Blue & White vs Red & White Countdown Markers
Some of the easiest-to-miss signs on Britain’s roads are the little countdown markers. They’re simple boards with diagonal bars, counting down three… two… one. But the colour is crucial — because a blue set and a red set mean two very different things.
This is one of those Highway Code details the DVSA love to test learners on, so let’s make it crystal clear.
🔵 Blue & White Countdown Markers – Motorway Exit Ahead
- What they look like: A blue rectangle with white diagonal bars. You’ll see them in sets of three, two, then one.
- What they mean: You are approaching the start of a motorway exit slip road (or sometimes a service area).
- Distances:
- 3 bars = about 300 yards from the start of the slip road.
- 2 bars = about 200 yards.
- 1 bar = about 100 yards.
These signs are there to give you time to check mirrors, signal, and move safely into the left lane if you intend to leave the motorway.
Memory tip: Blue = motorway guidance. They’re helping you prepare for something you can do — taking an exit.
Red & White Countdown Markers – Level Crossing Ahead
- What they look like: A white rectangle with red diagonal bars. Again, they appear in sets of three, two, then one.
- What they mean: You are approaching a level crossing, usually where the crossing might be hard to spot.
- Distances: The bars divide the distance between the advance warning sign and the stop line into three equal parts. Unlike the motorway signs, this doesn’t always equal exactly 100 yards per board.
These are a vital warning to reduce speed and prepare to stop if the crossing barriers are down or signals flash.
Memory tip: Red = railway risk. They’re alerting you to something you must prepare for — the possibility of stopping at a crossing.
Key Difference
- Blue & White = Motorway exit slip road countdown.
- Red & White = Level crossing countdown.
One guides you calmly off the motorway, the other warns you of a serious hazard ahead.
Blue & White vs Red & White Countdown Markers Final Thought
Countdown markers are small but mighty. Learners often skim past them without really noticing, but examiners and the DVSA know exactly how important they are.
- On the motorway, blue markers mean: “Get ready to leave.”
- On approach to a level crossing, red markers mean: “Get ready to stop.”
Simple, sharp, and life-saving. Get this detail right in your head now, and you won’t be caught out in the theory test — or worse, on the road.