Comparison of European road signs

Example of a Swiss sign

Despite an apparent uniformity and standardisation, European traffic signs present relevant differences between countries. However most European countries refer to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals — adopted in Europe by Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey[1] and Ukraine. The convention has not been adopted in Ireland, Moldova, Spain, and the UK.

Differences between European traffic signs

The main differences relate to

Graphic differences

Different typefaces in texts

These are incomplete. You can help by adding missing countries or fonts.

Different colour codes

Warning signs

Road works/construction

Motorways

Primary roads/Expressways

Secondary roads

Differences in meanings

Table of traffic signs comparison

Priority

 
Austria


Belgium


Czech
Republic


Denmark


Estonia


Finland


France


Germany


Greece


Hungary


Iceland


Ireland


Italy


Netherlands


Norway


Poland




Russia
&
Belarus


Slovakia


Spain


Sweden


Switzerland


Turkey


Ukraine


United
Kingdom

Give Way
or
Stop
Priority road NOT
USED
NOT
USED
End of priority road NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Give way to oncoming traffic NOT
USED

Priority over oncoming vehicles NOT
USED

Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom

Warning

  Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom
Give Way ahead

















Stop ahead















Traffic signals ahead
or
Roundabout ahead NOT
USED
NOT
USED

or
Two-way traffic ahead
or

or

or
Traffic queues likely ahead NOT
USED

Level crossing without barriers ahead NOT
USED
Level crossing with barriers ahead
[nb 1]
NOT
USED

or
Level crossing NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Level crossing (multiple tracks) NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom
Tram crossing NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Crossroads with priority to the right NOT
USED
[nb 2] NOT
USED

[nb 3]
Crossroads with a minor road
Junction with a minor side road NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Road narrows on both sides
Road narrows
Dangerous crosswinds
Low-flying aircraft
or

or

or
Steep descent

Steep ascent NOT
USED


Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom
Road bump NOT
USED
Uneven road ahead
Curve
Double curve
Slippery road surface
Loose road surface
Children
Pedestrian crossing ahead
or
Cyclists
Falling rocks or debris NOT
USED
Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom
Caution, fog likely
Opening or swing bridge NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Unprotected quayside or riverbank NOT
USED

or

or

or
Domestic animals
Wild animals
Tunnel ahead NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Accident area / accident ahead NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED

NOT
USED

NOT
USED
NOT
USED

NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED



Roadworks ahead
Other danger
Other danger (temporary) NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom

Prohibitory

  Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom
Road closed to all vehicles in both directions NOT
USED
No entry for vehicular traffic
or
No motor vehicles NOT
USED
No motor vehicles except motorcycles NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
No motorcycles NOT
USED
No bicycles
No pedestrians
No heavy goods vehicles
No tractors NOT
USED
NOT
USED
No horns or motor noise NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom
No overtaking
No overtaking by heavy goods vehicles NOT
USED
Maximum speed limit
Speed limit zone

or
Maximum height
Maximum width
Maximum vehicle length
or

or
Maximum weight
or
Maximum weight per axle NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Maximum weight per tandem axle NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom
No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
or
NOT
USED
No vehicles carrying dangerous water pollutants NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
No vehicles carrying explosives NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED

NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED

NOT
USED

Minimum safe following distance between vehicles NOT
USED

or
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
No right turn NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
No left turn NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
No U-turn NOT
USED
No parking
No stopping and parking
End of prohibition (overtaking used as an example)

Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom

Mandatory

  Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom
Proceed straight
(no turns)
NOT
USED
Turn right NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Turn right ahead NOT
USED
Proceed straight or turn right NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Pass on this side
or

or
Pass on either side
Roundabout
Mandatory direction for vehicles carrying dangerous goods NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Minimum speed limit NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Bicycles only
Pedestrians only
Equestrian path NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom

Special regulations

  Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom
One-way street NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Pedestrian crossing
or

or
NOT
USED
Living street NOT
USED

or
Limited-access road NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Motorway NOT
USED
Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom

Indication

  Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom
No through road
or
Hospital NOT
USED

or

or
First aid NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Pharmacy NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Bus stop NOT
USED

Front:

or

Rear:

or

or
[nb 4]
Tunnel NOT
USED
NOT
USED

or
NOT
USED
Parking place
Entering built-up area
or
or or or
Leaving built-up area
or
or or or
Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom

Border Crossings

  Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom
Schengen Area
or

or
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
National speed limits

or
(Northern Ireland)
Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom

Checkpoints

  Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom
Customs
or
NOT
USED
NOT
USED

or

or

or
NOT
USED
Police NOT
USED

or
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED

or
Toll
or
NOT
USED
NOT
USED

or
NOT
USED
NOT
USED

or
NOT
USED
Other Control NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
NOT
USED
Austria Belgium Czech
Republic
Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Russia
&
Belarus
Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United
Kingdom

Notes

  1. This sign is being phased out by 2019, and being replaced by the previous sign."German Traffic Signs & Signals". January 28, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-12-07. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  2. In the Netherlands, this sign means "Dangerous crossroads"
  3. There is no "priority to the right" (or left) rule in the United Kingdom.
  4. In the Netherlands, the first one is always used because otherwise it wouldn't be an official bus stop. The bottom one is sometimes used to inform drivers a bus stop is coming up, mostly outside the built-up area.

See also

References

  1. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12612722/index.pdf
  2. Österman, Tuomas; Miettinen, Saija; Ronkainen, Kaisa (2005). "Opastusmerkkien luettavuus" (PDF). Helsinki: Tiehallinto. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  3. Útügyi műszaki előírás, e-ÚT 04.02.12.
  4. "Traffic Type Spain D - Desktop font « MyFonts". Myfonts.com. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  5. http://www.fuerboeck.at/verkehrsrecht/verkehrszeichen/hinweis/wegweiser-lokal/

External links

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