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Steep descent ahead — South African Road Sign W322

The road ahead drops down a steep hill. Vehicles can pick up speed quickly going down. Select a lower gear before the descent so the engine helps slow you down, and avoid riding the brakes continuously so they do not overheat.

Steep descent ahead road sign

W322

At a glance

Sign code
W322
Type
Warning
Official meaning
Warning: a steep descent (downward gradient) lies ahead.

What the Steep descent ahead sign means

The road ahead drops down a steep hill. Vehicles can pick up speed quickly going down.

What you must do

Select a lower gear before the descent so the engine helps slow you down, and avoid riding the brakes continuously so they do not overheat.

Know the mistake this sign turns on

Full access adds the confusion Steep descent ahead is most often mistaken for and the hint for the test, on this sign and every other one — plus practice questions and timed mock papers. The practice sample and the readiness test are free.

See the free practice test

Sources

  • Road Traffic Signs chart, National Department of TransportThe official chart. Sign W322 was checked against it, artwork and meaning, before being published here.
  • National Road Traffic Regulations, 2000 — Schedule 1Where the prescribed meaning of each road traffic sign is set out.

Last updated 2026-09-04.

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