The P5 'Reduce Speed' road sign is a specific instruction given by a police officer, meaning you must slow down when the officer is facing you and giving the slow-down signal. This sign is used to manage traffic flow, especially around hazards, incidents, or during checks. At night or in poor visibility, it might be accompanied by a white or yellow light or reflector for better visibility. Drivers should anticipate this signal by slowing down smoothly and early, maintaining a safe distance, and being ready for further instructions.
Learn the key details of the P5 - Reduce Speed (Officer Facing You) road sign, including its function, what it communicates to drivers, and how it applies in real traffic situations in Sweden. Use this overview to understand the sign clearly and recognise it confidently during the Swedish driving theory exam.
This signal instructs the road user the officer faces to slow down. It is used to calm traffic approaching hazards, incidents, checks, or areas with limited visibility. In darkness or reduced visibility, the signal can be clarified by a lantern showing white or yellow light, or by reflective equipment returning white or yellow light. You should slow down early, keep a safe following distance, and be prepared for additional directions such as stopping or diverting.
You must reduce your speed when the officer is facing you and gives the reduce-speed signal. At night or in poor visibility, it may be reinforced with a white or yellow light or reflector.
Get clear, practical answers to the most common questions about the P5 - Reduce Speed (Officer Facing You) road sign. Learn how the sign works, what rules it represents, and how it affects real driving situations. This FAQ strengthens your understanding and supports accurate decision making for the Swedish driving theory exam in Sweden.
The P5 sign is a direct command from a police officer indicating that you must reduce your speed when they are facing you and giving the slow-down signal. It is not a passive warning but an active instruction to alter your speed for safety or traffic management.
You must reduce your speed as soon as you understand the officer's signal. If it's dark or visibility is poor, the signal might be reinforced by a white or yellow light or reflector. Slow down smoothly and promptly, maintaining awareness of the officer and surrounding traffic, and prepare for potential further directions like stopping.
A common mistake is failing to react promptly or adequately to the signal, perhaps by maintaining speed or braking too late. Learners might also overlook the signal if it's reinforced by lights, assuming it's just part of the equipment. Always treat the officer's signal as a direct command requiring immediate and appropriate action.
No, the P5 sign's primary instruction comes from the officer's gesture. Lights or reflectors may be used to enhance the visibility of the signal, particularly at night or in adverse weather conditions, but they are not mandatory. The officer's signal itself is the critical element.
No, overtaking is generally not permitted when you are being signalled to reduce speed by an officer. Your priority is to comply with the instruction to slow down, maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead, and remain attentive to the officer's directions. Overtaking would be unsafe and contrary to the intent of the signal.
A clear reference image of the P5 - Reduce Speed (Officer Facing You) road sign used in Sweden.
The P5 - Reduce Speed (Officer Facing You) road sign may also be known by these alternative names or terms.
The P5 - Reduce Speed (Officer Facing You) road sign is part of the Signals by Police Officer (P) category, which groups together signs with similar rules and functions.