Comparison of European traffic signs

Despite an apparent uniformity and standardization, European traffic signs presents 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, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Macedonia and Ukraine.

Contents

1 Differences between European traffic signs
2 Table of comparison of traffic signs in the six main European countries
3 See also
4 External links
5 References

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. They diverge from the standards of the rest of Europe.
Many pictograms (tunnel, pedastrian, car, etc.) are quite different in many countries.
Type of arrows may be different.
Different typefaces in texts. United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Iceland, Ireland, Greece and Portugal uses a Transport font. Germany uses DIN 1451. Netherlands uses FHWA Series fonts. Switzerland a Frutiger font.

Different colour codes

Usually warning signs have red borders and a white background. But in Sweden, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Finland, Iceland, the Republic of Macedonia and Poland, they have an amber background (in other countries it means a provisional road work signs). Also the yield sign used in Sweden, Serbia, Croatia, Finland, and Poland has a yellow background.
Many countries normally have adopted a orange or amber background for road work or construction signs. Other countries (France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Poland) uses a yellow background.
Motorway destinations are indicated with white texts on a blue background in United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Latvia and Hungary. But with white texts on a green background in Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia.
Primary roads (non motorway) are white-on-blue in Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, Romania, Latvia, Finland and Netherlands (in this case the same as motorways), white-on-green in France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Poland and Portugal, black-on-yellow in Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia, Serbia and Croatia, red-on-white in Denmark (though white-on-blue on motorway exits and all overhead gantries), and black-on-white in Austria and Spain.
Secondary roads are different from primary roads in France, United Kingdom, Finland, Ireland, Switzerland and Portugal, always signposted in black-on-white. In Germany, Italy, Romania, 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.
European countries use the metric system (distances in kilometres or metres, heights/widths in metres) with the exception of the United Kingdom, where distances are still indicated in miles.

Table of comparison of traffic signs in the six main European countries

Comparison of traffic signs in the six main countries of European Union (United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Poland).

GB-Schild.PNG

United Kingdom

Germany

F-Schild.PNG

France

Italy

E-Schild.PNG

Spain

PL-Schild.PNG

Poland

Stop and give way

Halt! Vorfahrt gewähren

Arrêt

Fermarsi e dare precedenza

Detención obligatoria

Stop

Give way to traffic on major road (yield)

