Common warning traffic signs in Singapore

Warning signs alert drivers to possible danger or unusual road conditions ahead. LTA advises drivers to take extra care and slow down when approaching them. The Traffic Signs Rules classify warning signs as signs that alert road users to danger and tell them the nature and source of that danger (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information; Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, r. 3 and Schedule).

The examples below draw on LTA's driving guide and the statutory sign schedule; they are not a complete reproduction of that schedule (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information; Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules).

Junctions and changing traffic

• A cross junction warning means a junction is ahead; slow down and watch for approaching traffic. At a T-junction, slow down and give way to traffic from both sides. Side-road signs warn of traffic from the indicated side (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).
• A traffic merging sign warns that traffic may join from the indicated side; lanes merging warns of merging traffic ahead. The schedule also has a separate Merge sign, which indicates merging traffic ahead. At a staggered junction, slow down and watch for traffic from both sides; the sign shows whether the left or right turn comes first (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information; Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 49, 52 and 79).
• Separate merging into traffic signs warn of a junction where the road being driven on will merge with traffic on an adjoining road. The arrow indicates whether the joining traffic is to the right or left (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 51 and 52).
• A roundabout ahead sign means slow down and stop if necessary, then give way to traffic on the right. Traffic signals ahead warn that traffic lights are coming up and may change (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).

Bends, narrowing roads, and slopes

• Bend, double bend, and series of bends signs warn of curves ahead. A double-bend sign indicates the direction of the first bend. LTA advises slowing down, keeping left, and not overtaking, making a U-turn, or parking in the warned section (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 45–47; OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).
• Road narrows, lanes merge, two-way traffic, and dual carriageway ends signs warn of changing road width or traffic direction. One-sided narrowing signs show which side narrows. A separate two-way traffic across a one-way carriageway sign warns that the transverse road ahead carries two-way traffic. Slow down and follow the sign's stated guidance, such as keeping left or watching for merging or oncoming traffic (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information; Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 42–44).
• Steep uphill and steep downhill signs warn of slopes ahead. LTA advises keeping left, changing to a lower gear, and not overtaking, making a U-turn, or parking in the indicated stretch (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).

Crossings and vulnerable road users

• Pedestrian crossing ahead and raised zebra crossing ahead signs warn of crossings. Slow down and stop for pedestrians using the crossing; at a raised crossing, LTA specifically advises stopping for pedestrians (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).
• Children, elderly or handicapped pedestrians, and animals roaming signs warn that those road users may be on or crossing the road. Slow down and watch for them (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).
• A bicycle crossing ahead warning marks a bicycle crossing. Advance Warning Lights are placed before signalised junctions or pedestrian crossings that motorists cannot see from afar. They consist of paired flashing amber lights with “Prepare to Stop” and “Traffic Light Ahead” signs; the lights flash when the signal ahead is amber or red, so slow down and prepare to stop (LTA, Road Safety; Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 57a, 57c and 57d). Intelligent road studs at a pedestrian crossing blink when the green pedestrian signal is lit and indicate that right-turning motorists should give way to pedestrians (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 57a, 57c and 57d).
• A Give Way to Pedestrians sign at a signalised junction tells right-turning motorists to look out for and give way to pedestrians crossing alongside. Pedestrian on Road Ahead and Elderly or Handicapped Pedestrians signs mark areas where those pedestrians are likely; a separate Watch Out for Vehicles sign addresses pedestrians and tells them to look out for oncoming vehicles (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 57(e), 59, 59B and 75).
• A pedestrian-crossing-ahead marking warns that a zebra crossing is ahead; motorists should be prepared to give way to people crossing. A separate “Look” marking on the pavement reminds pedestrians to look for traffic before crossing (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 57b and 59A).
• At selected zebra crossings, solar-powered LED studs embedded in the road emit steady amber light at night to alert motorists to the crossing. These flush studs are distinct from the flashing amber studs at selected signalised pedestrian crossings, which flash when the green-man signal is on (OneMotoring, Road Safety).

