A sign that tells you what to do
Keep left
A blue circle with a downward-left arrow means keep left - pass to the left of the traffic island or obstruction ahead.
01
What it means
It tells you to keep to the left of whatever it's placed on - usually a central island, bollard or the nose of a dual carriageway. It's not a turn; you carry straight on, just on the correct side. A mirror-image 'keep right' version exists.
02
Where you'll see it
On keep-left bollards at islands, pedestrian refuges, and the start of central reservations.
03
On your driving test
Simple but easy to fumble under pressure: pass the island on the correct side and don't cut across it.
Often confused with
Quick answers
Does 'keep left' mean turn left?
No. It means pass to the left of the island or obstruction it's on, then carry on. It's not a turn.
Sign artwork is Crown copyright, reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0; meanings from the Highway Code (gov.uk).
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