Vorfahrt gewähren

Cedez le passage

Dare precedenza

Ceda el paso

Ustąp pierwszeństwa przejazdu

Sample.svg

Priority road

Vorfahrtstraße

Diritto di precedenza

Calzada con prioridad

Droga z pierwszeństwem

Sample.svg

End of priority road

Ende der Vorfahrtstraße

Fine del diritto di precedenza

Fin de prioridad

Koniec drogi z pierwszeństwem

Other danger¹

Gefahrstelle

Panneau temporaire de signalisation de danger

Altri pericoli

Otros peligros

Inne niebezpieczeństwo

Sample.svg

Two-way traffic straight ahead

Gegenverkehr

Doppio senso di circolazione

Odcinek jezdni o ruchu dwukierunkowym

Traffic queues likely ahead¹

Stau

Sample.svg

Coda

Congestión

Zator drogowy

Sample.svg

Traffic signals

Lichtzeichenanlage

Semaforo

Sygnały świetlne

Sample.svg

Level crossing without barrier or gate ahead

Bahnübergang ohne Schranken

Passaggio a livello senza barriere

Paso a nivel sin barreras

Przejazd kolejowy niestrzeżony

Level crossing with barrier or gate ahead¹

Bahnübergang mit Schranken

Passaggio a livello con barriere

Paso a nivel con barreras

Przejazd kolejowy strzeżony

Sample.svg

Crossroads with right-of-way from the right

Kreuzung mit Vorfahrt von rechts

Intersezione con precedenza a destra

Niebezpieczne skrzyżowanie z drogą równorzędną

Crossroads (junction with a minor cross road)¹

Intersezione con diritto di precedenza

Sample.svg

Niebezpieczne skrzyżowanie z drogą podporządkowaną po obu stronach

Sample.svg

Junction with a minor side-road

Sample.svg

Intersezione a T con diritto di precedenza

Sample.svg

Niebezpieczne skrzyżowanie z drogą podporządkowaną z lewej strony

Roundabout ahead

Sample.svg

Circolazione rotatoria

Sample.svg

Skrzyżowanie o ruchu okrężnym

Sample.svg

Traffic merging from right ahead

Sample.svg

Confluenza a destra

Sample.svg

Niebezpieczny wlot jednokierunkowej drogi podporządkowanej z prawej strony

Road narrows on both sides¹

Verengte Fahrbahn

Strettoria simmetrica

Sample.svg

Zwężenie jezdni

Road narrows on right¹

Strettoia asimmetrica a destra

Sample.svg

Zwężenie jezdni z prawej strony

Dual carriageway ends

Sample.svg

In Poland there is no such a sign

Side winds

Seitenwind

Vent

Forte vento laterale

Sample.svg

Boczny wiatr

Sample.svg

Steep hill upwards (10%)

Steigung (12%)

Sample.svg

Salita ripida (10%)

Sample.svg

Stromy podjazd

Sample.svg

Steep hill downwards (10%)

Gefälle (10%)

Discesa pericolosa (10%)

Sample.svg

Niebezpieczny zjazd

Sample.svg

Bend to right

Kurve (rechts)

Curva a destra

Sample.svg

Niebezpieczny zakręt w prawo

Sample.svg

Double bend, first to left

Doppelkurve

Doppia curva, la prima a sinistra

Sample.svg

Niebezpieczne zakręty, pierwszy w lewo

Sample.svg

Slippery road

Schleudergefahr

Strada sdrucciolevole

Sample.svg

Śliska jezdnia

Sample.svg

Risk of ice

Glättegefahr

Sample.svg

Oszronienie jezdni

Loose chippings

Sample.svg

Materiale instabile sulla strada

Sample.svg

Żwir i kamienie na jezdni

Sample.svg

Road works

Baustelle

Travaux

Lavori

Sample.svg

Roboty drogowe

Falling or fallen rocks

Steinschlag

Caduta massi

Sample.svg

Spadające odłamki skalne

Sample.svg

Opening or swing bridge ahead

Ponte mobile

Sample.svg

Ruchomy most

Sample.svg

Quayside or river bank

Ufer

Sbocco su molo o su argine

Sample.svg

Nabrzeże lub brzeg rzeki

Wild animals (fowl)

Sample.svg

Zwierzęta gospodarskie

Sample.svg

Wild animals

Wildwechsel

Animali selvatici vaganti

Sample.svg

Dzikie zwierzęta

No entry for vehicular traffic4

Senso vietato

Entrada prohibida

Zakaz wjazdu wszelkich pojazdów

Sample.svg

No motor vehicles

Verbot für Kraftwagen und sonstige mehrspurige Kraftfahrzeuge

Sample.svg

Transito vietato a tutti gli autoveicoli

Entrada prohibida a vehículos de motor, excepto motocicletas de dos ruedas

Zakaz wjazdu pojazdów silnikowych z wyjątkiem jednośladów

Sample.svg

Transito vietato ai motoveicoli

Zakaz wjazdu motocykli

Sample.svg

Zakaz wjazdu motorowerów (no use)

Sample.svg

No cycling

Sample.svg

Transito vietato alle biciclette

Zakaz wjazdu rowerów

Sample.svg

No goods vehicles

Sample.svg

Transito vietato ai veicoli di massa a pieno carico superiore a 3,5 t

Zakaz wjazdu pojazdów ciężarowych o dopuszczalnej masie całkowitej większej, niż 3,5 t

Sample.svg

Give priority to vehicles from opposite direction

Sample.svg

Dem Gegenverkehr Vorfahrt gewähren

Sample.svg

Dare precedenza nei sensi unici alternati

Prioridad al sentido contrario

Pierwszeństwo dla nadjeżdżających z przeciwka

Sample.svg

No overtaking

Überholverbot

Divieto di sorpasso

Adelantamiento prohibido

Zakaz wyprzedzania

Maximum speed (30 mph = 48 km/h)

Zulässige Höchstgeschwindigkeit (60 km/h)

Limite de vitesse (50 km/h)

Limite massimo di velocità (50 km/h)

