View source for Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals

{{Infobox Treaty 
|name                = Convention on Road Signs and Signals
|long_name           = 
|image               = Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.svg
|image_width         = 300px
|caption             = Ratifications and Signatories as of 2011 <br> {{legend|#006432|Ratified}} {{legend|#00c864|Signed, but not ratified}} {{legend|#003282|Uses the SADC-RTSM}}
|type                =
|date_drafted        = 
|date_signed         = 8 November 1968
|location_signed     = Vienna
|date_sealed         =
|date_effective      = 6 June 1978
|condition_effective = Ratification by 15 states
|date_expiration     =
|signatories         = 35
|parties             = 65
|depositor           = [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|UN Secretary-General]]
|language            =
|languages           = Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish
|wikisource          =
}}

The '''Convention on Road Signs and Signals''', commonly known as the '''Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals''', is a [[multilateral 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 marking]]s) in use internationally.

This convention was agreed upon by the [[United Nations Economic and Social Council]] at its Conference on Road Traffic in [[Vienna]] 7 October to 8 November 1968, was concluded in Vienna on 8 November 1968 and [[Coming into force|entered into force]] on 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,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geocities.com/bkkriders/law/unc/sign1949.html |title=Internet Archive Wayback Machine |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2009-10-26 |accessdate=2012-01-28 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026194353/http://geocities.com/bkkriders/law/unc/sign1949.html |archivedate=26 October 2009 }}</ref> itself based in turn on the 1931 [[Geneva Convention concerning the Unification of Road Signals]].<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/kinmokusei/convention/before/1931signals.html |title=1931 年道路信号統一条約 |language=Japanese |publisher=Members.jcom.home.ne.jp |date= |accessdate=2012-01-28}}</ref>

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

Both the Vienna Convention and the Geneva Protocol reflected a common consensus on road traffic signs that evolved primarily in Europe in the mid-20th century. Most jurisdictions outside Europe have not adopted either treaty, and maintain their own systems of road traffic signals. For example, the U.S. [[Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices]] (MUTCD) does not follow the symbol policy espoused by the Vienna Convention''';''' for example signs for speed limits and forbidden parking are among the most visible differences. In order to make it accepted in as many countries as possible, the convention allows some variations, for example danger warning signs can have triangular or square diamond shape and road markings can be white or yellow.

An alternative convention called the SADC-RTSM, provided by the [[Southern African Development Community]], is used by 11 countries in southern Africa. It follows many of the similar rules and principles as in the Vienna Convention.

==Rules==
===Road signs===
In article 2 the convention classes all road signs into a number of categories (A – H):
* A [[Warning sign|Danger warning sign]]s
<!-- *  [[Regulatory sign]]s -->
* B [[Priority sign]]s
*C [[Prohibitory traffic sign|Prohibitory or restrictive signs]]
*D [[Mandatory sign]]s
<!-- *E [[Special regulation sign]]s
*  [[Informative sign]]s -->
*F Information, facilities, or service signs
*G [[Direction, position, or indication sign]]
*H Additional panels

