Topzle Topzle

Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals

Updated: Wikipedia source

Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals

The Convention on Road Signs and Signals, commonly known as the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, is a multilateral treaty that establishes an international standard for signing systems for road traffic, such as road signs, traffic lights and road markings. The Convention was agreed upon by the United Nations Economic and Social Council at its Conference on Road Traffic in Vienna, Austria from 7 October to 8 November 1968. Thirty-one countries signed the Convention on the final day of the conference, and it entered into force on 6 June 1978. This conference also produced the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which provides complementary standardising of international traffic laws.

Infobox

Signed
8 November 1968
Location
Vienna
Effective
6 June 1978
Condition
Ratification by 15 states
Signatories
35
Parties
71
Depositary
UN Secretary-General
Languages
Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish

Tables

· Rules › Road signs
Danger warning sign
Danger warning sign
Class of sign
Danger warning sign
Shape
Equilateral triangle
Ground
White or yellow
Border
Red
Size
0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small)
Symbol
Varies; Black or dark blue
Examples
Diamond
Diamond
Class of sign
Diamond
Shape
Yellow
Ground
Black
Border
0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small)
Size
Varies; Black or dark blue
Symbol
Priority signs
Priority signs
Class of sign
Priority signs
Give way sign
Give way sign
Class of sign
Give way sign
Shape
Inverted equilateral triangle
Ground
White or yellow
Border
Red
Size
0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small)
Symbol
None
Examples
Stop sign
Stop sign
Class of sign
Stop sign
Shape
Octagon
Ground
Red
Border
White
Size
0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small)
Symbol
Stop written in white
Examples
Circular
Circular
Class of sign
Circular
Shape
White or yellow
Ground
Red
Border
0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small)
Size
Stop written in black or dark blue inside red inverted triangle
Symbol
Priority road
Priority road
Class of sign
Priority road
Shape
Diamond
Ground
White
Border
Black
Size
0.5 m (large), 0.35 m (small)
Symbol
Yellow or orange square
Examples
End of priority road
End of priority road
Class of sign
End of priority road
Shape
Diamond
Ground
White
Border
Black
Size
0.5 m (large), 0.35 m (small)
Symbol
Yellow or orange square with black or grey diagonal lines crossing the sign
Examples
Priority for oncoming traffic
Priority for oncoming traffic
Class of sign
Priority for oncoming traffic
Shape
Circular
Ground
White or yellow
Border
Red
Size
Unspecified
Symbol
Black arrow indicating direction with priority, red arrow indicating direction without
Examples
Priority over oncoming traffic
Priority over oncoming traffic
Class of sign
Priority over oncoming traffic
Shape
Rectangle
Ground
Blue
Border
None
Size
Unspecified
Symbol
White arrow indicating direction with priority, red arrow indicating direction without
Examples
Prohibitory signs
Prohibitory signs
Class of sign
Prohibitory signs
Standard prohibitory
Standard prohibitory
Class of sign
Standard prohibitory
Shape
Circular
Ground
White or yellow
Border
Red
Size
0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small)
Symbol
Varies; black or dark blue
Examples
Parking prohibited
Parking prohibited
Class of sign
Parking prohibited
Shape
Circular
Ground
Blue
Border
Red
Size
0.6 m (large), 0.2 m (small)
Symbol
None
Examples
Circular
Circular
Class of sign
Circular
Shape
White or yellow
Ground
Red
Border
0.6 m (large), 0.2 m (small)
Size
Initial letter or ideogram to denote parking; black or dark blue
Symbol
Stopping prohibited
Stopping prohibited
Class of sign
Stopping prohibited
Shape
Circular
Ground
Blue
Border
Red
Size
0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small)
Symbol
None
Examples
End of prohibition
End of prohibition
Class of sign
End of prohibition
Shape
Circular
Ground
White or yellow
Border
None
Size
0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small)
Symbol
Black or grey diagonal line
Examples
Mandatory signs
Mandatory signs
Class of sign
Mandatory signs
Standard mandatory
Standard mandatory
Class of sign
Standard mandatory
Shape
Circular
Ground
Blue
Border
None, white
Size
0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small), 0.3 m (very small)
Symbol
Varies, white
Examples
Circular
Circular
Class of sign
Circular
Shape
White or yellow
Ground
Red
Border
0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small), 0.3 m (very small)
Size
Varies, black or dark blue
Symbol
Special regulation signs
Special regulation signs
Class of sign
Special regulation signs
All signs
All signs
Class of sign
All signs
Shape
Rectangular
Ground
Blue
Border
Unspecified
Size
Unspecified
Symbol
Varies, white
Examples
Light
Light
Class of sign
Light
Shape
Unspecified
Ground
Unspecified
Border
Varies, Black
Size
Information, facilities or service signs
Information, facilities or service signs
Class of sign
Information, facilities or service signs
All signs
All signs
Class of sign
All signs
Shape
Unspecified
Ground