Velocidad máxima (100 km/h)

Ograniczenie prędkości (50 km/h)

Sample.svg

No vehicles over height shown

Höchsthöhe

Transito vietato ai veicoli aventi altezza superiore

Sample.svg

Zakaz wjazdu pojazdów wyższych, niż określono na znaku (3,5 m)

Sample.svg

No vehicles over length shown

Höchstlänge

Sample.svg

Transito vietato ai veicoli aventi larghezza superiore

Zakaz wjazdu pojazdów dłuższych, niż określono na znaku (6 m)

Sample.svg

Transito vietato ai veicoli che trasportano merci pericolose

Zakaz wjazdu pojazdów z materiałami niebezpiecznymi

Sample.svg

No vehicles carrying explosives

Sample.svg

Divieto di transito ai veicoli che trasportano esplosivi o prodotti facilmente infiammabili

Zakaz wjazdu pojazdów z materiałami wybuchowymi lub łatwo zapalnymi

Sample.svg

Divieto di transito ai veicoli che trasportano prodotti suscettibili di contaminare l’acqua

Zakaz wjazdu pojazdów z materiałami, które mogą skazić wodę

Sample.svg

No left turn

Sample.svg

Giro a la izquierda prohibido

Zakaz skrętu w lewo

No U-turns²

Sample.svg

Media vuelta prohibida

Zakaz zawracania

Sample.svg

No parking

Divieto di sosta

Estacionamiento prohibido

Zakaz postoju

No stopping (clearway)³

Park- und Haltverbot

Divieto di fermata

Parada y estacionamiento prohibidos

Zakaz zatrzymywania się

Sample.svg

Customs

Zoll

Douane

Alt-Dogana

Sample.svg

Stój – kontrola celna

Sample.svg

Police

Sample.svg

Police

Alt-Polizia

Sample.svg

In Poland there is no such a sign

Sample.svg

Peage

Alt-Stazione (pedaggio)

Sample.svg

Pobór opłat

Derestriction4

Via libera

Sample.svg

Koniec zakazów

Turn right4

Sample.svg

Direzione obbligatoria a destra

Sample.svg

Nakaz skrętu w prawo przed znakiem

Turn right ahead4

Sample.svg

Preavviso di direzione obbligatoria a destra

Sample.svg

Nakaz skrętu w prawo za znakiem

Sample.svg

Direzioni consentite dritto e destra

Sample.svg

Nakaz jazdy prosto lub skrętu w prawo

Keep right4

Passaggio obbligatorio a destra

Sample.svg

Ominąć znak z prawej strony

Mini-roundabout (roudabout circulation: give way to vehicles from the immediate right)

