Comparison of MUTCD-influenced traffic signs

Most road signs used by countries in the Americas are generally influenced by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), first released in 1935, reflecting the influence of the United States throughout the region.[1] Other non-American countries using road signs similar to the MUTCD include Australia, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, and New Zealand. They are also the only countries listed here which drive on the left.

There are also a number of American signatories to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals: Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, and Venezuela. Of those, only Chile, Cuba, and Guyana have ratified the treaty; nonetheless, nearly all countries in the Americas use MUTCD-style yellow diamond warning signs.

It is also worth noting that, unlike in Europe, considerable variation within road sign designs can exist within nations, especially in multilingual areas. A notable example of this is Quebec, which uses a substantially different symbology than the rest of Canada.

Trilingual stop sign in Mistissini, Quebec, Canada. Languages are Cree, English, and French.

Differences between MUTCD-influenced traffic signs

The main differences between traffic signs influenced by the MUTCD relate to:

Languages

Below is a table of the main languages used. Note that in non-English speaking countries, English is frequently included on signs near airports and tourist areas.

        Canada
Argentina Australia Brazil Anglophone Canada
Quebec
Chile Colombia Indonesia Ireland Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Panama Peru Philippines United States Uruguay
Drives on the… Right Left Right Right Right Right Right Left Left Left Left Right Left Right Right Right Right Right
Primary language Spanish English Portuguese English French Spanish Spanish Indonesian Gaelic and
English[2]
Japanese Malay Spanish English Spanish Spanish English English Spanish
Secondary language(s)
  • English
    On guide signs in and around popular tourist areas.
Typical typeface(s) Helvetica FHWA FHWA (modified) Clearview, FHWA
(varies by province)
Clearview,
formerly FHWA
FHWA Helvetica Clearview, formerly FHWA Transport 新ゴ (Shingo) (Japanese),
Vialog (English)
FHWA (modified) FHWA FHWA Helvetica FHWA (modified) Clearview,
formerly FHWA
FHWA, Clearview
(varies by state)
Helvetica

Differences in units

Road sign used in British Columbia, Canada, near the American border to remind drivers that Canada uses the metric system.
Note that the imperial speed limit (left) is shown using a Canadian-style sign, rather than an MUTCD-standard one as would be used in the US

Color differences

Warning signs

Countries in yellow use MUTCD-style diamond warning signs. Click for large image and detailed info key.

Road works and construction

Regulatory signs

Mandatory or permitted-action signs

Various color schemes for mandatory signs. Click for large image and detailed info key.

Highway and wayfinding signs

Gallery of Guide Signs

Table of traffic signs comparison

Warning

 
Argentina
 

Australia
 

Brazil
 

Canada
 

Canada -
Ontario

Canada -
Quebec

Chile
 

Colombia
 

Indonesia
 

Ireland
 

Japan
 

Malaysia
 

Mexico
 

New Zealand
 

Panama
 

Peru
 

Philippines
 

USA
(Graphical and textual—
used interchangeably)

Uruguay
 
Stop ahead ?
Not used
Yield ahead ? ?
Not used ?
Traffic signals ahead
or
Roundabout ahead
or

[lower-alpha 1]
Two-way traffic ahead Not used
Uncontrolled railroad crossing ahead
or
Level railroad crossing with barriers ahead
[lower-alpha 2]

[lower-alpha 2]

[lower-alpha 2]

[lower-alpha 2]

or

or

[lower-alpha 2]

or

[lower-alpha 2]

[lower-alpha 2]
Tram / streetcar crossing Not used Not used N/A
[lower-alpha 3]
N/A
[lower-alpha 3]
N/A
[lower-alpha 3]
Not used Not used N/A
[lower-alpha 3]
N/A
[lower-alpha 3]
N/A
[lower-alpha 3]
N/A
[lower-alpha 3]

[lower-alpha 4]
Railroad crossbuck Not used Not used
Level crossing (multiple tracks)

