Key points
- 'Response to signals: traffic signs' is on the DVSA's list of the most common reasons for failing.
- Signs are easy to miss when you're concentrating on traffic.
- Drill: Sign spotting.
- Your DriveSQ Student Portal tracks this skill lesson by lesson.
No entry, no right turn, speed limits, bus lanes, give way — missing or misreading a sign is a common reason for failing, especially during independent driving.
What the examiner is looking for
Noticing signs in good time and responding correctly: obeying orders (circles), reacting to warnings (triangles), and using direction signs to choose a lane early.
What it looks like on test
- Missing a speed-limit change.
- Entering a bus lane during its hours of operation.
- Turning where a 'no right turn' sign applies.
- Choosing the wrong lane because you read the direction sign too late.
Why it happens
Signs are easy to miss when you're concentrating on traffic. Scanning far ahead and talking signs through on lessons builds the habit.
How to fix it: drills we use
Sign spotting
Name every sign aloud on one lesson — you'll be surprised how many you were missing.
Bus-lane rule
Read the times on the blue sign every time.
Speed-limit clues
Street lights usually mean 30 unless signs say otherwise.
Where it catches learners in Greater Manchester
Bus lanes and speed changes on Washway Road near Sale; one-way systems in Rochdale and Chadderton. Our test-route guides list the exact roads.
Self-check before your test
Can you tick all of these?
Be honest — if not, tell your instructor and practise it on your next lesson.
In the DriveSQ Student Portal your instructor marks "Response to signals: traffic signs" as its own skill after each lesson, so you can watch it move from "introduced" to "independent" before you book.
DriveSQ Student Portal
Every SQ Driving School learner gets the DriveSQ Student Portal free — so you always know where you stand, not just how many hours you've had.
- 23 driving skills tracked after every lesson
- Theory library and 50-question mock tests
- Test-readiness checklist and instructor messaging
Why SQ Driving School?
SQ Driving School is owned and managed by DriveSQ — the Greater Manchester driving school behind the Student and Instructor Portals.
- Manual & automatic, same price: £35/hr
- 10 hours £350 — £320 for NHS staff, students and M16/M18/M19
- Door-to-door pick-up across Greater Manchester
Frequently asked questions
Is responding to traffic signs a common reason for failing the driving test?
Is a response to signals: traffic signs fault always a fail?
How do I stop making responding to traffic signs mistakes?
How many minor faults can you have and still pass?
Sources
- GOV.UK — Top 10 reasons for failing the driving test
- GOV.UK — DVSA reveals top driving test faults
- GOV.UK — What happens during the driving test
- The Highway Code (GOV.UK)
Published by SQ Driving School, a brand owned and managed by DriveSQ. Checked on 16 October 2026. Rules, fees and test centres change — always confirm on GOV.UK before you book.