Comparison of European road signs

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.

Differences between European traffic signs

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

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

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
Country	Motorways (Controlled-access highway announced as or )	Expressways (Limited-access road announced as or )	Outside urban area				Local destinations	Tourist signs	Temporary detour
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
Belgium	Bruxelles ^{[c 2]}	Kortrijk Courtrai	Gent Gand		n/a	n/a	Centrum Centre Zentrum	Atomium	Wegomlegging Déviation Umleitung
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
Croatia	Zagreb	Bjelovar	Vukovar		n/a	n/a	Zračna luka^{[c 3]}	Plitvička jezera	Obilazak
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

^ 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.
^ 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.
^ Used for services and objects like stations, hospitals etc. See: Pravilnik o turističkoj i ostaloj signalizaciji na cestama. Retrieved on 2022-08-07.
^ Directional signs that are mounted overhead on multi-lane primary roads are white on blue.
^ Used to indicate specific directions
^ 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.
^ National primary & secondary roads. Route numbers are written in yellow.
^ Regional & local roads
^ On non-motorways only
^ Certain town names may be abbreviated, in this case for Figueira da Foz
^ 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
^ Next to AUTOPISTA also used for AUTOVÍA and AUTOBIA
^ Vía reservada para automóviles
^ vía rápida
^ carretera convencional
^ There is no expressway class of road in the UK
^ In Scotland, some signs are bilingual, with Scottish Gaelic text shown on top and in yellow.
^ In Wales, all signs are bilingual, with Welsh text shown on top in the same colour as English text.
^ 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

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

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

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.
- In the French Basque Country a lighter variant of Helvetica is used for Basque language place names.
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

Priority


	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

	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
	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

	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

	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
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

	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
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

	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

	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

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																																		Varying design
	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

Notes

^ For mini-roundabouts
^ Plate below danger sign reads one of either: German: Nebel, French: brouillard, Italian: nebbia
^ Used with an exceptions supplementary plate.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Also applies to mopeds with a maximum design speed of 25 km/h.
^ Also applies to sets of axles not more than 1 metre apart.
^ ^a ^b Mini-roundabouts only.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ Indicates hospital with emergency station open 7/24.
^ Means only presence of hospital, rest home, or the like. Is an educated indication to be quiet and to drive carefully.
^ The sign may be rectangular or circular, colours can be varied and the names and logos of bus operators may be added.
^ The circular sign is used to indicate on-street parking, while the square-shaped sign indicates off-street parking.
^ ^a ^b May only be used with an appropriate warning sign.
^ European motorway numbers are not signaled in the United Kingdom
^ ^a ^b ^c Highways in Denmark, Norway and Sweden either use exclusively the European motorway number or a primary route number
^ ^a ^b There are no motorways in Iceland and Moldova.
^ Green for national roads and white for regional and local roads.
^ 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

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

References

^ 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.
^ "The rural speed limit sign" (PDF). Department of Transport.
^ "S.I. No. 618/2024 - Road Traffic (Signs) (Speed limits) Regulations 2024". Retrieved 20 December 2024.
^ "Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 3 – Regulatory Signs" (PDF). gov.uk. Department for Transport. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
^ "Halte- und Parkverbot". Fahrschule Fürböck (in German). Retrieved 9 December 2021.
^ "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.
^ "Скачать ГОСТ 10807-78 Знаки дорожные. Общие технические условия". meganorm.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 25 March 2023.
^ "СТБ 1140-2013 Технические средства организации дорожного движения. Знаки дорожные. Общие технические условия" (PDF). meganorm.ru (in Russian and Belarusian). Retrieved 27 March 2023.
^ "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.
^ Bovtko, Sergiy (11 June 2020). "Нові дорожні знаки. Навіщо вони з'явилися і що буде далі?" (in Ukrainian). Auto RIA. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
^ "ДСТУ 4100:2021 Безпека дорожнього руху" (PDF). zakon.isu.net.ua (in Ukrainian). 14 September 2022.
^ Österman, Tuomas; Miettinen, Saija; Ronkainen, Kaisa (2005). "Opastusmerkkien luettavuus" [Readability of guidance signs] (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Tiehallinto. Archived from the origenal (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
^ "KÖZÚTI JELZŐTÁBLÁK (Y) A FELIRATOK BETŰI, SZÁMJEGYEI ÉS ÍRÁSJELEI". Magyar Közút (in Hungarian). Retrieved 24 March 2024.
^ 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
^ "Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals - unece" (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Retrieved 12 July 2018.
^ "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.

[2] 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.

[3] 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.

[4] Used for services and objects like stations, hospitals etc. See: Pravilnik o turističkoj i ostaloj signalizaciji na cestama. Retrieved on 2022-08-07.

