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Comparison of European road signs

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European traffic signs present relevant differences between countries despite an apparent uniformity and standardisation. Most European countries refer to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. The convention has been adopted by the following countries (including acceding states): Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,[1] Ukraine and the United Kingdom. The convention has not been adopted by Andorra, Ireland, Iceland or Malta.

Example of a Swiss road sign

Differences between European traffic signs

[edit]
French sign showing the difference between French and Swiss motorway sign colours, on the A411 near Geneva

The main differences relate to

  • Graphic design details
  • Local regulatory significance
  • The colour-coding of directional signs
  • Local language texts (sometimes bilingual)
  • The meaning and colour-coding of horizontal road surface markings

Graphic differences

[edit]
  • Warning signs in Ireland are yellow and diamond-shaped (as in countries using Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices-influenced traffic signs), and thus differ from the white or yellow, red-bordered, triangular signs found in the rest of Europe
  • The design of individual pictograms (tunnel, pedestrian, car, etc.), while broadly similar, often varies in detail from country to country
  • Type of arrows may be different
  • Fonts of written words

Differences of directional and informatory signage

[edit]

The colour, shape, text style (bold, capitals etc.), or even an additional sign (pictogram, route number, etc.) of the signage give information about the road class of the indicated route.

Country Motorways

(Controlled-access highway
announced as
or )

Expressways

(Limited-access road
announced as
or )

