Bermuda Road Signs and Road Markings: The Complete Guide (2026)

Bermuda Road Signs and Road Markings: The Complete Guide (2026)

Bermuda uses UK-style signage: an octagonal STOP sign, triangular red-border warning signs, circular order signs, and rectangular information signs. That shape system is not trivia. The written exam, administered by the Transport Control Department (TCD), covers "general knowledge of the rules of the road, speed limits, and signage", and the Traffic Code Handbook's own sample questions ask exactly this kind of thing, for example what shape order signs are (circular). This guide walks through each category of the Bermuda traffic code's signs and the exam-critical road markings. You can browse every sign we cover in the Bermuda road signs gallery.

Key takeaways

• Bermuda follows the UK sign system: octagonal STOP, triangles warn, circles give orders, rectangles inform.
• Circular orders split in two: a red ring prohibits (no entry, no overtaking, speed discs) and a blue circle instructs (ahead only, keep left, mini roundabout).
• Bermuda's posted limits: 35 km/h nationally, 25 in St. George's, Dockyard and the airport, 15 at Somerset Bridge and Hamilton Wharf, 8 at St. George's Wharf.
• Markings are exam-critical: a single white centre line may be crossed to overtake when safe, you must not wait or park opposite a solid yellow centre line, and double white lines must never be crossed.
• Paired flashing red lights mean you must stop; Bermuda uses them at swing bridges, the airport and fire stations.

Why are sign shapes exam material in Bermuda?

Because the shape tells you what a sign does before you can even read it. The Traffic Code Handbook's signs appendix groups Bermuda's signs by what they do, and notes that shape is a strong guide: triangular signs mostly warn, circular signs mostly give orders, and rectangular signs mostly give information, with the octagonal STOP sign, the inverted GIVE WAY triangle and a few worded plates as the main exceptions. TCD's sample questions ask directly what shape order signs are, so learn the shape logic first: triangle = warning, circle = order, rectangle = information.

Warning signs: red-border triangles

Warning signs are red-border triangles. They do not order you to do anything; they tell you a hazard is coming so you can slow down and prepare. Common examples on Bermuda's roads include:

• Crossroads warnings, where Bermuda's give-way rules matter most.
• Bend warnings, where overtaking is never allowed at a corner or bend.
• Roundabout ahead, reminding you that priority at roundabouts goes to traffic approaching from the right.
• Slippery road, a cue to double your following gap on wet surfaces.
• Opening or swing bridge ahead, where the road itself can open for boat traffic.
• Low-flying aircraft or sudden aircraft noise.
• Cattle.

Whatever the triangle shows, the safe response is the same: slow down, be ready to stop, and do not overtake into the hazard.

Order signs: circles you must obey

Order signs are circular, a fact the handbook's sample questions test word for word. They come in two families.

Red ring prohibitions

A red ring prohibits. The sign shows what you must not do: no entry, no overtaking, and the maximum speed disc. Bermuda's posted limits are: 35 km/h is the national limit on all roads, 25 km/h applies in the Town of St. George's, Dockyard and at L.F. Wade International Airport, 15 km/h at Somerset Bridge and Hamilton Wharf, and 8 km/h at St. George's Wharf. Learn those four numbers; our Bermuda speed limits and road rules guide covers them in depth.

Blue mandatory instructions

A blue circle instructs: it tells you what you must do rather than what you must not. Examples include ahead only, keep left, and the mini roundabout sign, where priority again goes to traffic from the right. A blue circle without a red border mostly gives a positive instruction.

Priority signs: STOP and GIVE WAY

Two signs stand apart from the circular order families because they control priority at junctions. The octagonal STOP sign requires a complete stop, after which you give way to traffic on the road you are entering. The GIVE WAY sign requires you to yield to traffic on the major road before joining it. Learn both by shape and by rule; the handbook's own sample questions test what a STOP sign means.

Information signs: rectangles

Rectangular signs inform. They point you to facilities and explain road layouts rather than commanding or warning. Examples in the handbook include hospital ahead, tourist information, no through road and the Bermuda Railway Trail route sign. They are the easiest category to recognise; remember: rectangle = information.

