Convention on Road Sings and Signals
ANNEXES
Annex 1
ROAD SIGNS
Section C
PROHIBITORY OR RESTRICTIVE SIGNS
I. General characteristics and symbols
1. Prohibitory and restrictive signs shall be circular; their diameter shall be not less than 0.60 m outside built-up areas and not less than 0.40 m or 0.20 m for signs prohibiting or restricting standing and parking in built-up areas.
2. Unless otherwise specified where the signs in question are described, prohibitory or restrictive signs shall have a white or yellow ground or blue ground for signs prohibiting or restricting standing and parking with a wide red border; the symbols and the inscriptions, if any, shall be black or dark blue and the oblique bars, if any, shall be red and shall slope downwards from left to right.
II. Descriptions
1. Prohibition and restriction of entry
(a) Notification that entry is prohibited for all vehicles shall be given by sign C, 1, "NO ENTRY", of which there are two models: C, 1a, and C, 1b.
(b) Notification that all vehicular traffic is prohibited in both directions shall be given by sign C, 2, "CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS".
(c) Notification that entry is prohibited for a certain category of vehicle or road-user only, shall be given by a sign bearing as a symbol the silhouette of the vehicles or road-users whose entry is prohibited. Sign C, 3a; C, 3b; C, 3c; C, 3d; C, 3e; C, 3f; C, 3g; C, 3h; C, 3i; C, 3j; C, 3k; and C, 3l shall have the following meanings:
C, 3a "NO ENTRY FOR ANY POWER DRIVEN VEHICLE EXCEPT TWO-WHEELED MOTOR CYCLES WITHOUT SIDE-CAR"
C, 3b "NO ENTRY FOR MOTOR CYCLES"
C, 3c "NO ENTRY FOR CYCLES"
C, 3d "NO ENTRY FOR MOPEDS"
C, 3e "NO ENTRY FOR GOODS VEHICLES"
The inscription of a tonnage figure, either in a light colour on the silhouette of the vehicle or, in accordance with Article 8, paragraph 4 of this Convention, on an additional panel placed below sign C, 3e, shall mean that the prohibition applies only if the permissible maximum mass of the vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeds that figure.
C, 3f "NO ENTRY FOR ANY POWER DRIVEN VEHICLE DRAWING A TRAILER OTHER THAN A SEMI-TRAILER OR A SINGLE AXLE TRAILER"
The inscription of a tonnage figure, either in a light colour on the silhouette of the trailer or, in accordance with Article 8, paragraph 4, of this Convention, on an additional panel placed below sign C, 3f, shall mean that the prohibition applies only if the permissible maximum mass of the trailer exceeds that figure.
It shall be open to Contracting Parties, in cases where they see fit to do so, to replace, in the symbol, the silhouette of the rear end of a lorry by that of the rear end of a private car, and the trailer silhouette by that of a trailer which can be attached to a private car.
C, 3g "NO ENTRY FOR ANY POWER-DRIVEN VEHICLE DRAWING A TRAILER"
The inscription of a tonnage figure, either in a light colour on the silhouette of the trailer or, in accordance with article 8, paragraph 4 of this Convention, on an additional panel placed below sign C, 3g, shall mean that the prohibition applies only if the permissible maximum mass of the trailer exceeds that figure.
C, 3h "NO ENTRY FOR VEHICLES CARRYING DANGEROUS GOODS FOR WHICH SPECIAL SIGN PLATING IS PRESCRIBED"
To indicate no entry for vehicles carrying certain types of dangerous goods, the sign C, 3h may be used in conjunction, if necessary, with an additional panel. The information given on this additional panel specifies that this prohibition applies only to the carriage of dangerous goods as defined by domestic legislation.
C, 3i "NO ENTRY FOR PEDESTRIANS"
C, 3j "NO ENTRY FOR ANIMAL-DRAWN VEHICLES"
C, 3k "NO ENTRY FOR HANDCARTS"
C, 3l "NO ENTRY FOR POWER DRIVEN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES"
NOTE - It shall be open to Contracting Parties to omit from signs C, 3a to C, 3l the red oblique bar joining the upper left quadrant and the lower right quadrant or, provided that this does not make the symbol less easy to see and understand, not to interrupt the bar where it crosses the symbol.
(d) Notification that entry is prohibited for several categories of vehicle or road user, may be given either by displaying as many prohibitory signs as there are prohibited classes, or by a single prohibitory sign which shows the silhouettes of the various vehicles or road-users whose entry is prohibited. Signs C, 4a "NO ENTRY FOR POWER DRIVEN VEHICLES"; and C, 4b "NO ENTRY FOR POWER DRIVEN VEHICLES OR ANIMAL-DRAWN VEHICLES" are examples of such signs.
