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Comparison of traffic signs in English-speaking territories

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This is a comparison of road signs in countries that speak majorly English, including major ones where it is an official language and widely understood (and as a lingua franca).

Most road signs come in a different language rather than English. Example shows a road sign in Malta in Maltese language.

Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are all SADC members who drive on the left and use the SADC Road Traffic Signs Manual, and thus have identical road signs.

Differences between traffic signs in English-speaking countries

Most speed limits in the US use USC, with the highway signs matching the MUTCD.
  Australien Bahamas Belize Kanada Hongkong Irland Jamaika Liberia Mauritius Neuseeland Nigeria Philippinen Südafrika Malta Singapur Vereinigtes Königreich Vereinigte Staaten Simbabwe
Drives on... Left Left Right Right Left Left Left Right Left Left Right Right Left Left Left Left Right Left
Speed units km/h mph mph km/h km/h km/h km/h km/h or mph[11] km/h km/h km/h km/h km/h km/h km/h mph mph km/h

Differences in units

Imperial measurements reminder in Northern Ireland when entering from the Republic
Road sign used in British Columbia, Canada, near the Canada–US border to remind American drivers that Canada uses the metric system.
Note that the imperial speed limit (left) is shown using a Canadian-style sign, rather than an MUTCD-standard one as would be used in the US
  • All main countries, except for the United States and the United Kingdom, use the metric system. Some countries mark this fact by using units on various signs. Note that some smaller English-speaking countries in the Caribbean also use miles per hour.
    • Ireland, parts of Canada (British Columbia, parts of Ontario, and Yukon), and Liberia[11] list units (km/h) on their maximum speed limit signs. In Canada and Ireland, this is a reflection of (somewhat) recent transitions from Imperial to metric.
    • Advisory speed limit signs in most countries list units, although New Zealand does not. The US lists units in mph.
    • Height, weight, and width restrictions are almost always accompanied by units (tonnes or metres); in the US, the short ton is used with no distinction from metric tonnes.
    • Signs in some parts of Canada near the US border often include both metric and Imperial units, to remind American drivers that they are entering metric countries. No such equivalent exists in the US.[12]
  • The US was, at one time, planning a transition to the metric system. The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 started the process, but the abolition of the United States Metric Board in 1982 significantly hampered conversion. Nevertheless, the MUTCD specifies metric versions of speed limit signs. Furthermore, Interstate 19 in Arizona is partially signed in metric.

Color differences

Warning signs

Sheep road sign in the United Kingdom.
Countries in yellow use MUTCD-style diamond warning signs. Click for large image and detailed info key.
  • Most warning signs are diamond-shaped and yellow or red-bordered triangular warning signs; some warning signs may be fluorescent yellow-green in order to draw extra attention. There are a few exceptions to this:
    • Pentagonal signs are used in school zones in the United States, Liberia, and many areas in Canada. In the Philippines, pentagonal signs are permanently used for pedestrian crossings.
  • Warning signs may be text-only.

Road works and construction

  • Most countries use orange or yellow diamond-shaped signs or yellow, orange or white red-bordered triangular warning signs for construction zones. Australia and the Philippines use rectangular signs that fit into temporary casings.

Regulatory signs

  • Prohibitory and restrictive signs are classified as regulatory signs.
  • Almost all prohibitory signs use a red circle with a slash. Restrictive signs typically use a red circle, as in Europe. Some may be seated on a rectangular white background.
    • The original MUTCD prohibitory and restrictive signs were text-only (i.e. NO LEFT TURN).[13] Some of these signs continue to be used in the US.
  • Yield signs can be blank or have text with the legend "YIELD" or "GIVE WAY" depending on which country it is.
  • The No Entry / Do Not Enter sign may or may not feature text. In Ireland, an upwards-pointing arrow contained within a slashed red circle is used instead. Some countries have those two signs separated.
    • The Latin American-style do not proceed straight sign may take a different meaning in countries with standard No Entry signs. Typically, it indicates an intersection where traffic cannot continue straight ahead, but where cross-traffic may enter the street from the right (or left). Thus, it is distinguished from a No Entry (for all vehicles) sign.