Not used Not used
Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Canada
(Ontario)
Canada
(Quebec)
Chile Colombia Indonesia Ireland Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Panama Peru Philippines USA Uruguay
Crossroads ahead
Junction with a side road ahead
Traffic merges ahead
Divided highway ahead ? Not used ?
Divided highway ends ? ? Not used ? ?
Lane ends ahead
Road narrows ahead
Narrow bridge ahead ? Not used
Dangerous crosswinds ? ? ? ? ? ?
[lower-alpha 5]
Low-flying aircraft ? ? ? ? ?
Steep hill downwards
Steep hill upwards Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used ? Not used
Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Canada
(Ontario)
Canada
(Quebec)
Chile Colombia Indonesia Ireland Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Panama Peru Philippines USA Uruguay
Uneven surface ?
Bump in road
Dip in road ? Not used Not used ? ?
Slippery road surface
Loose road surface
[lower-alpha 6]

[lower-alpha 6]

[lower-alpha 6]

[lower-alpha 6]

[lower-alpha 6]
? Not used ?
Pavement ends ? ? ? ? Not used Not used ?
Gentle curve ahead
Sharp curve ahead
Double curve ahead
Series of curves ahead
Hairpin curve ahead ? ?
(B.C.)
? ? ? Not used Not used
Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Canada
(Ontario)
Canada
(Quebec)
Chile Colombia Indonesia Ireland Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Panama Peru Philippines USA Uruguay
School zone
or

or

or


or
Children / playground ahead
Pedestrians / crossing ahead ?
or

or
Not used
or
Pedestrian crossing
or

or


Cyclists crossing ? ?
Falling rocks or debris
[lower-alpha 5]
Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Canada
(Ontario)
Canada
(Quebec)
Chile Colombia Indonesia Ireland Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Panama Peru Philippines USA Uruguay
Opening or swing bridge ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Emergency vehicles ? ? ? ? Not used Not used Not used ?
Farm vehicles ? Not used Not used ? Not used
Domestic animals ?
Wild animals ? ? ? ?
Equestrians ? ? ? Not used ? ? ? ? Not used
Tunnel ahead ? ? ? ? ? Not used Not used ? ? ? ?
Height restriction ahead Not used Not used ? ? Not used
Width restriction ahead Not used Not used Not used
[lower-alpha 6]
Not used Not used ? Not used Not used Not used
Weight restriction ahead Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used ? Not used ? ? Not used ?
Roadworks
[lower-alpha 6]
?
or

or

or
? ? ?
Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Canada
(Ontario)
Canada
(Quebec)
Chile Colombia Indonesia Ireland Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Panama Peru Philippines USA Uruguay

Regulatory

 
Argentina
 

Australia
 

Brazil
 

Canada
 

Canada -
Ontario

Canada -
Quebec

Chile
 

Colombia
 

Indonesia
 

Ireland
 

Japan
 

Malaysia
 

Mexico
 

New Zealand
 

Panama
 

Peru
 

Philippines
 

USA
 

Uruguay
 
Stop
Yield / Give Way
or
Yield to oncoming traffic ? Not used Not used ? ? ?
No entry
or

or

or

or
Road closed ?
or
? ? ? Not used ? ? ? ?
Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Canada
(Ontario)
Canada
(Quebec)
Chile Colombia Indonesia Ireland Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Panama Peru Philippines USA Uruguay
No motor vehicles ? ? ?
No motorcycles ? Not used ?
No bicycles
No pedestrians
No heavy goods vehicles ?
Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Canada
(Ontario)
Canada
(Quebec)
Chile Colombia Indonesia Ireland Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Panama Peru Philippines USA Uruguay
Maximum speed limit
(B.C., Yukon)

(rest of
Canada)

[lower-alpha 7]
Minimum speed limit ? ? Not used Not used Not used ? Not used ? ? [lower-alpha 7] ?
Speed restriction ends Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used ? ? ?
Maximum height
Maximum width Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used
Maximum weight ?
Maximum weight per axle ? ? ? Not used ? ? ?
Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Canada
(Ontario)
Canada
(Quebec)
Chile Colombia Indonesia Ireland Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Panama Peru Philippines USA Uruguay
No left turn Not used
[lower-alpha 8]
No right turn Not used
[lower-alpha 8]
No U-turn
No parking
No stopping
No overtaking ?
and

