Comparison of European road signs

The obvious similarity and uniformity of European traffic signs arising from the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals of 1968 In Europe, this Convention have joined so far. Albania, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Austria, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary and Belarus.

  • 2.1 priority
  • 2.2 warning
  • 2.3 Prohibition Signs
  • 2.4 Prescribed
  • 2.5 Special rules
  • 2.6 sign
  • 2.7 crossings
  • 2.8 checkpoint

The differences between European traffic signs

Consist Despite this standardization ( at least partially ) differences in the graphical representation of the text used, the color codes used and the importance of traffic signs.

Differences in graphics

  • The danger signs in Ireland are diamond-shaped ( "Diamond " ) with a yellow background. They resemble the hazard symbols used in the U.S. and thus differ markedly from those of the rest of European countries.
  • Some graphic characters (tunnels, pedestrian, car, etc. ) are designed differently.
  • Certain types of arrows may be different.

Differences in the text

  • In all countries, a sans-serif font is used. Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Greece and Portugal use a font according to DIN 1451st In the Netherlands, FHWA is used in Switzerland Frutiger, in Sweden and in France Tratex Caractères.
  • In some cases there are also bilingual signs.

Differences in the color code

  • Usually danger signs are triangular with a red border and white background. In Sweden, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Finland, Iceland, Macedonia, and Poland, these signs have a yellow background. In other countries ( such as Italy), the yellow background is only used temporarily installed traffic signs (eg on construction sites). Also, " give way " sign has a yellow background in Sweden, Serbia, Croatia, Finland and Poland.

Differences in meaning

  • Sometimes the signals are similar externally, but have a different meaning.
  • Countries in continental Europe and Ireland use the metric system of units ( distances in kilometers or meters, speed in km / h, height and length in meters, weight in tonnes), while in the UK the Anglo-American system of units (miles, mph, yards, feet and inches) is used.

Comparison of traffic signs from thirteen European countries

The following table provides a comparison of traffic signs from twenty two European countries.

Priority

Warning

Prohibition signs

Prescribed

Special rules

Sign

Border crossings

Checkpoint

Entrance panels

Road signs in Germany Road signs in Iceland Road signs in the Netherlands Road signs in Sweden
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