Warning signs for a slippery road and rockfall alert you to stretches where grip or the road surface itself can fail without notice. These yellow, triangular signs give you time to slow down and prepare before the hazard appears. For the class B theory test it is important that you both recognise the signs and understand how to adapt your driving.

Overview of warning signs for slippery road, loose chippings and rockfall with advice on adapted driving

Table of contents

  • What the warning signs mean
  • Slippery road (sign 116)
  • Loose chippings and rockfall (signs 114 and 115)
  • How to adapt your driving
  • Summary

What the warning signs mean

A warning sign is triangular with a red border and a yellow background, and it warns of a hazard further ahead. The sign tells you what kind of hazard it is, but not exactly where it begins or ends. You should therefore read the sign as a signal to raise your attention and be ready to adapt your speed and driving over a longer stretch.

What all warning signs have in common is that they are placed well in advance of the hazard, so you have time to react. On high-speed roads they are set further away than in built-up areas. If you want a broader introduction to the whole sign group, you can read more about warning signs and hazard alerts .

Slippery road (sign 116)

Sign 116 Slippery road warns of a stretch where the road surface may be unexpectedly slippery. The cause can be ice, snow, a wet road, leaves, spillage or oil. The sign is often used near bridges, in shade, where the road runs through forest, or in places where experience shows that ice forms early.

You will often see a supplementary plate explaining the cause or when the hazard applies, for example “Ice” or “When wet”. The most important thing you do is to reduce speed and avoid abrupt manoeuvres. Sudden braking or hard steering on a slippery surface can cause the car to lose grip.

SignWarns ofTypical location
116 Slippery roadIce, snow, wet or slippery roadBridges, shade, forest stretches
114 Loose chippingsLoose gravel and small stonesRoad works, new asphalt, gravel roads
115 RockfallFalling stone, earth or snowMountainsides, steep cuttings

Understand what actually happens to the car on a slippery surface by reading about grip and friction and about aquaplaning .

Loose chippings and rockfall (signs 114 and 115)

Sign 114 Loose chippings warns of loose gravel and small stones in the road. This is common at road works and on freshly laid asphalt. The risk is twofold: the car gets poorer grip on the gravel, and stones can be thrown up and damage the windscreen or other vehicles. Keep a good distance and reduce speed where the sign is posted.

Sign 115 Rockfall warns that stone, earth or snow may fall onto the road. The sign often stands along steep mountainsides and cuttings. Here you must be extra attentive, avoid stopping unnecessarily under exposed sections, and be prepared for obstacles in the road. On mountain roads this can combine with narrow sections and sharp bends.

  • Loose chippings: keep your distance, slow down, be careful towards oncoming traffic.
  • Rockfall: do not stop under exposed sections, watch the road surface.
  • Slippery road: brake gently, increase distance, keep a steady speed.

If you are going to drive in the mountains, it is useful to read about mountain road driving and hairpin bends .

How to adapt your driving

When you see a warning sign for a slippery road or rockfall, it is all about creating a margin. You should always have a speed and a distance that let you stop on the road surface you actually have ahead of you. Adapted driving is a cornerstone of the whole licensing process and part of the vision of zero killed and seriously injured.

  1. Reduce speed well in advance before you reach the exposed stretch.
  2. Increase the distance to the car in front, so you have time to react.
  3. Brake and steer gently to avoid the wheels losing grip.
  4. Read the terrain and the road markings further ahead.

In winter these signs are especially relevant. Learn to recognise and handle black ice and how to drive safely with practical tips for slippery conditions. Poor visibility increases the danger, so it is also worth understanding driving in drifting snow and poor visibility .

Summary

Warning signs for a slippery road (116), loose chippings (114) and rockfall (115) ask you to stay alert and adapt your driving before the hazard appears. Reduce speed, increase distance and drive gently, and you will have the margin you need when grip or the road surface fails.

Want to test how well you know the signs? Take a free theory test and keep practising in the Eteo app, so you are confident and well prepared for the theory test.