Drivers left baffled by 'new' road sign – but it's been there all along

Getting to grips with road signs is crucial for anyone wanting to pass their driving test - with both theory and practical exams demanding a thorough knowledge of them. Yet even experienced motorists can occasionally find the sheer number of signs bewildering, given there are so many to recall. And this was certainly the situation recently. That's because drivers have been left baffled by one triangular road marking.

Numerous people insisted during a Reddit discussion that they had "never" encountered it previously. The symbol concerned features a white triangle containing a T-shaped line running horizontally through it. One puzzled person posted on Reddit: "What is it? To me it looks like a T-junction sign but never saw it as a road marking form. Me and my dad can't figure it out or even find it in Google images."

Several others were equally perplexed, with one commenting: "I've never seen a road marking like this before. Triangles certainly but not ones like this. Warning of approach to a junction is usually a sign on a pole that is easily interpretable. This one smacks of a DIY job that's helping nobody."

Another stunned motorist remarked: "I have been driving for nearly 50 years all over the country. And I have never EVER seen signs randomly painted on the road surface."

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So can you figure out what it represents?

Don't fret if you can't, as people quickly stepped in within the comments to provide clarification. One local noted that these signs are more commonly found in rural areas, stating: "I've seen these used in Lancashire, in the countryside near Preston, quite a lot."

Another observer pointed out: "I can literally see the junction it's warning you about on the left."

A further commenter clarified: "It's a T junction sign... But you're right, I feel like they're not normally on the road like this."

Another explained: "It is a legal road marking, just not a widely used one, and more often it's on a sign rather than the surface.

"Being a triangle it is warning you of a danger, that danger is a side road that joins this road with limited visibility, so it's warning someone may pull out without having seen you."

Indeed, such signs are designed to alert drivers to potential hazards ahead.

They typically feature a diagram or rectangular directional sign, indicating the type of junction and your possible routes. You might also spot specific signs like a T-junction or 'give way'.

According to the Highway Code, the exact sign displayed on roads depends on the type of junction, your current road, and the direction you wish to take.