Many motorists lose their way when it comes to understanding road signs, according to a poll.

While 83 per cent classed themselves as good drivers, just 52 per cent understood all the signs on UK roads, the survey by Kia Motors UK found.

The poll of 2,000 motorists, of whom 56 per cent had had a driving licence for more than 15 years, showed:

• Fewer than three in five drivers could correctly identify the sign for “no motor vehicles”, with 21 per cent thinking it meant “motor vehicles only”;

• Only 52 per cent recognised the sign for a clearway, with 20 per cent thinking it meant “no entry”;

• 31 per cent thought the sign indicating the end of a dual carriageway meant that the road narrowed on both sides;

• 26 per cent believed a yellow diversion sign showed directions to a campsite, while 30 per cent reckoned it meant there was a hazard ahead;

• 87 per cent recognised the black-striped national speed limit sign, but 34 per cent did not know this meant a speed of 60mph on a single carriageway and 70mph on a motorway.

The survey also showed that only 61 per cent found road signs useful, with 78 per cent reckoning they were being bombarded with too many signs.

Only 25 per cent of those polled still kept a road atlas in the car.

Kia Motors UK communications director, Steve Kitson, said: “The research findings clearly show that a driver’s experience behind the wheel doesn’t necessarily correlate with their knowledge of the road.”