Primary routes Secondary routes Regional destinations Local destinations Tourist signs Temporary detour
Outside urban area
Albania TIRANË SHKODER KUDHES n/a n/a Qender Plazhi i Zaroshkes DURRES
Armenia ՍԵՎԱՆ
SEVAN 		ԵՐԵՎԱՆ
YEREVAN 		ՉԱՐԵՆՑԱՎԱՆ
CHARENTSAVAN 		n/a n/a ՀՅՈՒՐ. ԱՆԻ ՊԼԱԶԱ
HOTEL ANI PLAZA 		ՎԱՅՈՑ ՁՈՐ
VAYOTS DZOR 		Շրջանցման ուղղություն
DETOUR
Austria Salzburg Wien Villach n/a Salzkammergut[c 1] Umleitung
Belarus МІНСК ГОМЕЛЬ НАВАГРУДАК n/a n/a вул. ФІЛІМОНАВА КАСЦЁЛ СВЯТОГА МІХАІЛА аб'езд
Belgium Brussel Kortrijk
Courtrai 		Gent
Gand 		n/a n/a Centrum
Centre
Zentrum 		Atomium Wegomlegging
Déviation
Umleitung
Bruxelles
[c 2]
Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo
Сарајево 		Banja Luka
Бања Лука 		Mostar
Мостар 		n/a n/a Centar
Центар 		Međugorje Obilazak
Bulgaria Ямбол
Yambol 		Русе
Ruse 		Павликени
Pavlikeni 		n/a n/a Център
Centre 		Етър
Etar 		Варна
Varna
Croatia Zagreb Bjelovar Vukovar n/a n/a Centar Plitvička jezera Obilazak
Zračna luka[c 3]
Czechia BRNO PRAHA VYŠKOV n/a SLOVANY Letiště Hrad Bouzov PRAHA
Denmark Aarhus n/a Skanderborg[c 4] n/a n/a Stadion Himmelbjerget Nakskov
Estonia n/a TALLINN HAAPSALU n/a n/a MUSTAMÄE Pirita klooster ÜMBERSÕIT
Finland HELSINKI
HELSINGFORS 		LAPPEENRANTA PORVOO
BORGÅ 		n/a KYMINLINNA Kirjasto Hiidenkivi TURKU
France PARIS MARSEILLE BEAUVAIS[c 5] TOULON LA CHAPPELLE n/a Gare S.N.C.F. PARC NATUREL Déviation
Germany Hamburg Freiburg[c 6] Lübeck n/a n/a Bahnhof Burg Eltz Umleitung
Greece Θεσσαλονίκη
Thessaloniki 		Πάτρα
Patra 		Αθήνα
Athina 		n/a n/a Κέντρο
Centre 		Ακρόπολη
Akropolis 		Εύοσμος
Evosmos
Hungary Budapest Vác Gyöngyös n/a n/a ◉ Centrum Vár Gödöllő
Iceland n/a n/a Akureyri n/a Garðabær Flugstöð n/a Hjáleið
Ireland Áth Cliath
DUBLIN 		n/a Tulach Mhór
TULLAMORE[c 7] 		Seantrabh
SANTRY[c 8] 		n/a n/a An Bhóireann
THE BURREN 		Cúrsa Timpill
DETOUR
Italy VENEZIA UDINE BORGOSOLE n/a n/a aeroporto Colfosco deviazione
Latvia n/a RĪGA LIEPĀJA n/a n/a centrs KURZEMES ŠVEICE DAUGAVPILS
Liechtenstein  St. Gallen  Chur Schaan Vaduz n/a Bahnhof Burg Umleitung
Lithuania KLAIPĖDA KAUNAS VILNIUS n/a n/a CENTRAS Kernavės archeologinė vietovė Apylanka
Montenegro Podgorica Bar Herceg Novi n/a n/a Centar Skadarsko Jezero Obilazak
Netherlands A 44 Amsterdam Den Haag Arnhem N 50 n/a n/a Centrum Nationaal Park OMLEIDING
Volg A[c 9]
Norway Nannestad Lillestrøm Trondheim n/a n/a Sykehus Kvitsand Bergen
Poland Wrocław Poznań Opole n/a n/a Centrum Kraków Objazd
Portugal Lisboa n/a Portalegre Fig.ra Foz[c 10] ALGARVE[c 11] centro castelo Desvio
Romania București Craiova Pitești n/a n/a Centru Castelul Bran Ocolire
Russia БЕЛГОРОД
BELGOROD 		МОСКВА ТЮМЕНЬ n/a ЛИПЕЦК ул. Арбат музей-усадьба Н. К. РЕРИХА объезд
Serbia Београд
Beograd 		Крагујевац
Kragujevac 		Зрењанин
Zrenjanin 		n/a n/a Центар
Centar 		Студеница
Studenica 		Обилазак
Obilazak
Slovakia Košice Nitra Bratislava n/a n/a Centrum Hrad obchádzka
Slovenia Maribor Nova Gorica Medvode n/a n/a Center Postojnska jama Obvoz
Spain Villalba[c 12] Córdoba[c 13] Oviedo / Uviéu[c 14] PINTO[c 15] BADAJOZ n/a centro Navacerrada DESVÍO