[lower-alpha 9]

and

[lower-alpha 9]

[lower-alpha 9]
Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Canada
(Ontario)
Canada
(Quebec)
Chile Colombia Indonesia Ireland Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Panama Peru Philippines USA Uruguay

Mandatory or permitted actions

 
Argentina
 

Australia
 

Brazil
 

Canada
 

Canada -
Ontario

Canada -
Quebec

Chile
 

Colombia
 

Indonesia
 

Ireland
 

Japan
 

Malaysia
 

Mexico
 

New Zealand
 

Panama
 

Peru
 

Philippines
 

USA
 

Uruguay
 
Proceed
straight
(no turns)
Not used
[lower-alpha 10]
Not used Not used ?
Turn right
ahead
Not used
[lower-alpha 10]
Not used ?
Proceed
straight
or right
Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used ? Not used Not used Not used Not used
Turn right ? ?
Keep right
(or left)
Pass on
either side
Not used ?
Roundabout
entrance
Not used
Overtaking
permitted
[lower-alpha 11]

?

or
? ? ? ? ?
Shared use path ? ? ? ? ? ?
Bicycles only ?
Transit only ? ? ? ? ? ?
Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Canada
(Ontario)
Canada
(Quebec)
Chile Colombia Indonesia Ireland Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Panama Peru Philippines USA Uruguay

Other (indication)

 
Argentina
 

Australia
 

Brazil
 

Canada
 

Canada -
Ontario

Canada -
Quebec

Chile
 

Colombia
 

Indonesia
 

Ireland
 

Japan
 

Malaysia
 

Mexico
 

New Zealand
 

Panama
 

Peru
 

Philippines
 

USA
 

Uruguay
 
One-way
street
Not used
Two-way
traffic
Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used
Freeway begins ? Not used Not used Not used ? Not used ?
or
?
Freeway ends ? ? Not used ? ? ? ?
Dead end
or
? ? Not used ? ? ?
Parking zone
or

or

or

or

or

or

or
Bus stop ? ? ? ?
Train station ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Airport ? Not used ? ? ?
Hospital Not used ? ?
Customs
post
N/A
[lower-alpha 12]
Not used Not used
Not used N/A
[lower-alpha 12]
? N/A
[lower-alpha 12]
? Not used
National
highway
shield(s)












?

Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Canada
(Ontario)
Canada
(Quebec)
Chile Colombia Indonesia Ireland Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Panama Peru Philippines USA Uruguay

See also

Notes

  1. In the US, "roundabout" and "traffic circle" are used interchangeably, along with "rotary". See Roundabout terminology.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 No distinction between controlled and uncontrolled railroad crossings is made.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 There are no operating tram or streetcar systems in this jurisdiction.
  4. Used in California only. Shared grade tram or streetcar crossings are typically unsigned in other jurisdictions.
  5. 1 2 Text varies.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Temporary use only.
  7. 1 2 The metric version of the sign is not in general use—it is included to show the use of the more internationally recognized circle used in speed limit signs. One example of use is on the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, north of the Canadian border but south of Canada Customs.
  8. 1 2 Japan only uses mandatory signs to indicate movement:
  9. 1 2 3 Pennant signs are placed facing traffic in the passing lane, i.e. on the left side of the road for right-hand driving countries. They are used in conjunction with standard-shaped signs placed facing traffic in the travel lane, i.e. on the right side of the road.
  10. 1 2 Ontario only uses prohibitory signs to indicate movement:
  11. In many jurisdictions, "Overtaking Permitted" is indicated solely through a change in road markings, eg. a solid center line changing to a dashed center line. In such jurisdictions, signs in this category are only posted in locations where a change in road markings is deemed insufficient notice for drivers. This is in contrast to "No Overtaking" signs, which are almost always posted alongside changes in road markings to indicate the end of an overtaking zone.
  12. 1 2 3 This country has no land borders.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, May 03, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.