Kreisverkehr

Sample.svg

Rotatoria

Sample.svg

Ruch okrężny

Sample.svg

Segregated pedal cycle and pedestrian route

Sample.svg

Pista ciclabile contigua al marciapiede

Sample.svg

Droga dla pieszych i rowerów

Sample.svg

Snow chains compulsory

Sample.svg

Catene per neve obbligatorie

Sample.svg

Nakaz stosowania łańcuchów przeciwśniegowych

Sample.svg

One way traffic

Einbahnstraße

Sample.svg

Senso unico frontale

Calzada de sentido único

Droga jednokierunkowa

Sample.svg

One way traffic

Einbahnstraße

Sample.svg

Senso unico parallelo

Tramo de calzada de sentido único

Droga jednokierunkowa

Sample.svg

Traffic has priority over oncoming vehicles

Sample.svg

Diritto di precedenza nei sensi unici alternati

Prioridad respecto al sentido contrario

Pierwszeństwo na zwężonym odcinku drogi

Sample.svg

Advisory speed limit

Sample.svg

Velocità consigliata

Sample.svg

In Poland there is no such a sign

Sample.svg

End of advisory speed limit

Sample.svg

Fine velocità consigliata

Sample.svg

In Poland there is no such a sign

Sample.svg

Pedestrian crossing

Fußgängerüberweg

Sample.svg

Attraversamento pedonale

Situación de un paso para peatones

Przejście dla pieszych

Parking place5

Parkplatz

Parking

Parcheggio

Estacionamiento

Parking

Sample.svg

Home Zone Entry

Sample.svg

Zona residenziale

Calle residencial

Strefa zamieszkania

Tunnel¹

Sample.svg

Galleria

Túnel

Tunel

Motorway

Autobahn

Autoroute

Autostrada

Autopista

Autostrada

Sample.svg

Strada riservata ai veicoli a motore

Droga ekspresowa

Sample.svg

Country border

Sample.svg

Confine

Entrada a España

Granica

Sample.svg

Speed limits

Sample.svg

Dopuszczalne prędkości

Sample.svg

Pedestrian zone

Fußgängerzone

Sample.svg

In Poland there is no such a sign

Sample.svg

End of a pedestrian zone

Ende der Fußgängerzone

Sample.svg

In Poland there is no such a sign

30 mph zone (at end of 20 mph residential zone)

Zone 30 km/h

Sample.svg

Strefa ograniczonej prędkości (30 km/h)

Sample.svg

End of 30 km/h zone

Sample.svg

Koniec strefy ograniczonej prędkości (30 km/h)

Sample.svg

No parking zone

Sample.svg

Strefa ograniczonego postoju (from Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

Sample.svg

End of no parking zone

Sample.svg

Koniec strefy ograniczonego postoju

Sample.svg

First aid

Sample.svg

Pronto soccorso

Punkt opatrunkowy

Sample.svg

Hospital ahead

Sample.svg

Ospedale

Szpital

Sample.svg

Service station

Sample.svg

Aire d’autoroute

Sample.svg

Stazione di servizio

Sample.svg

Stacja paliwowa

Sample.svg

Bus stop

Sample.svg

Fermata bus

Przystanek autobusowy

Sample.svg

Schoolbus

Sample.svg

Scuolabus

Sample.svg

In Poland there is no such a sign

Sample.svg

Motorway direction

Direzione autostrada

Sample.svg

Drogowskaz tablicowy umieszczany obok jezdni przed wjazdem na autostradę

Sample.svg

Direzione extraurbana

Sample.svg

Drogowskaz w kształcie strzały do miejscowości podający do niej odległość

Sample.svg

Motorway exit sign

Ausfahrt

Sample.svg

Sortie

Sample.svg

Uscita

Sample.svg

Tablica węzła drogowego na autostradzie

Sample.svg

Umleitung

Sample.svg

Deviazione

Sample.svg

Drogowskaz w kształcie strzały do miejscowości wskazujący numer drogi

Sample.svg

Motorway exit panel at 500m

Sample.svg

Tablica przeddrogowskazowa na autostradzie

Sample.svg

Motorway exit panel

Sample.svg

Drogowskaz tablicowy umieszczany obok jezdni na autostradzie

Sample.svg

Distance confirmation

Sample.svg

Tablica szlaku drogowego

Urban direction panel

Sample.svg

In Poland there is no such a sign

Bilingual direction signs

Sample.svg

In Poland there is no such a sign

Sample.svg

Estesa

Sample.svg

Longitud del tramo peligroso o sujeto a prescripción

Sample.svg

Tabliczka wskazująca długość odcinka drogi, na którym powtarza się lub występuje niebezpieczeństwo

Sample.svg

Distanza

Sample.svg

Distancia al comienzo del peligro o prescripción

Sample.svg

Tabliczka wskazująca odległość znaku ostrzegawczego od miejsca niebezpiecznego

Sample.svg

Except

Frei

Sauf

Sample.svg

Eccetto

Sample.svg

In Poland there is no such a sign

Sample.svg

Bei Nässe

Sample.svg

Zona soggetta ad allagamento

Sample.svg

Nazwa rzeki

Sample.svg

Strada sdrucciolevole per ghiaccio

Sample.svg

In Poland there is no such a sign

Sample.svg

Zona disco

Sample.svg

In Poland there is no such a sign

Notes

Indicates the use of Norwegian sign images that are identical to UK signs, for illustration.
Indicates the use of Irish sign images that are identical to UK signs, for illustration.
Indicates the use of French sign images that are identical to UK signs, for illustration.
Indicates the use of German sign images that are identical to UK signs, for illustration.
Indicates the use of Spanish sign images that are identical to UK signs, for illustration.

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Comparison of European traffic signs

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