Mandatory or permitted-action signs

Various color schemes for mandatory signs. Click for large image and detailed info key.
  • The design of mandatory signs varies widely, since the MUTCD does not specify their use.[14] Rather, the MUTCD's equivalent are classified as regulatory signs.
    • Some countries use simple arrows with the text "ONLY" or its equivalent underneath. This is the US and Australian standard.
    • Some countries use European-style white-on-blue circular signs. These are "Type A Mandatory Signs" as prescribed by the Vienna Convention.
    • Some Latin American countries use red-bordered circular signs, in the same style as regulatory signs. These are "Type B Mandatory Signs" as prescribed by the Vienna Convention. In cases relating to particular types of vehicle traffic (e.g. buses), these signs are identical to some European prohibitory signs.[a]
    • Canada uses a unique style of mandatory sign that features a green circle.

Warning

  Australien Kanada Hongkong Irland Jamaika Liberia Mauritius Neuseeland Nigeria Philippinen SADC Malta Singapur Vereinigtes Königreich Vereinigte Staaten
Stop ahead



Yield / Give Way ahead



Traffic signals ahead
Roundabout ahead
Two-way traffic ahead

oder

Uncontrolled railroad crossing ahead Not used Not used[b]
Level railroad crossing with barriers ahead
Tram / streetcar crossing Not used Not used[c]
Railroad crossbuck
oder
 Not used
oder
oder
Level crossing (multiple tracks)
oder

Not used Not used
Crossroads ahead
oder[d]

oder[e]
Junction with a side road ahead
oder

oder

Traffic merges ahead
oder
oder

oder

oder
oder

Added lane
oder
oder

Divided highway ahead
oder

Divided highway ends
Road narrows ahead

oder

oder

oder

Narrow bridge ahead
Dangerous crosswinds Not used Not used
Low-flying aircraft
oder
oder
Steep hill downwards
oder
oder
Steep hill upwards
oder
oder
Uneven surface
Dip in road Not used
Speed hump [15]

Slippery road surface
Loose road surface
Pavement ends

Gentle curve ahead
oder
oder
Sharp curve ahead
oder
oder

oder

Double gentle curve ahead
oder
oder
Double sharp curve ahead
oder
oder
[f]

oder

Series of curves ahead
oder
oder
Hairpin curve ahead
oder
oder
School zone
oder[g]

oder
[h]
Children / playground ahead
File:Hong Kong road sign 224.svg
oder
Pedestrian crossing ahead
oder
Pedestrians on road ahead File:Hong Kong road sign 261.gif
Domestic animals

oder

Wild animals

oder

oder

Cyclists crossing
Trucks crossing
Equestrians
Emergency vehicles

Farm vehicles

Falling rocks or debris
oder
Opening or swing bridge Not used Not used Not used
Tunnel ahead
Height restriction ahead

oder

oder

oder

oder

Width restriction ahead File:Hong Kong road sign 131.gif
Length restriction ahead File:Hong Kong road sign 132.gif
Weight restriction ahead
File:Hong Kong road sign 134.gif
oder[i]
Roadworks
[j] 		File:Hong Kong road sign 241.gif
Other danger

Regulatory

Priority

Prohibitory

  Australien Kanada Hongkong Irland Jamaika Liberia Mauritius Neuseeland Nigeria Philippinen SADC Malta Singapur Vereinigtes Königreich Vereinigte Staaten
No entry
oder[k]
 (no exceptions:)

(exceptions apply:)
 [16]
Road closed/Vehicles prohibited
oder
 ?
No motor vehicles Not used
No motorcycles
No bicycles
No pedestrians
No heavy goods vehicles
File:Hong Kong road sign 117.gif
oder
oder
No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
No vehicles carrying explosives Not used
Minimum safe following distance between vehicles Not used
Maximum speed limit File:Ireland road sign RUS 043.svg oder [11]
Speed restriction ends
Maximum height File:Hong Kong road sign 133.gif
Maximum width
Maximum length
Maximum weight File:UK traffic sign 626.2A.svg
Maximum weight per axle
No left turn
oder[k]
oder
oder
No right turn
oder[k]
oder
oder
No U-turn
oder[k]
[17]
oder
 Not used[l]
No overtaking ?
oder

No parking
No stopping

Mandatory or permitted actions

Mandatory signs indicating an obligation to turn left do exist, but are not included in the list below since they are functionally mirror versions of signs indicating an obligation to turn right.

