Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals
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A typical warning sign, as defined by the convention.

The Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals is an international treaty designed to increase road safety and aid international road traffic by standardising the signing system for road traffic (road signs, traffic lights and road markings) in use internationally.

This convention was agreed upon by the United Nations Economic and Social Council at the UNESC Conference on Road Traffic in Vienna 7 October 1968 to 8 November 1968, was done in Vienna on 8 November 1968 and came into force 6 June 1978. This conference also produced the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which complements this legislation by standardising international traffic laws.

The convention revised and substantially extended the earlier 1949 Geneva Protocol on Road Signs and Signals [1], itself based in turn on the 1931 Geneva Convention concerning the Unification of Road Signals [2].

Amendments, including new provisions regarding the legibility of signs, priority at roundabouts and new signs to improve safety in tunnels were adopted in 2003.

content

Contents

Rules

Road signs

An acceptable variant of the above sign. Note the different background and the shape of the symbol.

In article 2 the convention classes all road signs into a number of categories (A - H):

The convention then lays out precise colours, sizes and shapes for each of these classes of sign:

Class of sign Shape Ground Border Size Symbol
Danger warning sign Equilateral triangle White or yellow Red 0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small) Varies, black
Diamond Yellow Black 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small) Varies, black
Priority signs
Give way sign Inverted equilateral triangle White or yellow Red 0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small) None
Stop sign Octagon Red None 0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small) Stop† written in white
Circular White or yellow Yellow 0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small) Stop† written in blue or black
Priority road Diamond White Black 0.5 m (large), 0.35 m (small) Yellow square
End priority Diamond White Black 0.5 m (large), 0.35 m (small) Yellow square and grey or black diagonal lines crossing the sign
Priority for oncoming traffic Circular White or yellow Red Unspecified Black arrow indicating direction with priority, red arrow indicating direction without
Priority over oncoming traffic Rectangle Blue None Unspecified White arrow indicating direction with priority, red arrow indicating direction without
Prohibitory signs
Standard prohibitory Circular White or yellow Red 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small) Varies
Parking prohibitory Circular Blue None 0.6 m (large), 0.2 m (small) Varies
End of prohibition Circular White or yellow None 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small) Black or grey diagonal line
Mandatory signs
Standard mandatory Circular Blue None 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small), 0.3 m (very small) Varies, white
Circular White Red 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small), 0.3 m (very small) Varies, black
Special regulation signs
All signs Rectangular Blue Unspecified Unspecified Varies, white
Light Unspecified Unspecified Varies, Black
Information, facilities or service signs
All signs Unspecified Blue or green Unspecified Unspecified Varies, on white or yellow rectangle
Direction, position or indication signs
Informative signs Rectangular, sometimes with arrowhead Light Unspecified Unspecified Varies, dark
Dark Unspecified Unspecified Varies, light
Motorways Rectangular Blue or green Unspecified Unspecified Varies, white
Temporary Rectangular Yellow or orange Unspecified Unspecified Varies, black
Additional panels
All panels Unspecified White or yellow Black, blue or red Unspecified Varies, black or dark blue
Black or dark blue White or yellow Unspecified Varies, white or yellow

† May be written in English or the national language

It also specifies the symbols and pictograms which may be used, and the orientations in which they may be used. When more than one is available, the same one must be used nationally. All signs, except for those which do not apply at night, must be reflective enough to been seen in darkness with headlights from a distance.

Road markings

The convention also specifies road markings. All such markings must be less than 6 mm high, with cat's eye reflectors no more than 15 mm above the road surface.

The length and width of markings varies according to purpose, although no exact figures for size are stated; roads in built up areas should use a broken line for lane division, while continuous lines must only be used in special cases, such as reduced visibility or narrowed carriage ways.

All words painted on the road surface should be either of place names, or of words which are recognisable in most languages, such as "Stop" or "Taxi".

Traffic lights

The Convention specifies the colours which may be used for traffic lights and their meanings, and places and purposes for which lights may be used, like so:

Type Shape Colour Position Meaning
Non-flashing Plain Green At intersection Proceed
Amber At intersection, level crossing, swing bridge, airport, fire station or ferry terminal Stop if possible
Red At intersection Stop
Red and amber At intersection Signal is about to change
Arrow pointing left Green At intersection Only traffic turning left may proceed
Arrow pointing right Green At intersection Only traffic turning right may proceed
Arrow pointing upwards Green At intersection Only traffic travelling straight ahead may proceed
Arrow pointing downwards Green Above lane Traffic may continue in lane
Cross Red Above lane Traffic may not enter lane
Arrow pointing diagonally downwards Amber or white Above lane Lane closes shortly ahead, change lane
Flashing Plain Double Red At level crossing, swing bridge, airport, fire station or ferry terminal Stop
Amber Anywhere except intersection Proceed with caution
Amber At intersection The priority is determined by Main Road [3] or Yield [4] signs
Lunar white At crossing Proceed

Red flashing lights may only be used at the locations specified above; any other use of the lights is in breach of the convention. Red lights must be placed on top when lights are stacked vertically, or on the side closest to oncoming traffic if stacked horizontally.

Contracting Parties

52 States at 30 June 2004: Albania, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Central African Republic, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Morocco, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

See also

External links

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Traffic signs
Signs
By country
Lights
Typefaces
Conventions
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