Bend ahead sign

What it means

The road ahead bends. Reduce your speed before you reach it so you can see what's round the corner and stay in control.

Brake on the straight before the bend, then steer smoothly round it. On a right-hand bend, keep well to the left: it improves your view and helps you avoid traffic coming the other way.

A plate under the sign may tell you to reduce speed, or show an advised maximum speed for the bend.

Rules to know

• The sign shows a bend to the right; with the symbol reversed, a bend to the left.

  Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 10

• Keep well to the left on right-hand bends. This improves your view of the road and helps avoid colliding with traffic approaching from the opposite direction.

  The Highway Code, Rule 160

• A rectangular plate can show the maximum speed advised, in mph, at a bend.

  Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 23

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Braking hard once you're already in the bend.

  Instead: Slow down on the straight before the bend, so you can steer smoothly through it.

Test yourself

Recalling the answer helps it stick. Pick an answer to see how you did.

Question 1 of 1

What does this sign mean?

• AWarns of a level crossing ahead with no gate or barrier.
• BWarns of a double bend ahead, first to the left.
• CWarns of a roundabout ahead.
• DWarns of a bend to the right ahead (to the left when the symbol is reversed).

Full road sign quizzes are coming soon. See what's planned