Sweden GÖTEBORG STOCKHOLM FALUN n/a NORRMALM Vårdcentral Långe Erik NYKÖPING
Switzerland Basel Chiasso Moudon Ftan n/a Gare CFF Castello Umleitung
Déviation
Deviazione
Turkey İstanbul n/a Ankara n/a n/a Şehir Merkezi Dara Antik Kenti n/a
Ukraine Київ
Kyiv 		Жашків
Zhashkiv 		Рудня
Rudnia 		n/a n/a ◉ Центр Борисоглібська церква об'їзд
detour
United Kingdom Nottingham M1 n/a[c 16] Inbhir Nis
Inverness
A9[c 17] 		Tyddewi
St Davids[c 18] 		The NORTH[c 19] Village Hall Thorpe Park Diversion
  1. ^ Used to indicate locations like regions, city centres, city districts and tourist locations. In reality, there is no clearcut and consistent usage of the white on green signs; for city centres and city districts, black on white signals are often preferred if the roads leading to them are primary roads.
  2. ^ The directional signs to motorways are white on green, whereas the directional signs on motorways are white on blue. Compare sign F31 of the Belgian Road Code in green (a directional sign to a motorway, but not on a motorway) with the other directional signs in blue (especially F15, F25, F27 and F29, all of which are also used in blue on motorways): "Code de la route - Article 71. Signaux d'indication (F1-F31)". Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  3. ^ Used for services and objects like stations, hospitals etc. See: Pravilnik o turističkoj i ostaloj signalizaciji na cestama. Retrieved on 2022-08-07.
  4. ^ Directional signs that are mounted overhead on multi-lane primary roads are white on blue.
  5. ^ Used to indicate specific directions
  6. ^ German traffic law does not recognise the category of "expressways", but there are certain roads commonly referred to as "autobahnähnliche Straßen" ("roads similar to motorways") which, while not being "motorways" in a legal sense, have a very similar profile to motorways. The signs on such roads are not white on blue (as on motorways), but normally black on yellow as on most other primary roads or, in exceptional cases, black on white as on local roads.
  7. ^ National primary & secondary roads. Route numbers are written in yellow.
  8. ^ Regional & local roads
  9. ^ On non-motorways only
  10. ^ Certain town names may be abbreviated, in this case for Figueira da Foz
  11. ^ Regional destinations and cardinal directions are written fully in uppercase (e.g. "ALGARVE" or "NORTE"), with the text and background colors being accordingly with the type of road
  12. ^ Next to AUTOPISTA also used for AUTOVÍA and AUTOBIA
  13. ^ Vía reservada para automóviles
  14. ^ vía rápida
  15. ^ carretera convencional
  16. ^ There is no expressway class of road in the UK
  17. ^ In Scotland, some signs are bilingual, with Scottish Gaelic text shown on top and in yellow.
  18. ^ In Wales, all signs are bilingual, with Welsh text shown on top in the same colour as English text.
  19. ^ Regional destinations consist of upper case cardinal destinations and regions (e.g. "The NORTH" or "The SOUTH WEST") and are only used on motorway and primary road signs

