road.

Traffic may proceed

When a police officer is waving only one hand, he indicates that the traffic he signs to may proceed.

Traffic must stop (front & rear)

If you see a traffic or police officer with both hands raised, traffic must stop in front of the officer and behind the officer.

Traffic must stop (front only)

When the traffic officer has one hand raised, as in the illustration, traffic in front of the officer must stop.

Construction worker hand signals

Proceed with caution

When you see a construction worker waving a red flag up and down, it indicates that you must slow down and proceed with caution.

Stop

If you see a construction worker holding the flag still with their hand up, you must stop.