Motorway
Road type designation
Written by Chris Prosman Reviewed by Dirk van Zuijlen
Updated
- Sign code
- G1
- Category
- Road type designation
- Traffic signs
- Motorway.
G1 marks the start of a motorway. Access is restricted to drivers of motor vehicles permitted and able to travel at least 60 km/h. That 60 is a vehicle access requirement, not an instruction to maintain that speed in all conditions.
What to do at this sign
Use the acceleration lane to assess traffic speed and space on the main carriageway. Give way to other traffic when joining. Stopping outside emergencies, turning around and reversing are governed by the special motorway rules; observe those restrictions.
Example on the road
Approaching G1 in an ordinary car, match the traffic appropriately and join when space permits. A queue may make everyone travel well below 60. The access requirement does not impose a minimum speed on that queue.
Other conditions to check
The general motorway maximum for an ordinary car is 130 km/h. A lower posted limit, such as 100 during indicated hours, or a lower vehicle-specific limit takes precedence. Read the signs: G1 alone does not permit 130 everywhere at all times.
How to recognise the sign
Read the image, arrows and any text on sign G1; they distinguish this version within the road type designation category.
Difference from G3 — Expressway
G1 identifies a motorway; G3 identifies a motor road. Their vehicle access thresholds are 60 and 50 km/h respectively, alongside the other rules for each road type.
G3 — ExpresswayLegal basis
Frequently asked questions
- Is 60 km/h a compulsory motorway minimum?
- No. It is a vehicle eligibility requirement; traffic and conditions may require a lower speed.
- Does G1 always permit 130 km/h?
- No. Observe lower signed limits and any lower limit applying to your vehicle.
Explained in the course
Practise this sign for your theory exam
Motorway belongs to the Road type designation category. In the CBR theory exam a traffic sign is almost never asked on its own: you are shown a situation and have to know what you may or must do in it. In the free sign trainer you practise the signs by category, with the explanation shown right after every answer.
Practise traffic signs for free Practise car theory: free mock exam
