CONVENTION ON ROAD SIGNS AND SIGNALS

The Contracting Parties, recognizing that international uniformity of road signs, signals and symbols and of road markings is necessary in order to facilitate international road traffic and to increase road safety, have agreed upon the following provisions:

Chapter II

ROAD SIGNS

INFORMATIVE SIGNS

ARTICLE 14

1. Sections F and G of Annex 1 to this Convention describe the signs which convey useful information to road-users, or give examples of such signs, and also give some instructions for their use.

2. The inscription of words on informative signs (ii) of Article 5, paragraph 1 (c), in countries not using the Latin alphabet shall be both in the national language and in the form of a transliteration into the Latin alphabet reproducing as closely as possible the pronunciation in the national language.

3. In countries not using the Latin alphabet, the words in Latin characters may be entered either on the same sign as the words in the national language or on a repeat sign.

4. A sign shall not bear inscriptions in more than two languages.

ARTICLE 15

Advance direction signs

Advance direction signs shall be placed at such distance from the intersection as will make them most effective both by day and by night, having regard to road and traffic conditions, including the normal speed of vehicles and the distance at which the sign is visible; this distance need not exceed about 50 meters (55 yards) in built-up areas but shall be not less than 500 meters (550 yards) on motorways and other roads carrying fast traffic. The signs may be repeated. An additional panel placed below the sign may show the distance between the sign and the intersection; this distance may also be shown on the lower part of the sign itself.

ARTICLE 16

Direction signs

1. One direction sign may bear the names of several places; the names shall then appear one below the other on the sign. The letters used for one place name may be larger than those used for the others only if the place in question is the largest of them.

2. When distances are shown, the figures expressing them shall be inscribed at the same height as the place name. On direction signs which are arrow-shaped, these figures shall be placed between the place-name and the point of the arrow; on rectangular-shaped signs they shall be placed after the place-name.

ARTICLE 17

Road identification signs

The signs used to identify roads either by their number, made up of figures, letters or a combination of figures and letters, or by their name, shall consist of that number or that name framed in a rectangle or shield. However, Contracting Parties having a route classification system may replace the rectangle by a route classification symbol.

ARTICLE 18

Place identification signs

Place identification signs may be used to show the frontier between two countries or the boundary between two administrative divisions of the same country or the name of a river, mountain pass, beauty spot, etc. These signs shall differ conspicuously from the signs referred to in Article 13 bis, paragraph 2, of this Convention.

ARTICLE 19

Confirmatory signs

Confirmatory signs are used to confirm the direction of a road where the competent authorities consider it necessary, e.g. at the exit from a large built-up area. They shall bear the name of one or more places, as provided in Article 16, paragraph 1, of this Convention. Where distances are shown, the figures expressing them shall be placed after the name of the locality.

ARTICLE 20

(Deleted)

ARTICLE 21

Provisions applying generally to informative signs

1. The informative signs referred to in Articles 15 to 19 of this Convention shall be set up where the competent authorities consider it advisable. The other informative signs shall be set up, with due regard for the requirements of Article 6, paragraph 1, only where the competent authorities consider it essential; in particular, signs F, 2 to F, 7 shall be set up only on roads on which facilities for emergency repairs, refuelling, accommodation and refreshments are rare.

2. Informative signs may be repeated. An additional panel placed below the sign may show the distance between the sign and the point which it indicates; this distance may also be inscribed on the lower part of the sign itself.

ARTICLE 22

(Deleted)