Comparison of European road signs

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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, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine (except for Moldova, Spain, Ireland, and the UK).

Differences between European traffic signs

Main differences are related to

graphic differences
differences in meanings
the use of a different colour-code scheme
local language texts (sometimes bilingual)

Graphic differences

Warning signs in Ireland have a diamond shape with a yellow background in place of the standard triangular shape. This sign type is common to North America, Oceania, and some Asian countries, but is not found elsewhere in Europe.
Many pictograms (tunnel, pedestrian, car, etc.) are quite different in many countries.
Type of arrows may be different.
Fonts of written words

Different typefaces in texts

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

Austria uses the TERN font. In the past, Austria used until 2010 the "Austria Mittelschrift and Engschrift fonts.
Belarus uses the Micig font
Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, and Serbia use the SNV font. Switzerland used this font until 2003.
Cyprus, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom use the Transport font. (Motorway font is used on United Kingdom motorways)
Denmark uses the Dansk Vejtavleskrift font. The font is a derival from the Transport font.
Estonia and Moldova uses the Arial Narrow Bold in mixture with Helvetica font.
France uses the Caractères font.
Germany and Czech Republic use the DIN 1451 font.
Greece used a modified version of the transport font and uses nowadays a modified version of DIN 1451.
Hungary does not use any predefined typeface as the letters are defined one-by-one in the national regulation. The font resembles the DIN 1451 font closely.^[1]
Luxembourg uses the Arial (Bold), Caractères Italic and the SNV font, often disordly.
Italy and Spain use the Alfabeto normale or Carretera font (with in Italy also the narrow variant Alfabeto stretto).
Spain, Turkey, and Ukraine use the FHWA font.
Netherlands use a derival from the FHWA font: ANWB/RWS Cc (narrow), Dd (medium) and Ee (wide).
Norway uses the Trafikkalfabetet font.
Poland uses the Drogowskaz font.
Russia and Belarus use the font accordance to ГОСТ 10807-78 (with addition of ГОСТ Р 52290-2004), but Arial Cyr Bold font also allowed to use.
Slovakia uses the Universal Grotesk font.
Sweden uses the Tratex font.
Switzerland uses the Frutiger font.

Different colour codes

Warning signs

In most European countries, it is indicated by red borders and a white background.
An amber background is used in Sweden, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Finland, Iceland, the Republic of Macedonia, and Poland (in some other countries it means a provisional road work sign).
- Also, the yield sign/give way sign in Sweden, Serbia, Croatia, Finland, and Poland has a yellow background.

Road works/construction

Many countries normally have adopted an orange or amber background.
A yellow background is used in France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, and Romania.

Motorways

White texts on a blue background is used in Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
White texts on a green background is used in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Primary roads/Expressways

White-on-blue (the same as motorways) is used in Belgium, Latvia, and Netherlands.
White-on-blue is used in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland.
White-on-green is used in France, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
Black-on-yellow is used in Croatia, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Serbia, and Slovenia.
Red-on-white is used in Denmark (though white-on-blue on motorway exits and all overhead gantries)
Black-on-white is used in Austria and Spain.

Secondary roads

Black-on-white is used in Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
In Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Sweden, black-on-white indicates only urban roads or urban destinations.

Differences in meanings

Sometimes similar signs have little differences in meanings, following the local traffic codes.^{[citation needed]}
All European countries use the metric system (distances in kilometres or metres, speeds in kilometres per hour, heights/widths in metres) with the exception of the United Kingdom, where distances, speeds (miles per hour), and heights/widths are still indicated in imperial measurements (miles, yards, feet, and inches) though motorway locator signs are in km plus weights are in tonnes and heights are in metres as well.