Road markings: the lines the exam loves

Road markings are effectively signs painted on the road, and two of the handbook's ten sample questions are about them. These five rules are the core.

• Single solid white centre line: you MAY cross it to overtake when safe, and parking opposite it is permitted unless indicated otherwise.
• Solid yellow centre line: you should not cross or straddle it, except when it is safe and you are entering adjoining premises or a side road, or to pass a stationary vehicle, or to overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle travelling at 15 km/h or less. Crucially, you MUST NOT wait or park opposite a yellow centre line. This exact rule appears in TCD's own sample questions.
• Double solid white lines: you MUST NOT cross or straddle them, and you must not wait or park opposite them.
• Box junctions: do not enter the yellow criss-cross box unless your exit is clear. The one exception: you may enter and wait when turning right and blocked only by oncoming traffic or by other vehicles waiting to turn right.
• Zigzag lines at pedestrian crossings: never park within them, and never overtake the moving vehicle nearest the crossing or a vehicle that has stopped to give way to pedestrians.

Yellow kerb and edge lines mark waiting restrictions; double yellow means no waiting at any time, subject to posted seasonal signs.

Traffic light signals, including Bermuda's flashing reds

Traffic lights follow the UK sequence. RED means stop behind the stop line. RED and AMBER together still mean stop; do not pass or start moving until green shows. GREEN means go if the way is clear, giving way to pedestrians crossing when you turn. AMBER means stop at the stop line, unless you have already crossed it or are so close that pulling up might cause a collision. A green arrow lets you proceed in the arrow's direction regardless of the other lights.

Two flashing signals deserve special attention. Paired flashing red lights mean you MUST stop; they are used at places such as swing bridges, the airport and fire stations. Flashing amber at a pedestrian crossing means give priority to pedestrians on the crossing, then proceed with caution once it is clear. Some school zones also use a flashing amber signal: when it flashes, stop, give priority to pedestrians, and drive slowly.

How signs appear in the written exam, and how to study them

The written exam is electronic (computer-based) and explicitly covers signage alongside road rules and speed limits. TCD does not publish the exam's question count, pass mark or time limit, so ignore any site quoting exact figures. The handbook's sample questions show the style: identify a sign's category by shape, recall what a marking permits or forbids, and apply the rule in a scenario.

Study in two passes. First, browse the full Bermuda signs gallery until you can name each sign's category and meaning on sight. Then test yourself with the free Bermuda practice test, which mixes sign questions with rules and speed limits. For what the written exam involves and how to book it, read our Bermuda driving test questions and answers guide. ExamReady is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with the Transport Control Department or the Government of Bermuda.

Official sources

• gov.bm - How to get a driver's licence (exam scope: rules of the road, speed limits and signage)
• Transport Control Department (TCD) (the exam authority)
• gov.bm - Transport Control Department
• The Traffic Code Handbook (TCD), whose signs appendix is the authoritative list of Bermuda's road signs and markings

Frequently Asked Questions

What shape are order signs in Bermuda?

Order signs are circular. A red ring prohibits (no entry, no overtaking, speed discs), while a blue circle gives a mandatory instruction (ahead only, keep left, mini roundabout). The Traffic Code Handbook's own sample questions test this classification directly.

Can I cross a single white centre line to overtake in Bermuda?

Yes. You may cross a single solid white centre line to overtake when safe. Double solid white lines are different: you must never cross or straddle them, and you must not wait or park opposite them.

What does a solid yellow centre line mean in Bermuda?

You should not cross or straddle it except in limited cases, such as safely entering a side road or adjoining premises, or passing a stationary vehicle. You must not wait or park opposite a yellow centre line, a rule TCD's own sample questions test.

What do paired flashing red lights mean in Bermuda?

You must stop. Bermuda uses paired flashing red signals at swing bridges, the airport and fire stations. Flashing amber at a pedestrian crossing means give priority to pedestrians on the crossing, then proceed with caution when it is clear.

Are road signs on the Bermuda written exam?

Yes. The electronic written exam covers the rules of the road, speed limits and signage. TCD does not publish the question count, pass mark or time limit, so the best preparation is the signs gallery plus realistic practice questions.