What does a white background with red text in traffic signs mean?

[Amanda]

According to the relevant regulations of "Road Traffic Signs and Markings Part 2: Road Traffic Signs" (GB5768.2-2009), signs with a white background and red text are prohibition signs. These signs indicate the prohibition or restriction of vehicle and pedestrian traffic behaviors. There are a total of 50 prohibition signs. There are various types of traffic signs, which can be categorized in different ways: main signs and auxiliary signs; movable signs and fixed signs; illuminated signs, luminous signs, and reflective signs; and variable message signs that reflect changes in the driving environment. Road traffic signs are divided into two main categories: main signs and auxiliary signs. Main signs are further divided into six types: warning signs, prohibition signs, directive signs, guide signs, tourist area signs, and road construction safety signs. Warning signs serve to alert and there are 49 types in total. Warning signs alert drivers and pedestrians to dangerous locations. They feature a yellow background with black borders and black patterns, shaped as an equilateral triangle with the apex pointing upward. Prohibition signs have a white background with red circles, red bars, and black patterns, with the pattern overlaid on the bar. Among these, signs indicating the end of no-overtaking or speed limit restrictions have a white background with black circles, black bars, and black patterns, with the pattern overlaid on the bar. These signs are circular in shape, while yield signs are shaped as an equilateral triangle with the apex pointing downward. Directive signs have a blue background with white patterns. Their shapes include circles, rectangles, and squares. Guide signs, except for milestones, hundred-meter posts, and highway boundary markers, generally have a blue background with white patterns. Except for location identification signs, they are mostly rectangular or square in shape. Tourist area signs have a brown background with white characters. Road construction safety signs come in many types and color schemes, including blue background with white text, yellow background with black patterns, red and white stripes, and yellow and black stripes. Their shapes include rectangles, columns, and cones. The main functions of road traffic signs are: Providing road information, serving as the language of the road. Directing and controlling traffic to ensure road safety. Guiding and orienting to improve driving efficiency. Serving as a basis for law enforcement by traffic management authorities. Important Notes: Novice drivers, due to their lack of personal experience with traffic signs, are most likely to violate traffic sign regulations. Additionally, due to misunderstanding or failing to notice traffic signs in time, they may easily take wrong routes or unnecessary detours. These situations are often unavoidable. To better observe traffic signs, novice drivers should pay attention to signs placed on the roadside or overhead while driving, maintaining a high and far-reaching field of vision. They should understand the meaning of traffic signs before proceeding. Moreover, when approaching intersections, there are often directional markings on the road. Novice drivers, often fixated on the road ahead, may overlook these directional traffic signs, leading to violations or unnecessary detours. Therefore, when approaching an intersection, it is important to slow down in advance, carefully observe the traffic signs on the road and at the intersection ahead, and correctly choose the driving route.