One way of making New Zealand roads safer is by designing road signs that are clear and easy to understand. Many signs used on New Zealand roads use symbols and shapes rather than words. For example, a sign showing a left-turning arrow with a bold line through it means that turning left is not allowed. Because they do not rely on language, the symbols can be ‘read’ by many different people, such as international visitors to New Zealand. Using commonly-recognised symbols on traffic signs helps to ensure safety on our roads.