Sharp deviation of route sign: what it means
Updated •5 min read
The sharp deviation of route sign warns that the road turns sharply in the direction the chevrons point. Slow down before you reach the bend, brake on the straight and follow the chevrons round.
The sign shows white chevrons on a black rectangle. Chevrons pointing left mean the route turns sharply to the left; when the chevrons are reversed, it turns to the right. The Highway Code lists it as "Sharp deviation of route to left (or right if chevrons reversed)" (gov.uk: traffic signs).
What the sign looks like
| Detail | Sharp deviation of route sign |
|---|---|
| Shape | Rectangle (Know your traffic signs shows alternative designs) |
| Colours | White chevrons on a black background |
| Direction | The chevrons point the way the road turns |
| Category | Warning sign |
| Official name | "Sharp deviation of route to the left (right if chevrons reversed)" |
Most warning signs are triangles, which is what makes this one easy to get wrong. The Highway Code's traffic signs page lists it among the warning signs even though it is not triangular, and describes warning signs as "mostly triangular", not all triangular. Know your traffic signs puts it in the "road bends" part of its warning signs chapter, with the bend, double bend and junction on a bend signs, and notes that it comes in alternative designs (gov.uk: Know your traffic signs, warning signs).
You can see it in our list as the sharp deviation of route to left sign.
What you should do
The sign does not give an order, but the bend it marks is sharp enough that the Highway Code's general advice on speed applies directly:
- Slow down before the bend. Rule 146 says to adapt your driving to the type and condition of the road, and not to treat speed limits as a target (rule 146). It also warns about the road being blocked beyond a blind bend.
- Brake on the straight. In icy conditions, rule 231 says to drive particularly slowly on bends, brake progressively on the straight before you reach the bend, and then steer smoothly round it (rule 231). The same order of braking then steering helps on any sharp bend.
- Follow the chevrons. They show where the road goes, which helps most at night or in poor visibility.
- Do not overtake into it. You cannot see what is coming round a sharp bend. The general overtaking rules are in rules 162 to 169 (gov.uk: rules 159 to 203).
Chevron signs and chevron road markings
Two different things are called chevrons, and they mean different things.
| Chevrons | Where you see them | What they mean |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp deviation of route sign | On a post, at a sharp bend | The road turns sharply the way the chevrons point |
| Chevron road markings with a solid border | Painted on the road, for example where slip roads join | You must not enter the area except in an emergency |
Know your traffic signs says chevron markings with a continuous boundary line mean "vehicles must not enter the area except in an emergency" (gov.uk: Know your traffic signs, road markings). Our road markings guide covers those markings and the white diagonal stripes in rule 130.
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 questions.
A sign question may show the chevrons and ask what they mean. A driving question may describe a sharp bend and ask how to approach it. Try our practice question on approaching a bend on a very icy morning, which tests the brake-then-steer order from rule 231.
Our road signs guide explains how signs are grouped by shape and colour, and the bad weather guide covers rule 231 and the other weather rules.
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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 sharp deviation of route sign mean?
The road turns sharply in the direction the chevrons point. Slow down before the bend, brake on the straight and follow the chevrons round.
What do white chevrons on a black sign mean?
They mark a sharp deviation of route. Chevrons pointing left mean a sharp turn to the left; reversed chevrons mean a sharp turn to the right.
Is the sharp deviation of route sign a warning sign?
Yes. It is listed under warning signs in the Highway Code and Know your traffic signs, although it is rectangular rather than triangular.
Are chevron signs the same as chevron road markings?
No. The sign marks a sharp bend. Chevron road markings bordered by a solid line mark an area you must not enter except in an emergency.