South African road signs follow the South African Road Traffic Signs Manual (SARTSM), which is aligned with the SADC Road Traffic Signs Manual used across the region. Every sign belongs to a class (regulatory or warning), then a series, and is made in a size and reflective grade that suits the road. Choose in that order.
Regulatory signs – the rules of the road
Regulatory signs carry the force of law: drivers must obey them. They are split into four series.
R1 series – control
Decide who goes first: stop, yield, 4-way and 3-way stop, and signs used at pedestrian and scholar crossings. These are the most important signs at any intersection on an estate, campus or public road.
R100 series – command
Blue circles that tell drivers what they must do: keep left or right, proceed straight, turn left or right only, follow a compulsory direction. Common at traffic islands, one-way systems and car-park exits.
R200 series – prohibition
Red-ring signs for what drivers may not do: speed limits, no entry, no U-turn, no overtaking, no stopping and no parking. The speed-limit signs in this series are the ones most often ordered for estates, schools and business parks.
R300 series – reservation
Reserve a lane, bay or area for certain road users: buses, minibus taxis, people with disabilities, loading zones and pedestrians.
Warning signs – what is coming up
Warning signs are triangles that tell drivers about a danger or change ahead so they can slow down in time. Permanent warning signs have a white background with a red border; temporary versions for roadworks use a yellow background.
W100 series – road layout
Junctions, T-junctions, side roads, merging traffic, lanes ending and roads narrowing.
W200 series – direction of movement
Curves, sharp bends, winding roads and changes in the direction traffic will move.
W300 series – symbolic
Picture warnings for hazards that are not part of the road layout: pedestrians, children, cyclists, animals, speed humps, uneven road and roadworks.
W400 series – hazard markers
Chevron boards and hazard plates that outline sharp curves, the ends of barriers, bridge rails and other obstructions, especially at night.
Temporary construction signs
Movable A-frame signs for roadworks, construction sites, events and emergencies. They are set up, moved and removed as the work progresses – see our roadworks signage article.
Choosing the size – and what it costs
| Size | Typical use | Price (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 600 mm | Estates, car parks, private roads, slow streets | R 1 050 |
| 900 mm | Urban roads and business parks | R 1 350 |
| 1200 mm | Fast roads and highways | R 2 850 |
Prices are for the sign face; Unistrut brackets, stands and our 3 m galvanised pole (R 590) are extra. The faster the traffic, the bigger the sign and the higher the reflective grade should be: standard engineering-grade sheeting suits estates and town streets, high-intensity sheeting is better for highways and poorly lit roads.
Installing road signs
- Place the sign where drivers can see it in time – further before the hazard on faster roads.
- Mount it on the left side of the road, clear of trees and other signs, at a height people and vehicles will not hit.
- Use a pole or Unistrut frame set in concrete for permanent signs; A-frames for temporary ones.
- Signs on public roads need the road authority’s approval – on private property (estates, sites, car parks) you decide, but follow the same SARTSM designs so drivers understand them.
- Our Gauteng teams can supply and install – ask for a quote.
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