Signs showing more than two silhouettes may not be set up outside built-up areas, and signs showing more than three silhouettes may not be set up in built-up areas.
(e) Notification that entry is prohibited for vehicles whose mass or dimensions exceed certain limits shall be given by the signs:
C, 5 "NO ENTRY FOR VEHICLES HAVING AN OVERALL WIDTH EXCEEDING ... METRES"
C, 6 "NO ENTRY FOR VEHICLES HAVING AN OVERALL HEIGHT EXCEEDING ... METRES"
C, 7 "NO ENTRY FOR VEHICLES EXCEEDING ... TONNES LADEN MASS"
C, 8 "NO ENTRY FOR VEHICLES HAVING A MASS EXCEEDING ... TONNES ON ONE AXLE"
C, 9 "NO ENTRY FOR VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS OF VEHICLES EXCEEDING ... METRES IN LENGTH".
(f) Notification that vehicles shall not be driven closer together than the distance indicated on the sign shall be given by sign C, 10, "DRIVING OF VEHICLES LESS THAN ... METRES APART PROHIBITED".
2. Prohibition of turning
Notification that turning is prohibited (to the right or to the left according to the direction of the arrow) shall be given by sign C, 11a "NO LEFT TURN" or sign C, 11b "NO RIGHT TURN".
3. Prohibition of U-turns
(a) Notification that U-turns are prohibited shall be given by sign C, 12 "NO U-TURNS".
(b) The symbol may be reversed, if appropriate.
4. Prohibition of overtaking
(a) Notification that, in addition to the general rules on overtaking laid down by the regulations in force, the overtaking of power-driven vehicles other than two-wheeled mopeds and two-wheeled motor cycles without side-car travelling on a road is prohibited, shall be given by sign C, 13a "OVERTAKING PROHIBITED". There are two models of this sign: C, 13aa and C, 13ab.
(b) Notification that overtaking is prohibited only for goods vehicles having a permissible maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tons shall be given by sign C, 13b "OVERTAKING BY GOODS VEHICLES PROHIBITED". There are two models of this sign: C, 13ba and C, 13bb.
An inscription on an additional panel placed below the sign in accordance with Article 8, paragraph 4 of this Convention may change the permissible maximum mass above which the prohibitions applies.
5. Speed limit
(a) Notification of a speed limit shall be given by sign C, 14, "MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITED TO THE FIGURE INDICATED". The figure appearing on the sign shall indicate the maximum speed in the unit of measurement most commonly used to express the speed of vehicles in the country concerned. After or below the figure expressing the speed may be added, for instance, "Km" (Kilometres) or "m" (Miles).
(b) To indicate a speed limit applicable only to vehicles of a permissible maximum mass exceeding a given figure, an inscription comprising that figure shall be placed on an additional panel below the sign in accordance with Article 8, paragraph 4 of this Convention.
6. Prohibition of the use of audible warning devices
Notification that the use of audible warning devices is prohibited, except to avoid an accident, shall be given by sign C, 15 "USE OF AUDIBLE WARNING DEVICES PROHIBITED". This sign, if not placed at the beginning of a built-up area beside or shortly after the sign identifying the built-up area, shall be accompanied by an additional panel H, 2 described in section H of this annex, showing the distance over which the prohibition applies. It is recommended that this sign should not be placed at the beginning of built-up areas when the prohibition applies in all built-up areas and that it be provided that the sign identifying a built-up area placed at the beginning of that area shall notify road users that the traffic regulations applicable to built-up areas in that country apply from that point onwards.
7. Prohibition of passing without stopping
(a) Notification of the proximity of a Custom-house at which a stop is compulsory shall be given by sign C, 16, "PASSING WITHOUT STOPPING PROHIBITED". Notwithstanding Article 8 of this Convention, the symbol of this sign shall include the word "Customs", preferably in two languages; Contracting Parties using C, 16 signs shall endeavour to reach a regional agreement to the effect that this word shall appear in the same language on all the signs they set up.
(b) This sign may also be used to notify drivers that passing without stopping is prohibited for other reasons; in this case the word "Customs" shall be replaced by another very brief inscription indicating the reason for the stop.