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

{| class="wikitable"
! Class of sign !! Shape !! Ground !! Border !! Size !! Symbol !! Examples
|-
| rowspan=2 | Danger warning sign || Equilateral triangle || White or yellow || Red || 0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small) || Black or dark blue || [[File:UK traffic sign 559.svg|45px]] [[File:Iceland road sign A21.11.svg|45px]]
|-
| Diamond || Yellow || Black || 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small) || Black or dark blue || [[File:New Zealand road sign W14-6 L.svg|45px]]
|-
! colspan=7 | Priority signs
|-
| [[Yield sign]] || Inverted equilateral triangle || White or yellow || Red || 0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small) || None || [[File:Vienna convention sign B1.svg|45px]] [[File:Vienna convention sign B1 (variant).svg|45px]]
|-
| rowspan=2 | [[Stop sign]] || Octagon || Red|| White || 0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small) || Stop<sup>†</sup> written in white || [[File:Vienna Convention road sign B2a.svg|45px]] [[File:Stop sign China.svg|45px]]
|-
| Circular || White or yellow || Red || 0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small) || Stop<sup>†</sup> written in blue or black inside red inverted triangle || [[File:Vienna Convention road sign B2b (v1).svg|45px]] [[File:Cuban Stop Sign.svg|45px]]
|-
| Priority road || Diamond || White || Black || 0.5 m (large), 0.35 m (small) || Yellow square || [[File:2.1 Russian road sign.svg|45px]]
|-
| End priority || Diamond || White || Black || 0.5 m (large), 0.35 m (small) || Yellow square and grey or black diagonal lines crossing the sign || [[File:2.2 Russian road sign.svg|45px]]
|-
| Priority for oncoming traffic || Circular || White or yellow || Red || Unspecified || Black arrow indicating direction with priority, red arrow indicating direction without || [[File:Vienna-convention-sign-B5.svg|45px]] [[File:Vienna-convention-sign-B5 (variant).svg|45px]]
|-
| Priority over oncoming traffic || Rectangle || Blue || None || Unspecified || White arrow indicating direction with priority, red arrow indicating direction without || [[File:Vienna-convention-sign-B6.svg|45px]]
|-
! colspan=7 | Prohibitory signs
|-
| Standard prohibitory || Circular || White or yellow || Red || 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small) || Varies || [[File:Norwegian-road-sign-335.0.svg|45px]]
|-
| Parking prohibitory || Circular || Blue || Red || 0.6 m (large), 0.2 m (small) || Varies || [[File:Vorschriftszeichen 13a.svg|45px]]
|-
| End of prohibition || Circular || White or yellow || None || 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small) || Black, blue or grey diagonal line || [[File:Norwegian-road-sign-337.0.svg|45px]]
|-
! colspan=7 | Mandatory signs
|-
| rowspan=2 | Standard mandatory || Circular || Blue || None || 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small), 0.3 m (very small) || Varies, white || [[File:Italian traffic signs - direzione obbligatoria dritto.svg|45px]]
|-
| Circular || White || Red || 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small), 0.3 m (very small) || Varies, black || [[File:Colombia SR-03.svg|45px]]
|-
! colspan=7 | Special regulation signs
|-
| rowspan=2 | All signs || rowspan=2 | Rectangular || Blue || Unspecified || Unspecified || Varies, white || [[File:Italian traffic signs - zona residenziale.svg|45px]]
|-
| Light || Unspecified || Unspecified || Varies, Black || [[File:Vorschriftszeichen 15a.svg|45px]]
|-
! colspan=7 | Information, facilities or service signs
|-
| All signs || Unspecified || Blue or green || Unspecified || Unspecified || Varies, on white or yellow rectangle || [[File:Indonesian Road Sign Info 6d1.png|45px]]
|-
! colspan=7 | Direction, position or indication signs
|-
| rowspan=2 | Informative signs || rowspan=2 | Rectangular, sometimes with arrowhead || Light || Unspecified || Unspecified || Varies, dark || [[File:Built-up Area in Iran.png|45px]] [[File:CH-Hinweissignal-Wegweiser «Zeltplatz».svg|45px]]
|-
| Dark || Unspecified || Unspecified || Varies, light || [[File:Italian traffic signs - avvio zona industriale.svg|45px]]<!-- Not sure this is a good example -->
|-
| Motorways || Rectangular || Blue or green || Unspecified || Unspecified || Varies, white || [[File:Nederlands verkeersbord G1.svg|45px]] [[File:CH-Hinweissignal-Autobahn.svg|45px]]
|-
| Temporary || Rectangular || Yellow or orange || Unspecified || Unspecified || Varies, black || [[File:Signaux FRANCE K6 1963.svg|45px]]
|-
! colspan=7 | Additional panels
|-
| rowspan=2 | All panels || rowspan=2 | Unspecified || White or yellow || Black, blue or red || Unspecified || Varies, black or dark blue || [[File:Panonceau-M11b1.svg|45px]]
|-
| Black or dark blue || White or yellow || Unspecified || Varies, white or yellow || [[File:Alternate plate blue.svg|45px]]<!-- This is not a Vienna Convention country's sign, but is the only example I could find -->
|-
! Class of sign !! Shape !! Ground !! Border !! Size !! Symbol !! Examples
|}

<sup>†</sup> May be written in [[English language|English]] or the national language

It also specifies the symbols and [[pictogram]]s 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 that do not apply at night, must be reflective enough to be seen in darkness with headlights from a distance.

