Quayside or river bank sign: what it means
Updated •5 min read
The quayside or river bank sign warns you that the road runs to the edge of a quay or a river bank, where it drops into water. Slow down, keep to the road and be ready to stop, especially at night or in poor visibility.
It is a warning sign, so it does not give an order. It tells you about a hazard ahead, and the Highway Code expects you to adapt your speed to the road and its conditions (rule 146).
What the sign looks like
The sign is a triangle with a red border and a white background. The black symbol inside shows a car tipping forward off the edge of a quay, with wavy lines for the water below.
| Detail | Quayside or river bank sign |
|---|---|
| Shape | Triangle |
| Colours | Red border, white background, black symbol |
| Category | Warning sign |
| Official name | "Quayside or river bank" |
| Where it is listed | The Highway Code traffic signs page and Know your traffic signs |
The Highway Code's traffic signs page lists it under warning signs, which it describes as "mostly triangular" (gov.uk: traffic signs). The Department for Transport's Know your traffic signs shows it in its warning signs chapter, next to the "Opening or swing bridge" sign (gov.uk: Know your traffic signs, warning signs).
You can see the sign on its own page in our road sign list.
What you should do when you see it
Neither the Highway Code nor Know your traffic signs gives a separate rule for this sign. The general rules for driving still apply:
- Slow down. Rule 146 says to adapt your driving to the type and condition of the road, and not to treat the speed limit as a target.
- Keep well to the road. The hazard is the edge itself, so give yourself room to stop before it.
- Take extra care in the dark, fog or ice. It is harder to judge where the road ends, and a skid near water is more dangerous.
- Look for other signs nearby. The same chapter of Know your traffic signs includes "Opening or swing bridge" and "Water course alongside road" signs, which warn of related hazards.
Similar signs that are easy to confuse
Warning signs near water look alike, so a question may test the difference.
| Sign | What it warns about |
|---|---|
| Quayside or river bank | The road runs to the edge of a quay or river bank |
| Opening or swing bridge | A bridge ahead that can open or swing |
| Water course alongside road | Water runs alongside the road |
| Hump bridge | A hump bridge ahead |
All four are triangles in the warning signs chapter of Know your traffic signs.
How the theory test asks about it
Road signs are one of the subject areas the car theory test must cover, and Know your traffic signs is one of the three books gov.uk says the questions are based on (gov.uk: revision and practice). Gov.uk does not publish the test questions, so we cannot say whether this sign will come up.
Sign questions usually show a sign and ask what it means, or describe a sign and ask what you should do. For this sign, the answer is about the hazard: an edge with water beyond it. The shape matters too. Try our practice question What shape is a warning sign?, which tests the rule that lets you place this sign without having seen it before.
Our road signs guide explains how to learn signs by shape and colour, and the theory test topics guide shows where signs sit among the other areas.
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Start free with the theorytest.ai diagnostic to see whether road signs are a weak area for you. theorytest.ai is independent and is not affiliated with the DVSA or the Department for Transport.
Frequently asked questions
What does the quayside or river bank sign mean?
It warns that the road runs to the edge of a quay or river bank, where it drops into water. Slow down and take care, especially in the dark or in poor visibility.
What does the quayside or river bank sign look like?
A red-bordered triangle with a white background. The black symbol shows a car tipping off the edge of a quay into water.
Is the quayside sign a warning sign or an order?
It is a warning sign. Warning signs are mostly triangular, according to the Highway Code's traffic signs page. Signs giving orders are mostly circles.
Where can I see the official version of the sign?
In the warning signs chapter of Know your traffic signs on gov.uk, and on the Highway Code's traffic signs page.