Differences in meanings

[edit]
Irish rural speed limit sign on a local road
  • Sometimes similar signs have minor differences in meanings, following the local traffic codes. For example, the Irish "rural speed limit" sign for local tertiary roads takes the appearance of that used to denote the end of all previously signed restrictions used elsewhere in Europe. However this sign, which is always accompanied with a "SLOW" supplementary plate, actually indicates a speed limit of 60 km/h.[2][3]
  • Another example is the United Kingdom's "pass either side" sign, which has a more specific meaning. Unlike many countries, the sign indicates that drivers may pass on either side of an obstacle, such as a traffic island, to reach the same destination.[4]
  • All European countries use the SI system (distances in kilometres or metres; speeds in kilometres per hour; heights, widths and lengths in metres; weights in tonnes) with the exception of the United Kingdom, where distances and speeds are still indicated in imperial measurements (miles or yards and miles per hour). Since 2016, on width and height limit signs both metric and imperial measurements are used (metres and feet & inches), however older signs still show imperial-only measurements [citation needed]. Weight limits have been expressed in metric tonnes since 1981, but signs continued to use an upper case "T" until 2011.

Road surface markings

[edit]
  • Longitudinal lines (lanes and margins) and symbols on the carriageway are always white (but in Norway a yellow line separates two-way traffic and in Ireland edge lines are yellow). Temporary markings are yellow in Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, but red/orange in Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Russia, and white in the United Kingdom.
  • A stop line is always represented by a white thick traversal continuous line, but a give way line may be represented by a white thick dashed line as rectangles (Germany, France, Spain) or by a double-dashed line (United Kingdom) or by a white line of triangles (Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland). In Ireland, give way markings are represented by a single dashed line; on one way streets and entrances to roundabouts it is instead represented by a combination of a single solid line and a single dashed line.
  • A disc (time-limited) parking place is identified by white lines in Germany and by blue lines in Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and Switzerland. A chargeable parking place is identified by white lines in Germany, France, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, and Switzerland and by blue lines in Italy, Spain and Russia. A parking place reserved for disabled people is bordered in white in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom; in yellow in Italy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland; and in blue in France. Other reserved parking places (bus, taxis) are bordered with yellow lines in Italy, Liechtenstein, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, but with white lines in Germany.
  • The prohibition of roadside parking can be indicated by a yellow continuous line (Spain, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom), by a yellow dashed line (Austria,[5] the Netherlands and France), by a yellow dashed line with X's (Liechtenstein and Switzerland), a white continuous line (Italy), or else by black-and-white (the Netherlands) or a black-and-yellow (the Netherlands and Italy) kerb markings. Only in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland does a double yellow line (as well as a white zig-zag line in the vicinity of pedestrian crossings) mean "no parking at any time".
  • The prohibition of stopping / waiting can be indicated by a yellow continuous line (Austria, the Netherlands, France, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Russia), and in (certain cities of) the United Kingdom by a red continuous line (with double red lines extending the meaning to "no stopping at any time). In the United Kingdom, a yellow zig-zag line near hospitals, police stations, and schools means "no stopping".

Different typefaces in texts

[edit]
A sign with the use of Transport font in Icelandic
  • Andorra officially uses the Swiss 721 (Bold Condensed) typeface, which is identical to Helvetica. However, some signs use the Caractères and Carretera Convencional typefaces.
  • Austria and Slovakia use the Tern typeface. Austria used the Austria typeface until 2010. Slovakia used the Universal Grotesk typeface from Czechoslovakia era until 2014.
  • Azerbaijan, Belarus, Greece, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine use the Arial Bold and/or Helvetica Bold typefaces in mixture with other official typefaces.
  • Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine use typefaces based on one specified in a Soviet standard ГОСТ 10807–78 (no longer valid in Russia since January 1, 2006).[6][7] In Belarus, the according standard is СТБ 1140–2013 (formerly СТБ 1140–99).[8] In Ukraine, it is ДСТУ 4100–2002. In Russia, it is ГОСТ Р 52290–2004.[9]
    • Ukraine has recently started using the Road UA [uk] typeface, as part of a signage redesign according to ДСТУ 4100:2021.[10][11]
  • Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, and Serbia use the SNV typeface. Liechtenstein and Switzerland used this typeface until 2003.
  • Cyprus uses the Helvetica typeface.
  • Denmark uses the Dansk Vejtavleskrift typeface. The typeface is derived from the British Transport typeface.
  • Estonia uses the Arial Narrow Bold typeface.
  • Finland uses a typeface developed in the 1960s by the former national board of roads and waterways.[12]
  • France uses the Caractères typeface.
  • Germany, Czechia and Latvia use the DIN 1451 typeface.
  • Greece uses a modified version of the British Transport typeface on most regular roads; motorway signs use a modified version of DIN 1451.
  • Hungary does not use a defined typeface as the letters are defined one-by-one in the national regulation.[13] The typeface resembles the DIN 1451 typeface closely.
  • Italy, Albania and San Marino use the Alfabeto Normale [it] typeface (with the narrow variant Alfabeto Stretto), a heavier version of the British Transport typeface.
  • Luxembourg uses the Helvetica, Caractères and SNV typefaces, often inconsistently.
  • The Netherlands uses typefaces derived from FHWA typeface: ANWB/RWS Cc (narrow), Dd (medium) and Ee (wide).
  • Norway uses the Trafikkalfabetet typeface.
  • Poland does not use a defined typeface as the letters are defined one-by-one in the national regulation.[14] There are three typefaces resembling the defined one, with two of them distributed as non-commercial freeware – Drogowskaz and Tablica drogowa typefaces. The third one, fully compliant with the regulation is only available for road sign manufacturers.
  • Spain uses the Carretera Convencional [es] (also known as CCRIGE) typeface, which is derived from the British Transport typeface, and is almost identical to the Italian Alfabeto Normale. Until 2014, Autopista (derived from FHWA series E modified) was used for motorways.
  • Sweden and Åland use the Tratex typeface. Åland formerly used the Finnish typeface in mixture with Tratex.
  • Switzerland and Liechtenstein use the ASTRA-Frutiger typeface since 2003.
  • Turkey uses two typefaces derived from the FHWA typeface. O-Serisi is used for motorways and E-Serisi is used for all other roads.
  • The United Kingdom, Iceland, Ireland, Malta and Portugal use the Transport typeface. An oblique variant of Transport is used in Ireland for Irish text.
    • Motorway typeface is used for route numbers on United Kingdom and Ireland motorways, and for exit and route numbers in Portugal.