Blue or green
Border
Unspecified
Size
Unspecified
Symbol
Varies, on white or yellow rectangle
Examples
Direction, position or indication signs
Direction, position or indication signs
Class of sign
Direction, position or indication signs
Informative signs
Informative signs
Class of sign
Informative signs
Shape
Rectangular, sometimes with arrowhead
Ground
Light
Border
Unspecified
Size
Unspecified
Symbol
Varies, dark
Examples
Dark
Dark
Class of sign
Dark
Shape
Unspecified
Ground
Unspecified
Border
Varies, light
Size
Motorways
Motorways
Class of sign
Motorways
Shape
Rectangular
Ground
Blue or green
Border
Unspecified
Size
Unspecified
Symbol
Varies, white
Examples
Temporary
Temporary
Class of sign
Temporary
Shape
Rectangular
Ground
Yellow or orange
Border
Unspecified
Size
Unspecified
Symbol
Varies, black
Examples
Additional panels
Additional panels
Class of sign
Additional panels
All panels
All panels
Class of sign
All panels
Shape
Unspecified
Ground
White, blue or yellow
Border
Black, blue or red
Size
Unspecified
Symbol
Varies, black or dark blue
Examples
Black, red or dark blue
Black, red or dark blue
Class of sign
Black, red or dark blue
Shape
White, blue or yellow
Ground
Unspecified
Border
Varies, white, blue or yellow
Size
Class of sign
Class of sign
Class of sign
Class of sign
Shape
Shape
Ground
Ground
Border
Border
Size
Size
Symbol
Symbol
Examples
Examples
Class of sign
Shape
Ground
Border
Size
Symbol
Examples
Danger warning sign
Equilateral triangle
White or yellow
Red
m (large), 0.6 m (small)
Varies; Black or dark blue
Diamond
Yellow
Black
m (large), 0.4 m (small)
Varies; Black or dark blue
Priority signs
Give way sign
Inverted equilateral triangle
White or yellow
Red
m (large), 0.6 m (small)
None
Stop sign
Octagon
Red
White
m (large), 0.6 m (small)
Stop written in white
Circular
White or yellow
Red
m (large), 0.6 m (small)
Stop written in black or dark blue inside red inverted triangle
Priority road
Diamond
White
Black
m (large), 0.35 m (small)
Yellow or orange square
End of priority road
Diamond
White
Black
m (large), 0.35 m (small)
Yellow or orange square with black or grey 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
m (large), 0.4 m (small)
Varies; black or dark blue
Parking prohibited
Circular
Blue
Red
m (large), 0.2 m (small)
None
Circular
White or yellow
Red
m (large), 0.2 m (small)
Initial letter or ideogram to denote parking; black or dark blue
Stopping prohibited
Circular
Blue
Red
m (large), 0.4 m (small)
None
End of prohibition
Circular
White or yellow
None
m (large), 0.4 m (small)
Black or grey diagonal line
Mandatory signs
Standard mandatory
Circular
Blue
None, white
m (large), 0.4 m (small), 0.3 m (very small)
Varies, white
Circular
White or yellow
Red
m (large), 0.4 m (small), 0.3 m (very small)
Varies, black or dark blue
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, blue or yellow
Black, blue or red
Unspecified
Varies, black or dark blue
Black, red or dark blue
White, blue or yellow
Unspecified
Varies, white, blue or yellow
Class of sign
Shape
Ground
Border
Size
Symbol
Examples
· Rules › Traffic lights
Non-flashing
Non-flashing
Type
Non-flashing
Shape
Plain
Colour
Colour
Green
Position
At intersection, entrance to tunnel or bridge
Meaning
Proceed
Arrow pointing left
Arrow pointing left
Type
Arrow pointing left
Shape
Colour
Green
Colour
At intersection
Position
Only traffic turning left may proceed
Arrow pointing right
Arrow pointing right
Type
Arrow pointing right
Shape
Colour
Green
Colour
At intersection
Position
Only traffic turning right may proceed
Arrow pointing upwards
Arrow pointing upwards
Type
Arrow pointing upwards
Shape
Colour
Green
Colour
At intersection
Position
Only traffic travelling straight ahead may proceed
Arrow pointing downwards
Arrow pointing downwards
Type
Arrow pointing downwards
Shape
Colour
Green
Colour
Above lane
Position
Traffic may continue in lane
Cross (×)
Cross (×)
Type
Cross (×)
Shape
Colour
Red
Colour
Above lane
Position
Traffic may not enter lane (lane closed)
Arrow pointing diagonally downwards
Arrow pointing diagonally downwards
Type
Arrow pointing diagonally downwards
Shape
Colour
Amber or white
Colour
Above lane
Position
Lane closes shortly ahead, change lane in the direction of the arrow
Flashing
Flashing
Type
Flashing
Shape
Plain
Colour
Colour
Double Red (alternating)
Position
At level crossing, swing bridge, airport, fire station or ferry terminal
Meaning
Stop
Type
Shape
Colour
Position
Meaning
Non-flashing
Plain
Green
At intersection, entrance to tunnel or bridge
Proceed
Amber
At intersection, level crossing, swing bridge, airport, fire station or ferry terminal
Stop if safe to do so
Red
At intersection
Stop
Red and amber
At intersection
Signal is about to change (usually to green)
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 (lane closed)
Arrow pointing diagonally downwards
Amber or white
Above lane
Lane closes shortly ahead, change lane in the direction of the arrow
Flashing
Plain
Double Red (alternating)
At level crossing, swing bridge, airport, fire station or ferry terminal
Stop
Lunar white
At crossing
Proceed
Amber (flashing)
Anywhere except intersection
Proceed with caution
Amber (flashing)
At intersection
The priority is determined by Priority Route or Yield signs or if none of the above regular right of way rule.