8. End of prohibition or restriction
(a) The point at which all prohibitions notified by prohibitory signs for moving vehicles cease to apply shall be indicated by sign C, 17a "END OF ALL LOCAL PROHIBITIONS IMPOSED ON MOVING VEHICLES". This sign shall be circular and have a white or yellow ground; it shall have no border or only a black rim, and shall bear a diagonal band, sloping downward from right to left, which may be black or dark grey or consist of black or grey parallel lines.
(b) The point at which a particular prohibition or restriction notified to moving vehicles by a prohibitory or restrictive sign ceases to apply shall be indicated by sign C, 17b "END OF SPEED LIMIT" or sign C, 17c "END OF PROHIBITION OF OVERTAKING", OR SIGN C, 17d "END OF PROHIBITION OF OVERTAKING FOR GOODS VEHICLES". These signs shall be similar to sign C, 17a, but shall show, in addition, in light grey the symbol of the prohibition or restriction which has ceased.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 6, paragraph 1 of this Convention, the signs referred to in this paragraph 8 may be placed on the reverse side of the prohibitory or restrictive sign intended for traffic coming in the opposite direction.
9. Prohibition or restriction of standing and parking
(a) (i) Places where parking is prohibited shall be indicated by sign C, 18, "PARKING PROHIBITED"; places where standing and parking are prohibited shall be indicated by sign C, 19, "STANDING AND PARKING PROHIBITED".
(ii) Sign C, 18 may be replaced by a circular sign with a red border and a red transverse bar, bearing the letter or ideogram used in the State concerned to denote "Parking", in black on a white or yellow ground.
(iii) The scope of the prohibition may be restricted by inscriptions on an additional plate below the sign specifying, as the case may be,
The days of the week or month or the times of day during which the prohibition applies;
The time in excess of which parking is prohibited by sign C, 18 or standing and parking is prohibited by sign C, 19;
The exceptions granted for certain classes of road user.
(iv) The time in excess of which parking or standing is prohibited may also be inscribed on the lower part of the red circle of the sign instead of appearing on an additional plate.
(b) (i) Where parking is authorized on opposite sides of the road alternately, signs C, 20a and C, 20b, "ALTERNATE PARKING", shall be used instead of sign C, 18;
(ii) The prohibition of parking shall apply to the sign C, 20a side on odd number dates and to the sign C, 20b side on even number dates; the time at which the side changes shall be prescribed by domestic legislation and need not necessarily be midnight. Domestic legislation may also prescribe an alternation other than a daily alternation for parking; the numerals I and II shall in that case be replaced on the signs by the period of alternation, e.g., 1-15 and 16-31 for an alternation on the first and sixteenth day of each month.
(iii) Sign C, 18 may be used by States which do not adopt sign C, 19; C, 20a and C, 20b, supplemented by additional inscriptions, as provided in article 8, paragraph 4 of this Convention.
(c) (i) Except in special cases, the signs shall be so placed that their disc is perpendicular to the axis of the road, or at a slight angle to the plane perpendicular to that axis.
(ii) All the prohibitions and restrictions of parking shall apply only on the side of the carriageway on which the signs are placed.
(iii) Except as may be otherwise indicated:
On an additional panel H, 2 of section H of this annex and showing the distance over which the prohibition applies; or
In conformity with subparagraph (c) (v) of this paragraph, the prohibitions shall apply from a point level with the sign to the next point of entry of a road.
(iv) An additional panel H, 3a or H, 4a depicted in section H of this annex may be placed below the sign at the point where the prohibition begins. An additional panel H, 3b or H, 4b depicted in section H of this annex may be placed below signs repeating the prohibition. A further prohibition sign supplemented by an additional panel H, 3c or H, 4c depicted in section H of this annex may be placed at the point where the prohibition ceases to apply. Panels H, 3 shall be placed parallel to the axis of the road, and panels H, 4 perpendicular to that axis. The distances, if any, shown by panels H, 3 shall be those over which the prohibition applies in the direction of the arrow.
(v) If the prohibition ceases to apply before the next point of entry of a road, the sign bearing the additional end-of-prohibition panel described in subparagraph (c) (iv) above shall be set up. However, where the prohibition applies only over a short distance, it shall be permissible to set up only one sign:
Showing in the red circle the distance on which it applies, or
Bearing an additional panel H, 3.
(vi) Where parking-meters are installed, their presence shall signify that parking is subject to payment and is limited to the period for which the meter operates.
(vii) In zones in which the duration of parking is limited but parking is not subject to payment, this limitation instead of being indicated by sign C, 18 supplemented by additional panels, may be notified by a blue band at a height of approximately 2 m on lampposts, trees, etc., bordering the carriageway, or by lines on the kerb.