A sign that gives orders
No goods vehicles over 7.5t
A red circle with a lorry marked '7.5t' bans goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes maximum authorised weight - it protects residential streets and weak roads from heavy traffic.
01
What it means
The red ring makes it a prohibition: goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes must not enter. It usually carries a plate - most often 'Except for access', meaning lorries with a genuine reason to be there (a delivery on that street) may still enter, but through-traffic may not.
It doesn't affect cars, vans under the weight, buses or coaches - but it's in the theory test's sign bank, and it tells you something useful: the council is keeping HGVs off this route, often because it's residential or structurally weak.
02
Where you'll see it
Residential rat-runs, weak bridges, narrow village roads and lorry-control zones (London has a whole overnight lorry control scheme).
03
On your driving test
As a learner you won't be turned away by it - but you should recognise it, and expect fewer lorries (and more parked cars and children) on streets it protects.
Often confused with
Quick answers
Does the 7.5t sign apply to my car?
No - it applies to goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes maximum authorised weight. Cars, ordinary vans and buses aren't restricted by it.
What does 'Except for access' mean?
A lorry may enter if the street itself is its destination - a delivery or collection there - but must not use the road as a through-route.
Sign artwork is Crown copyright, reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0; meanings from the Highway Code (gov.uk).
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