  Australien Kanada Hongkong Irland Jamaika Liberia Mauritius Neuseeland Nigeria Philippinen SADC Malta Singapur Vereinigtes Königreich Vereinigte Staaten
Proceed
straight
(no turns)
Turn right
Turn right
ahead
Proceed
straight
or turn right
Keep right
(or left)
oder
Pass on
either side
Roundabout

Minimum speed limit
Overtaking
permitted
[m]

oder


Pedestrians only File:Hong Kong road sign 111.gif
Bicycles only
Shared use path

oder

oder

Transit only

Other

  Australien Kanada Hongkong Irland Jamaika Liberia Mauritius Neuseeland Nigeria Philippinen SADC Malta Singapur Vereinigtes Königreich Vereinigte Staaten
One-way
street
Two-way
traffic

oder

Pedestrian crossing
[18] oder
[19]
Bump in road
Dead end

oder

oder

oder

oder

Escape lane

oder

oder

oder

Tunnel
Speed limit zone
No parking zone
Parking zone
Hospital

oder

oder

File:UK traffic sign 827.3.svg

Bus stop
Train station
Airport
Freeway begins

oder

Freeway ends
Customs
post
National
highway
shield(s)


See also

Notes

  1. ^ Compare Bicycles Only (Ciclovia) sign in Brazil: with No Bicycles (Verbot für Radfahrer) sign in Germany:
  2. ^ The last level crossing in Singapore closed in 2011, and thus train-related traffic signs became obsolete.
  3. ^ The Manila tranvia system was closed long before the country adopted standardized road signs.
  4. ^ Signs below used for crossroads with priority.
  5. ^ The sign below is a uniquely Tanzanian version of the sign above.
  6. ^ Described by the DPWH as a "reverse turn" sign.
  7. ^ Top sign used in Victoria. Middle sign used in New South Wales. Bottom sign used in Queensland.
  8. ^ Described by the DPWH as a "school children crossing" sign.
  9. ^ The bottom sign is used for per-axle weight limits.
  10. ^ Temporary use only.
  11. ^ a b c d Top sign used in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. Bottom sign used in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory.
  12. ^ In Singapore, U-turns are forbidden per default, unless specifically allowed by a sign. While unofficial "U-turn prohibited" signs do exist, they only serve as a reminder, and the prohibition would still have been in place without the sign.
  13. ^ In many jurisdictions, "Overtaking Permitted" is indicated solely through a change in road markings, e.g. a solid center line changing to a dashed center line. In such jurisdictions, signs in this category are only posted in locations where a change in road markings is deemed insufficient notice for drivers. This is in contrast to "No Overtaking" signs, which are almost always posted alongside changes in road markings to indicate the end of an overtaking zone.

References

  1. ^ "Image by draperc". Mapillary. September 9, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  2. ^ "Image by draperc". Mapillary. September 9, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  3. ^ "Image by mkanyala". Mapillary. September 11, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  4. ^ "Image by mkanyala". Mapillary. September 11, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  5. ^ "Image by mkanyala". Mapillary. September 11, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  6. ^ Joseph, Dan B. (April 14, 2016). "Image by danbjoseph". Mapillary. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  7. ^ "Image by mkanyala". Mapillary. September 11, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  8. ^ "Image by mkanyala". Mapillary. September 11, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  9. ^ "Image by mkanyala". Mapillary. September 11, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  10. ^ "Image by kanyala". Mapillary. September 11, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c Some speed limit signs are explicitly labeled in miles per hour,[1] but most are either explicitly[2][3][4][5] or implicitly measured in kilometers per hour.[6][7] Some signs use the MUTCD's metric speed limit design.[8][9][10]
  12. ^ British Columbia Manual of Standard Traffic Signs & Pavement Markings
  13. ^ "MUTCD HISTORY". ceprofs.civil.tamu.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  14. ^ Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 2009 Edition
  15. ^ "Image by draperc". Mapillary. August 18, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  16. ^ Joseph, Dan B. (April 14, 2016). "Image by danbjoseph". Mapillary. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  17. ^ "Image by draperc". Mapillary. October 11, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  18. ^ "Image by mkanyala". Mapillary. September 10, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  19. ^ "Image by draperc". Mapillary. February 25, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
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