Road signs in Portugal

Example of a modern Portuguese road with its vertical signposting

Road signs in Portugal are governed by the Regulamento de Sinalização do Trânsito (Road Signage Regulation) of the Portuguese Republic.

They are installed along the road on the right side of the road and are subdivided into warning signs (group A), regulatory signs (groups B-D), subdivided into priority, prohibition, obligation and specific prescription signs, indication signs (groups H-T), subdivided into information signs, pre-signalling, direction, confirmation, location identification, supplementary signs, additional signs and temporary signs (groups AT and TC).

The typefaces used on road signs are derived from the British Transport and Motorway typefaces. Portugal is an original signatory to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.

Warning signs

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  Dangerous curve to right
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  Dangerous curve to left
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  Double curve, first to right
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  Double curve, first to left
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  Bump
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  Dip
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  Uneven road
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  Steep hill downwards
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  Steep hill upwards
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  Road narrows on both side
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  Road narrows on left
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  Road narrows on right
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  Slippery road
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  Loose chippings
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  Dangerous shoulder on right
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  Dangerous shoulder on left
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  Unprotected quayside or riverbank ahead
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  Falling rocks
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  Opening or swing bridge
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  Ice or snow
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  Sidewinds
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  Reduce visibility
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  Children
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  Elderly people crossing
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  Pedestrian crossing
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  Pedestrians
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  Cyclists
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  Equestrians
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  Domestic livestock
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  Wild animals
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  Tunnel
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  Low-flying aircraft
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  Traffic signals ahead
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  Roadworks
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  Crossroad without priority
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  Two-way traffic
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  Level crossing with gates or barriers
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  Level crossing without gates or barriers
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  Tramway
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  Other dangers
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  Traffic queues likely
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  Accident
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  Blind spot
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  Farm machinery

Priority signs

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  Give way
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  Stop
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  Priority road
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  End of priority road
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  Priority for oncoming traffic
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  Priority over oncoming traffic
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  Roundabout ahead
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  Crossroad with priority
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  Side road with priority on left
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  Side road with priority on right
• 
  Merging traffic on left
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  Merging traffic on right

Prohibition signs

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  No entry
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  No vehicles both directions
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  No motor vehicles
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  No dangerous good
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  No lorries
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  No lorries over 3.5 tonnes
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  No motorcycles or mopeds
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  No mopeds
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  No cycles or mopeds
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  No agricultural vehicles
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  No animal-drawn vehicles
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  No hand-carts
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  No pedestrians
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  No equestrians
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  No trailers
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  No trailers over 2 tons
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  No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
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  No vehicles carrying explosives
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  No vehicles carrying polluted water
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  No buses
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  No motor vehicles
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  No lorries and trailers
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  No motor vehicles and animal-drawn vehicles
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  No trucks and animal-drawn vehicles
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  No pedestrians, mopeds, animals, and handcarts
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  No bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles
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  No trucks and buses
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  Axle limit
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  Weight limit
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  Length limit
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  Width limit
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  Height limit
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  Driving vehicles distance
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  No right turn
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  No left turn
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  No U-turn
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  Maximum speed limit
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  No overtaking
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  No overtaking by lorries
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  No overtaking by motorcycles
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  No parking
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  No standing or parking
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  No hooting
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  Customs
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  Toll
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  National speed limit
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  End of maximum speed limit
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  End of overtaking prohibition
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  End of overtaking by lorries prohibition
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  End of no overtaking by motorcycles
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  End of no parking
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  End of hooting prohibition

Mandatory signs

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  Turn right
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  Turn left
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  Straight ahead
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  Turn left ahead
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  Turn right ahead
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  Straight ahead or turn left
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  Straight ahead or turn right
• 
  Turn left or right
• 
  Pass on right
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  Pass on left
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  Roundabout
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  Trucks only
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  Heavy vehicles only
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  Buses only
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  Cycles only
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  Pedestrians only
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  Equestrians only
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  Domesticated animals only
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  Pedestrians and cycles only
• 
  Pedestrians to the right and cycles to the left
• 
  Minimum speed limit
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  Snow chains on tires
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  Headlights on
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  End of trucks only
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  End of heavy vehicles only
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  End of buses only
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  End of bicycles only
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  End of pedestrians only
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  End of equestrians only
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  End of domesticated animals only
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  End of pedestrians and cycles only
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  End of pedestrians to the right and cycles to the left
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  End of minimum speed limit
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  End of snow chains on tires
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  Headlights off