In Albania, Armenia, Andorra, Belarus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland. France, Greece (partly), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Monaco, Russia, San Marino and Sweden, destinations on direction signs are written in capital letters. In Ireland, they are written in all-capital letters in English and in mixed-case letters in Irish. In Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Greece (partly), Hungary, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine both capital and lowercase are used. In Spain, destinations reached by motorway are written in capital and lowercase, while those reached by other roads are written in capital letters. In the United Kingdom and Portugal, regional destinations names and cardinal directions are written in capital letters, while the remaining destinations names are written in capital and lowercase.

Table of traffic signs comparison

[edit]

Priority

[edit]
See also: Priority signs
Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czech Republic Croatia Cyprus Denmark Estonia Finland France
Monaco 		Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Republic of Ireland Italy
San Marino
Vatican City

Albania

Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Montenegro Moldova Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain
Andorra 		Sweden Switzerland
Liechtenstein 		Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Croatia Cyprus Denmark Estonia Finland France and Monaco Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, Vatican City and Albania Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Montenegro Moldova Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
Stop
Give way/Yield
or
or
or
Priority road
End of priority road
Give way to oncoming traffic
or
Priority over oncoming traffic
Stop ahead

(example)
(example)

























Give way ahead























or








Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Croatia Cyprus Denmark Estonia Finland France and Monaco Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, Vatican City and Albania Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Montenegro Moldova Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

Warning

[edit]
Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France and Monaco Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
Curve
Series of curves
Crossroads (with priority to the right)
Crossroads (with a minor road)
Roundabout
or

[note 1]
Traffic signals
or
or
or
Two-way traffic
or
or
or
Traffic queues
Steep ascent

Steep descent

Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France and Monaco Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
Pedestrian crossing
Pedestrians
Children
or
Cyclists
Domesticated animals
or
or
or
or
or
or
or
Wild animals
or

or
or

or
or

or
Road narrows
Uneven surface
Bump
Dip A38 dip
Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France and Monaco Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
Slippery surface
Loose surface material
Soft or low verges


Ice or snow










Fog




[note 2]
Falling rocks
Crosswinds
Unprotected body of water
or
or
Opening bridge
Tunnel
Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France and Monaco Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
Low-flying aircraft
or
or
or
Trams

Level crossing with barriers ahead
or
Level crossing without barriers ahead
Level crossing (single track)
or
Level crossing (multiple tracks)
or
Roadworks
or
Other danger
Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France and Monaco Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

Prohibitory

[edit]
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France and Monaco Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
No entry
or
[note 3]
No vehicles
No motor vehicles
No motor vehicles except motorcycles without sidecar
No motorcycles
No mopeds
No pedal cycles

[note 4]
No heavy goods vehicles
No buses
No vehicles pulling a trailer
or
or
or

(caravans)
or
or
or
or
or
or
or
or

or
or

(caravans)
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France and Monaco Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
No agricultural vehicles
No animal-drawn vehicles
No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
No vehicles carrying explosives or inflammables