References

  1. May be written in English or the national language
  2. CONVENTION ON ROAD SIGNS AND SIGNALS DONE AT VIENNA ON 8 NOVEMBER 1968 (consolidated version) United Nations .mw- .mw- .
    https://www.makinggood.ac.nz/media/1274/un_conv_road_signs_2006.pdf
  3. Protocol on Road Signs and Signals
    https://treaties.un.org/doc/Treaties/1952/03/19520326%2003-36%20PM/Ch_XI_B_1_2_3.pdf
  4. Manual Centroamericano de Dispositivos Uniformes para el Control del Transito 2014
    https://irp.cdn-website.com/6813ed2d/files/uploaded/SIECA%202014.pdf
  5. "ECE/TRANS/WP.1/191"
    https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/ECE-TRANS-WP1-191e.pdf
  6. "C.N.172.2025.TREATIES-XI.B.20"
    https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/2025/CN.172.2025-Eng.pdf
  7. "ECE/TRANS/WP.1/2023/2/Rev.2"
    https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/ECE-TRANS-WP1-2023-2-Rev2e.pdf
  8. "C.N.173.2025.TREATIES-XI.B.24"
    https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/2025/CN.173.2025-Eng.pdf
  9. "ECE/TRANS/WP.1/2023/3/Rev.1"
    https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/ECE-TRANS-WP1-2023-3-Rev.1e.pdf
  10. "C.N.174.2025.TREATIES-XI.B.25"
    https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/2025/CN.174.2025-Eng.pdf
  11. "ECE/TRANS/WP.1/2023/4/Rev.1"
    https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/ECE-TRANS-WP1-2023-4-Rev.1e.pdf
  12. Convention on Road Signs and Signals
    https://treaties.un.org/doc/Treaties/1978/06/19780606%2000-35%20AM/CTC-xi-b-20-searchable.pdf
  13. United Nations Treaty Collection
    https://web.archive.org/web/20210810145402/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetailsIII.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XI-B-20&chapter=11&Temp=mtdsg3&lang=en
  14. Transport Planning and Design Manual
    https://www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_5055/V3_12_2023.pdf
Image
Source:
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.