Table of traffic signs comparison

Warning

	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	<small`>Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom
Give Way ahead
Stop ahead
Traffic signals ahead
Roundabout ahead										or
Two-way traffic ahead
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	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom
Tram crossing ahead									NOT USED
Crossroads with priority to the right										NOT USED ^{[nb 2]}											NOT USED ^{[nb 2]}
Crossroads with a minor road
Junction with a minor side road
Traffic merges ahead				^[2]
Road narrows on both sides
Road narrows
Dangerous crosswinds
Low-flying aircraft				or																	or
Steep descent
	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom
Steep ascent
Uneven road
Bend
Double bend
Slippery road surface
Loose road surface
Children
Pedestrian crossing ahead										or
Cyclists
Falling rocks or debris
	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom
Opening or swing bridge									NOT USED
Unprotected quayside or riverbank
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
Accident area / accident ahead	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	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom

Priority

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

Prohibitory or restrictive

	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom
Road closed to vehicles in both directions										NOT USED
No entry for vehicular traffic										or
No motor vehicles
No motor vehicles except motorcycles				NOT USED	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
No horns or motor noise									NOT USED	NOT USED
	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	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 length
Maximum weight													or
Maximum weight per axle																					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
	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom
No vehicles carrying dangerous goods										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
No vehicles carrying explosives	NOT USED		NOT USED	NOT USED	NOT USED		NOT USED		NOT USED			NOT USED	NOT USED			NOT USED		NOT USED	NOT USED
Minimum vehicle distance										NOT USED
No left turn							NOT USED					NOT USED
No U-turn
No Parking
No stopping
End restriction (overtaking used as an example)
	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom

Mandatory

	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom
Proceed straight (no turns)										NOT USED
Turn right										or		NOT USED			NOT USED					NOT USED
Turn right ahead																NOT USED
Keep right (or left)						or				or
Pass on either side
Roundabout
Minimum speed limit									NOT USED	NOT USED
Bicycles only
Pedestrians only
	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom

Special regulations

	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom
One-way street										or
One-way street										NOT USED	or
Pedestrian crossing										or											NOT USED
Living street										NOT USED
Motorway									NOT USED
End Motorway									NOT USED
Limited-access road									NOT USED	NOT USED							or				NOT USED
End limited-access road									NOT USED	NOT USED							or				NOT USED
	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom

Indication

	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom
No through road
Hospital																					or
First aid / First point of emergency care										NOT USED											NOT USED
Bus stop			or		or
Tunnel									NOT USED	NOT USED											NOT USED
Parking place										or
	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom

Border Crossings

	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom
Schengen Area		or			or				NOT USED	NOT USED			NOT USED		NOT USED				NOT USED	NOT USED	NOT USED
National speed limits										NOT USED
	Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Norway	Poland	Russia & Belarus	Slovakia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	Ukraine	United Kingdom

Notes

↑ 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.
↑ 2.0 2.1 There is no "priority to the right" (or left) rule in the UK or Ireland

References

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

↑ Útügyi műszaki előírás, e-ÚT 04.02.12.
↑ Under Danish law no driver has right of way when roads merge. Instead road users must facilitate the merging of traffic under mutual consideration. Public notice on road signage (“Bekendtgørelse om vejafmærkning”, BEK nr 802 af 04/07/2012), § 14.

External links

v t e Traffic signs

Signs	Warning sign Regulatory sign Prohibitory traffic sign Mandatory sign Special regulation sign Stop sign Yield sign Crossbuck Dead End sign One-way traffic Speed limit (by country) Advisory speed limit Information sign Direction, position, or indication sign Variable-message sign Bilingual sign Driver location signs Logo sign Priority to the right Comparison of European road signs

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Lights	Traffic light Traffic-light signalling and operation Traffic light control and coordination

Typefaces	Austria (AT) Caractères (FR) Clearview (US) DIN 1451 (DE) Drogowskaz (PL) FHWA fonts (global) Frutiger (Europe) Hangil (KR) Motorway (Europe) NPS Rawlinson Roadway (US) Panno (KR) SNV (CH) Trafikkalfabetet (NO) Transport (UK) Tratex (SE)

Conventions	Geneva Convention on Road Traffic Vienna Convention on Road Traffic Convention on Road Signs and Signals Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (US) Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (UK)

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