Information signs

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  Parking
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  Hospital
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  One way
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  No thru road
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  Advisory speed limit
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  Pedestrian crossing
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  Bus stop
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  Tram stop
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  Motorway
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  Expressway
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  Escape lane
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  U-turn permitted
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  General speed limit
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  Tunnel
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  Living street
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  Chevron left/right
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  Multiple chevron left/right
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  Curve to the (T)
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  Barrier

Additional signs

• 
  Distance
• 
  Distance for stop sign

Influences

• Angola largely shares similar road signage designs used in Portugal alongside SADC-issued road signs which made them transitional in nature.
• Yemen largely shares similar road signage designs used in Portugal—except those languages used are bilingual (Arabic and English) and have different symbols (e.g. camels, mosques, sand dunes, date palms, crescents).

Indication signs

Information signs

Portuguese sign	Meaning	Specs
100px	Direction on the road being traveled	It indicates the directions you will reach along the road you are driving on; it is located above the roadway.
100px	Direction of exit	Indicates the directions you will reach when you leave the road you are driving on; it is located above the roadway.
100px	Lateral direction	Indicate the directions of the next intersection.
100px	Lane Usage	Indicates traffic restrictions and maximum speeds that must be maintained in the lanes of the road on which you are traveling..
100px	No parking zone	Indicates the beginning of a zone where parking is prohibited..
100px	Agrotourism	Agrotourism
100px	Hostel-motel	Hostel-motel
100px	Bus Stop	Indicates where a bus stop is
100px	Airport	Indicates that there is an airport near by
100px	Information post	Indicates the presence of a tourism information post
100px	Radio Frequency	Shows you a radio frequency
100px	Highway	Indicates the start of a highway
100px	General Speed limits	Indicates the general speed limits of the state, valid for passenger cars and motorcycles. It is located near the borders.
100px 100px	Border with a country of the European Union	Indicates a boarder with a country of the European Union
100px	Via verde	Indicates lane equipped with electronic toll system called "Vía verde".

Pre-signaling sign

Portuguese sign	Meaning	Specs
100px	Pre-signaling sign for direction on the roads at certain distances	indicates the directions that can be reached at the next intersection taking suburban roads.
100px	Directions at the roundabout	Indicates the addresses that can be reached at the next intersection regulated by roundabout traffic
100px	Pre-signaling sign for directions on the road being traveled	Indicates the addresses that can be reached at the next intersection along urban roads.
100px	Guide to the left turn point	Indicates the maneuver to be performed for the left turn at the next intersection.
100px 100px	Dead end	Indicates that the path indicated by the sign you are about to take is a dead end.

Direction, confirmation and location signs

Portuguese Sign	Meaning	Specs
100px	Direction at the intersection	Indicates the addresses that can be reached at the intersection.
100px	Directions via the airport/aerodrome	Indicates the direction to follow to get to the airport/aerodrome.
100px	Tourist attractions/points of intrest	Indicates the direction to follow to reach a point of tourist interest.
100px	Directions(Urban)	Indicates the directions that can be taken on an urban road.
100px	Direction confirmation sign	Indicates the distance to the city centre of several cities following the road.
100px	Start of locality	It indicates the beginning of the city/town.
100px	End of locality	It indicates the end of the city/town.
100px	Start of locality (World Heritage Site)	It marks the beginning of an urban centre with World Heritage status.
100px	End of locality (World Heritage Site)	It indicates the end of an urban centre with World Heritage status.
100px	Panel with distance for the next exit	Indicates that the start of the motorway exit that was previously indicated is located 750, 500 and 250 metres away. They are installed on the right side of the road
100px	River	Indicates the name of a river when passing over it