What does the road sign warn about?

Explanation

A section of road on which gravel is thrown up from beneath the wheels.

The triangular sign shows a vehicle from beneath whose rear wheels stones are being thrown out: the "loose gravel" sign. This sign is posted where there is loose gravel on the road surface — a fresh asphalt dressing, a repair zone, or a section whose surface and shoulder have been gravelled. The photograph likewise shows a two-lane intercity road curving to the right and, further on to the right, orange work-site markers.

The danger has two layers. The first is the stones thrown at speed by your own wheels, by an overtaking vehicle or by an oncoming one: a broken windscreen, damage to paintwork, and serious injury to a motorcyclist, cyclist or pedestrian at the roadside. The second layer matters more: a layer of loose gravel acts like ball bearings under the tyre, reduces grip and both lengthens the braking distance and raises the likelihood of sliding in a curve.

The right behaviour: reduce speed, increase your following distance and do not overtake on this section.

Worth memorising, and the common trap: do not confuse this sign with "slippery road"; that one shows a vehicle with wavy skid marks beneath the wheels. "A wet section of road" likewise has no sign of its own and was merely invented to fill out the options.

• "Slippery road" is a separate sign and its symbol is a vehicle with wavy skid marks, not stones flying out from under the wheels. • No sign meaning "a wet section of road" exists; this option was created only to resemble the slipperiness option.

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