Road condition and work signs

• Road works, slippery road, uneven road, and road hump signs indicate a hazard or changed surface ahead. LTA advises slowing down and driving carefully; for uneven roads and humps it also advises keeping left and not overtaking (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).
• The statutory schedule also lists height limit ahead, narrow bridge ahead, horses or ponies, and other danger signs. They indicate a height-restricted road section, a narrow bridge, an area where horses are likely, or a potential danger not covered by another warning sign. The schedule says the numerals on the height sign may vary (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 64, 67, 69 and 71).
• Lane closure signs indicate that the lane marked by a red bar is closed ahead; the offside/nearside version can be reversed, and a separate sign marks a centre-lane closure. Carriageway diversion signs point to a diversion to the left or right. A danger sign indicates an obstruction ahead; a barrier sign indicates a temporary barrier (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 72a, 72b, 77, 78 and 85).
• School Zone, Drive Carefully signs mark the start of a demarcated school zone near a school; Silver Zone, Slow Down marks a demarcated silver zone where elderly pedestrians are likely. The schedule also includes a sign telling motorists to keep a lookout for cyclists. The speed restrictions applying within demarcated zones are explained in speed-limits (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 58a, 58b, 76A and 76B).
• Gated and ungated level crossing warning signs mark a railway crossing ahead. LTA and SPF’s current Basic Theory of Driving handbook advise slowing down and watching for a closing gate at a gated crossing or an approaching train at an ungated crossing. The current Traffic Signs Rules prescribe these as signs indicating a level crossing with or without a gate or barrier ahead (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information; SPF, Basic Theory of Driving handbook, warning signs; Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 66–67; diagram 65 separately identifies the height limit).
• A road leading to a quay, river bank, or sea sign warns that the road ends ahead. Low-flying aircraft signs warn of sudden aircraft noise (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).
• U-turn ahead signs warn that vehicles may be making a U-turn ahead; another version warns of U-turning vehicles from the opposite direction. A tunnel ahead sign marks a road section through a tunnel; a separate supplementary tunnel sign also indicates a tunnel ahead. Curve alignment markers show the approach to a sharp bend. The statutory Sharp Deviation sign indicates a sharp deviation to the left; LTA’s sharp-bend sign guidance says to slow down and follow the arrow (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information; Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 80–84A).
• An accident area sign indicates a section of road prone to accidents; LTA advises slowing down and driving carefully. A vehicle breakdown sign should be placed at least 20 metres behind the broken-down vehicle (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information; Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagram 73).

Temporary beacons and road-work traffic control

Rule 17 permits temporary beacons with intermittent amber flashes on special occasions or in connection with road works to assist safe traffic movement. The rule does not assign a separate right-of-way instruction to the beacon itself (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, r. 17).

For a lane-control signal, an intermittent flashing amber light means vehicles may proceed with caution along the lane over which the light is placed (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, r. 13(f)).

When road works are in progress or road width is temporarily reduced, Rule 18 allows the signs in diagrams 7 and 8 to control traffic. Diagram 7 indicates that vehicles may proceed beyond the sign; diagram 8 indicates that vehicles must not proceed beyond it. Follow the instruction shown at the work site (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, r. 18 and Schedule, diagrams 7–8).

LTA’s guide shows an Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) zone ahead warning and says a fee applies when entering during restricted hours. The Traffic Signs Rules separately prescribe signs placed at the start of ERP Charge Zones to indicate that vehicles are entering the zone. The available sources do not identify which numbered Schedule diagram corresponds to LTA’s “zone ahead” illustration; see regulatory traffic signs for the current ERP sign and marking catalogue. LTA also shows an expressway ahead warning and links it to expressway restrictions (OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information; Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, Schedule, diagrams 163(a)–(d)).

Coverage debt

The warning-sign guide summarizes, rather than reproduces, the current statutory Schedule’s Part II diagrams 41–85 and their listed variants; consult the Schedule for the complete sign artwork and wording. For railway crossings, current LTA and SPF guidance says to slow down and beware of the gate or train, but does not set out a full procedure for stopping, proceeding, or responding to a breakdown. The current Highway Code contains no railway-crossing section; do not treat older handbook procedures as verified current guidance. LTA’s “ERP zone ahead” illustration is not explicitly mapped by the sources to a numbered sign in the statutory Schedule, which describes separate ERP Charge Zone entry signs. Informative, directional, and EMAS signs and common road markings are covered in regulatory traffic signs; the remaining reserved-use bay layout gap is tracked there.

Sources

• OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information
• OneMotoring, Road Safety
• SPF, Basic Theory of Driving handbook
• Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules
• Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, r. 13
• Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, r. 17
• Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules, r. 18