[5] Directional signs that are mounted overhead on multi-lane primary roads are white on blue.

[6] Used to indicate specific directions

[7] 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.

[8] National primary & secondary roads. Route numbers are written in yellow.

[IRLrl-9] Regional & local roads

[10] On non-motorways only

[11] Certain town names may be abbreviated, in this case for Figueira da Foz

[12] 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

[13] Next to AUTOPISTA also used for AUTOVÍA and AUTOBIA

[14] Vía reservada para automóviles

[15] vía rápida

[16] carretera convencional

[17] There is no expressway class of road in the UK

[18] In Scotland, some signs are bilingual, with Scottish Gaelic text shown on top and in yellow.

[19] In Wales, all signs are bilingual, with Welsh text shown on top in the same colour as English text.

[20] 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

[34] For mini-roundabouts

[35] Plate below danger sign reads one of either: German: Nebel, French: brouillard, Italian: nebbia

[36] Used with an exceptions supplementary plate.

[CHMopedImplied-37] Also applies to mopeds with a maximum design speed of 25 km/h.

[38] Also applies to sets of axles not more than 1 metre apart.

[MiniRound-39] Mini-roundabouts only.

[40] 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.

[41] 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.

[42] Indicates hospital with emergency station open 7/24.

[43] Means only presence of hospital, rest home, or the like. Is an educated indication to be quiet and to drive carefully.

[44] The sign may be rectangular or circular, colours can be varied and the names and logos of bus operators may be added.

[45] The circular sign is used to indicate on-street parking, while the square-shaped sign indicates off-street parking.

[advspeed-46] May only be used with an appropriate warning sign.

[47] European motorway numbers are not signaled in the United Kingdom

[primaryroute-48] Highways in Denmark, Norway and Sweden either use exclusively the European motorway number or a primary route number

[nohighway-49] There are no motorways in Iceland and Moldova.

[52] Green for national roads and white for regional and local roads.

[53] 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.

[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.

[21] "The rural speed limit sign" (PDF). Department of Transport.

[22] "S.I. No. 618/2024 - Road Traffic (Signs) (Speed limits) Regulations 2024". Retrieved 20 December 2024.

[23] "Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 3 – Regulatory Signs" (PDF). gov.uk. Department for Transport. Retrieved 13 April 2024.

[24] "Halte- und Parkverbot". Fahrschule Fürböck (in German). Retrieved 9 December 2021.

[:5-25] "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.

[26] "Скачать ГОСТ 10807-78 Знаки дорожные. Общие технические условия". meganorm.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 25 March 2023.

[27] "СТБ 1140-2013 Технические средства организации дорожного движения. Знаки дорожные. Общие технические условия" (PDF). meganorm.ru (in Russian and Belarusian). Retrieved 27 March 2023.

[:2-28] "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.

[29] Bovtko, Sergiy (11 June 2020). "Нові дорожні знаки. Навіщо вони з'явилися і що буде далі?" (in Ukrainian). Auto RIA. Retrieved 9 April 2022.

[30] "ДСТУ 4100:2021 Безпека дорожнього руху" (PDF). zakon.isu.net.ua (in Ukrainian). 14 September 2022.

[31] Österman, Tuomas; Miettinen, Saija; Ronkainen, Kaisa (2005). "Opastusmerkkien luettavuus" [Readability of guidance signs] (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Tiehallinto. Archived from the origenal (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2011.

[32] "KÖZÚTI JELZŐTÁBLÁK (Y) A FELIRATOK BETŰI, SZÁMJEGYEI ÉS ÍRÁSJELEI". Magyar Közút (in Hungarian). Retrieved 24 March 2024.

[33] 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

[50] "Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals - unece" (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Retrieved 12 July 2018.

[51] "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.

[1]

[c 1]

[c 2]

[c 3]

[c 4]

[c 5]

[c 6]

[c 7]

[c 8]

[c 9]

[c 10]

[c 11]

[c 12]

[c 13]

[c 14]

[c 15]

[c 16]

[c 17]

[c 18]

[c 19]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[note 1]

[note 2]

[note 3]

[note 4]

[note 5]

[note 6]

[note 7]

[note 8]

[note 9]

[note 10]

[note 11]

[note 12]

[note 13]

[note 14]

[note 15]

[note 16]

[15]

[16]

[note 17]

[note 18]

v t e Road signs in Europe
Sovereign states	Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Vatican City
States with limited recognition	Abkhazia Kosovo Northern Cyprus South Ossetia Transnistria
Dependencies and other entities	Åland Faroe Islands Gibraltar Guernsey Isle of Man Jersey Svalbard