No vehicles carrying water pollutants
Height limit
Width limit
Length limit
or
Weight limit
Weight limit per axle
or
or
or
or
or

or
or


or
or

or

[note 5]
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France and Monaco Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
No stopping
No parking
Restricted parking zone
No overtaking
No overtaking by heavy goods vehicles
No right turn
No left turn
No U-turn
Minimum following distance between vehicles
or
No honking
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France and Monaco Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
No pedestrians
Speed limit
Speed limit zone
or
or


(school zone)
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France and Monaco Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

Mandatory

[edit]
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
Go straight
Turn right
Go straight or turn right
Turn left or right
Roundabout
[note 6]
[note 6]
Keep left / Keep right or or
May pass on either side
Route for vehicles carrying dangerous goods
Minimum speed limit
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
Footpath
Cycle path

[note 4]
Shared pedestrian and cycle path

[note 4]
Segregated pedestrian and cycle path or

[note 4]
Bridle path
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

Special regulations

[edit]
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
One-way traffic
Pedestrian crossing
or
or
or

[note 7]
or
Cycle crossing
Bump
Living street
or
or
Pedestrian zone

or
or
Cycle street
or
Bus lane
Tunnel or or
or

[note 8]
or
or
or
Start of expressway
Start of motorway
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

Indication

[edit]
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
No through road
Hospital
or
 or
or
or
or
[note 9]
or

[note 10]
or
First aid
Bus stop
or

[note 11]
or
 Varying design
Taxi stand
or
or
Parking
or

[note 12]
Parking garage
Lane configuration Varying design Varying design
Escape lane
Emergency lay-by
or
or
or
or
or
or
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
Advisory speed [note 13] [note 13]
National border
or

or
or
National speed limits (Italy)
(San Marino)
European motorway numbers [note 14]
National motorway numbers [note 15] [note 16] [note 16] [note 15] [note 15]
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

De-restriction

[edit]
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
End of speed limit
End of speed limit zone
or


(school zone)
End of no overtaking
End of no overtaking by heavy goods vehicles
End of no honking
End of all previously signed restrictions
End of minimum speed limit
End of cycle path
End of living street
or
or
End of expressway
End of motorway
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

Built-up area limits

[edit]

Under the Vienna Convention the begin and end built-up area signs imply a change between built-up area and rural traffic rules including speed limit. In many European countries the dark background with light coloured text version of the sign is intended for information only.[15] Poland uses white text on a green background (E-17a/E18a) to show the political boundary of a place as information and uses the black on white pictogram version (D-42/D-43) to designate the change of traffic rules.[16]

Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
Entrance to built-up area
or

or

or
or
or
or

or
 [note 17]
or

at traffic calming schemes
or
or
or

or
or
or
or
or
or
 Switzerland:

(main roads)

(minor roads)
Liechtenstein:

(main roads)

(minor roads) 		or
Leaving built-up area
or

or

or
or
or
or

or
at traffic calming schemes
or
or

or
or
or
or
or
or
 Switzerland:[note 18]

(main roads)

(minor roads)
Liechtenstein:

(main roads)

(minor roads) 		or
Entrance to locality
or
 Varying
design
Leaving locality
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain and Andorra Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

Checkpoint signs

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ For mini-roundabouts
  2. ^ Plate below danger sign reads one of either: German: Nebel, French: brouillard, Italian: nebbia
  3. ^ Used with an exceptions supplementary plate.
  4. ^ a b c d Also applies to mopeds with a maximum design speed of 25 km/h.
  5. ^ Also applies to sets of axles not more than 1 metre apart.
  6. ^ a b Mini-roundabouts only.
  7. ^ Always produced on non-urban roads, in urban settings only, if badly visible; mandatory priority given to pedestrians – always applicable on any pedestrian crossings even without sign.
  8. ^ The square tunnel sign is used in advance of and at the entrance of the tunnel. The colour of the tunnel sign containing the tunnel name depends on the classification of the route where it is placed.
  9. ^ Indicates hospital with emergency station open 7/24.
  10. ^ Means only presence of hospital, rest home, or the like. Is an educated indication to be quiet and to drive carefully.
  11. ^ The sign may be rectangular or circular, colours can be varied and the names and logos of bus operators may be added.
  12. ^ The circular sign is used to indicate on-street parking, while the square-shaped sign indicates off-street parking.
  13. ^ a b May only be used with an appropriate warning sign.
  14. ^ European motorway numbers are not signaled in the United Kingdom
  15. ^ a b c Highways in Denmark, Norway and Sweden either use exclusively the European motorway number or a primary route number
  16. ^ a b There are no motorways in Iceland and Moldova.
  17. ^ Green for national roads and white for regional and local roads.
  18. ^ The name above the horizontal line is the name of the next village or town (not the name of the current place), the name(s) below the line mention the next major settlement(s), and optionally, the distance to them.