===Road markings===
The convention also specifies road markings. All such markings must be less than 6&nbsp;mm high, with [[cat's eye (road)|cat's eye]] reflectors no more than 15&nbsp;mm above the road surface. The road markings shall be white or yellow.<ref>Chapter 29 in the convention.</ref>

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 recognisable in most languages, such as "Stop" or "Taxi".

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Type !! Shape!! colspan="2" | Colour !! Position !! Meaning
|-
| rowspan=10 | Non-flashing || rowspan=4 | Plain
| [[File:Traffic lights dark green.svg|20px]] || style="background:#9f9;"| Green || At intersection || Proceed
|-
| [[File:Traffic lights dark yellow.svg|20px]] || style="background:#ff9;"| Amber || At intersection, level crossing, swing bridge, airport, fire station or ferry terminal || Stop if possible
|-
| [[File:Traffic lights dark red.svg|20px]] || style="background:#f33;"| Red || At intersection || Stop
|-
| [[File:Traffic lights dark red-yellow.svg|20px]] || style="background:#f33;"| Red and amber || At intersection || Signal is about to change (usually to green)
|-
| Arrow pointing left || || style="background:#9f9;"| Green || At intersection || Only traffic turning left may proceed
|-
| Arrow pointing right || || style="background:#9f9;"| Green || At intersection || Only traffic turning right may proceed
|-
| Arrow pointing upwards || || style="background:#9f9;"| Green || At intersection || Only traffic travelling straight ahead may proceed
|-
| Arrow pointing downwards || [[File:Körfältssignal, rakt fram.svg|20px]] || style="background:#9f9;"| Green || Above lane || Traffic may continue in lane
|-
| Cross (×) || [[File:Körfältssignal, avstängd.svg|20px]] || style="background:#f33;"| Red || Above lane || Traffic may not enter lane (lane closed)
|-
| Arrow pointing diagonally downwards || [[File:Körfältssignal, vänster.svg|20px]] || style="background:#ff9;"| Amber or white|| Above lane || Lane closes shortly ahead, change lane in the direction of the arrow
|-
| rowspan=4 | Flashing || rowspan=4| Plain
| [[File:Järnvägssignal, rött.svg|30px]] || style="background:#f33;"| Double Red (alternating) || At level crossing, swing bridge, airport, fire station or ferry terminal || Stop
|-
| [[File:YellowFlashTrafficLight.gif|20px]] || style="background:#ff9;"| Amber (flashing) || Anywhere except intersection || Proceed with caution
|-
| [[File:YellowFlashTrafficLight.gif|20px]] || style="background:#ff9;"| Amber (flashing) || At intersection || The priority is determined by [[Image:Sweden road sign B4.svg|20px]] Priority Route or [[File:Italian traffic signs - dare precedenza.svg|20px]] Yield signs.
|-
| [[File:Järnvägssignal, vitt.svg|30px]] || style="background:#fff;"| 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==
The convention has 65 state parties at August 2016:  Albania, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Central African Republic, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Zambia.

The only countries in Europe that are not signatories to the Convention are Iceland, Ireland, Andorra, Malta, and Liechtenstein; Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Holy See are all signatories but have yet to ratify the Convention.

The only countries in Asia that are not signatories to the Convention are Bangladesh, Malaysia, Cambodia, Taiwan, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Laos, Japan, Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Armenia, Yemen, Oman, North Korea, and Afghanistan; Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand are all signatories but have yet to ratify the Convention.

==See also==
*[[Vienna Convention on Road Traffic]]
*[[Comparison of European road signs]]
*[[Comparison of MUTCD-Influenced Traffic Signs]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetailsIII.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XI-B-20&chapter=11&Temp=mtdsg3&lang=en Ratifications]
* [http://live.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/conventn/signalse.pdf Full text of convention]
* [http://live.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/conventn/Conv_road_signs_2006v_EN.pdf Consolidated text of convention including diagrams]
* [http://www.unece.org/trans/roadsafe/wp12004.html Amendments adopted in 2003]
{{Traffic signs}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2011}}

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