Sources

[edit]
  • European Standard for Traffic Signs - EN 12899-1:2001 Fixed, Vertical Road Traffic Signs – Part 1: Fixed Signs, Requirements

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Erkut Kırmızıoğlu (2010). Analysis of comprehension of traffic signs: a pilot study in Ankara, Turkey (Master of Science thesis). Middle East Technical University. hdl:11511/20158.
  2. ^ "The rural speed limit sign" (PDF). Department of Transport.
  3. ^ "S.I. No. 618/2024 - Road Traffic (Signs) (Speed limits) Regulations 2024". Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 3 – Regulatory Signs" (PDF). gov.uk. Department for Transport. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Halte- und Parkverbot". Fahrschule Fürböck (in German). Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Межгосударственный стандарт ГОСТ 10807-78 "Знаки дорожные. Общие технические условия" (утв. постановлением Госстандарта СССР 30.08.1978 N 2401) (с изменениями и дополнениями) (не действует) | ГАРАНТ". base.garant.ru. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Скачать ГОСТ 10807-78 Знаки дорожные. Общие технические условия". meganorm.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  8. ^ "СТБ 1140-2013 Технические средства организации дорожного движения. Знаки дорожные. Общие технические условия" (PDF). meganorm.ru (in Russian and Belarusian). Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  9. ^ "ГОСТ Р 52290-2004 Технические средства организации дорожного движения. Знаки дорожные. Общие технические требования (с Поправками, с Изменениями N 1, 2, 3)". docs.cntd.ru. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  10. ^ Bovtko, Sergiy (11 June 2020). "Нові дорожні знаки. Навіщо вони з'явилися і що буде далі?" (in Ukrainian). Auto RIA. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  11. ^ "ДСТУ 4100:2021 Безпека дорожнього руху" (PDF). zakon.isu.net.ua (in Ukrainian). 14 September 2022.
  12. ^ Österman, Tuomas; Miettinen, Saija; Ronkainen, Kaisa (2005). "Opastusmerkkien luettavuus" [Readability of guidance signs] (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Tiehallinto. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  13. ^ "KÖZÚTI JELZŐTÁBLÁK (Y) A FELIRATOK BETŰI, SZÁMJEGYEI ÉS ÍRÁSJELEI". Magyar Közút (in Hungarian). Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  14. ^ Obwieszczenie Ministra Infrastruktury z dnia 9 września 2019 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu rozporządzenia Ministra Infrastruktury w sprawie szczegółowych warunków technicznych dla znaków i sygnałów drogowych oraz urządzeń bezpieczeństwa ruchu drogowego i warunków ich umieszczania na drogach [Announcement of the Minister of Infrastructure of 9 September 2019 on the publication of the uniform text of the Minister of Infrastructure regulation on detailed technical conditions for road signs and signals as well as road safety devices and conditions for their placement on roads], Dz. U., 2019, No. 2311
  15. ^ "Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals - unece" (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Rozporządzenie Ministrów Infrastruktury oraz Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji z dnia 31 lipca 2002 r. w sprawie znaków i sygnałów drogowych". Polish Parliament. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
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