Convention on Road Sings and Signals
ANNEXES
Annex 1
ROAD SIGNS
Section G
DIRECTION, POSITION OR INDICATION SIGNS
I. General characteristics and symbols
1. Informative signs are usually rectangular; however, direction signs may be in the shape of an elongated rectangle with the longer side horizontal, terminating in an arrowhead.
2. Informative signs shall bear either white or light-coloured symbols or inscriptions on a dark ground, or dark-coloured symbols or inscriptions on a white or light-coloured ground; the colour red may be used only exceptionally and must never predominate.
3. Advance direction signs or direction signs relating to motorways or roads treated as motorways shall bear white symbols or inscriptions on a blue or green ground. On such signs the symbols used on signs E, 5a and E, 6a may be reproduced on reduced scale.
4. Signs indicating temporary conditions such as road works, diversions or detours may have orange or yellow ground with black symbols and inscriptions.
5. On signs G, 1; G, 4; G, 5; G, 6 and G, 10 it is recommended to show place names in the language of the country, or subdivision thereof, where the localities referred to are situated.
II. Advance direction signs
1. General case
Examples of advance direction signs: G, 1a; G, 1b and G, 1c.
2. Special cases
(a) Examples of advance direction signs for "NO THROUGH ROAD": G, 2a and G, 2b.
(b) Example of advance direction sign for route to be followed in order to turn left, where a left turn at the next intersection is prohibited: G, 3.
NOTE: Advance direction signs G, 1 may bear the symbols used on other signs informing road users of the characteristics of the route or of traffic conditions (for example: signs A, 2; A, 5; C, 3e; C, 6; E, 5a; F, 2).
III. Direction signs
1. Examples of signs showing the direction of a place: G, 4a; G, 4b; G, 4c and G, 5.
2. Examples of signs showing the direction of an airfield: G, 6a; G, 6b and G, 6c.
3. Sign G, 7 shows the direction of a camping site.
4. Sign G, 8 shows the direction of a youth hostel.
5. Examples of signs showing the direction of a car parking more particularly intended for vehicles whose drivers wish to use means of public transport: G, 9a and G, 9b. The type of public transport may be indicated on the sign by an inscription or symbol.
NOTE: Direction signs G, 4; G, 5 and G, 6 may bear the symbols used on other signs informing road users of the characteristics of the route or traffic conditions (for example: signs A, 2; A, 5; C, 3e; C, 6; E, 5a; F,2)
IV. Confirmatory signs
Sign G, 10 is an example of a confirmatory sign.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 6, paragraph 1, of this Convention, this sign may be placed on the reverse side of another sign intended for traffic proceeding in the opposite direction.
V. Indication signs
1. Signs indicating the number and direction of traffic lanes
Signs such as G, 11a; G, 11b and G, 11c shall be used to notify drivers on the number and direction of traffic lanes. They must comprise the same number of arrows as the number of lanes allocated to traffic in the same direction; they may also indicate lanes allocated to oncoming traffic.
2. Signs indicating closure of a traffic lane
Signs such as G, 12a and G, 12b shall indicate to drivers closure of a traffic lane.
3. "NO THROUGH ROAD" sign
Sign G, 13, "NO THROUGH ROAD", placed at the entry to a road, shall mean that there is no throughway.
4. "GENERAL SPEED LIMITS" sign
Sign G, 14, "GENERAL SPEED LIMITS", shall be used, especially near national frontiers, to notify the general speed limits in force in a country or in a subdivision of that country. The name or distinguishing sign of the country, possibly accompanied by the national emblem, shall be placed at the top of the sign. On the sign the general speed limits in force in a country will be shown in the following order: (1) in built-up areas; (2) outside built-up areas; (3) on motorways. If appropriate, the symbol of sign E, 6a, "Road for motor vehicles", may be used to indicate the general speed limit on roads for motor vehicles.
The border of the sign and its upper part shall be in blue; the country name and the ground of the three squares shall be in white. The symbols used in the upper and central squares shall be in black and the symbol in the central square shall have an oblique red line across it.
5. "ROAD OPEN OR CLOSED" sign
(a) Sign G, 15, "ROAD OPEN OR CLOSED", shall be used to show whether a mountain road, particularly a section leading over a pass, is open or closed; the sign shall be placed at the entry to the road or roads leading to the section in question.
The name of the section of road (or pass) shall be inscribed in white. On the sign shown, the name "Furka" is given as an example.
Panels 1, 2 and 3 shall be removable.
(b) If the section of road is closed, panel 1 shall be red and shall bear the inscription "CLOSED"; if the section is open, panel 1 shall be green and shall bear the inscription "OPEN". The inscriptions shall be in white and preferably in several languages.
(c) Panels 2 and 3 shall have a white ground with inscriptions and symbols in black.
If the section of road is open, panel 3 shall remain blank and panel 2, according to the state of the road, shall either be blank, or display sign D, 9, "SNOW CHAINS COMPULSORY", or display symbol G, 16, "CHAINS OR SNOW TYRES RECOMMENDED". This symbol shall be black.
If the section of road is closed, panel 3 shall show the name of the place up to which the road is open and panel 2 shall display, according to the state of the road, either the inscription "OPEN AS FAR AS", or symbol G, 16, or sign D, 9.
6. "ADVISORY SPEED" sign
Sign G, 17 "ADVISORY SPEED" shall be used to show the speed at which it is advisable to drive if circumstances permit and if the driver is not required to comply with a lower limit specific to his category of vehicle. The figure or range of figures appearing on the sign shall indicate the speed in the unit of measurement most commonly used to express the speed of vehicles in the country concerned. This unit may be specified on the sign.
7. Sign notifying advised itinerary for heavy vehicles
G, 18 "ADVISED ITINERARY FOR HEAVY VEHICLES"
8. Sign notifying an escape lane
Sign G, 19 "ESCAPE LANE" shall be used to indicate an escape lane on steep descent. This sign, with a plate showing distance to the escape lane, should be placed in conjunction with sign A, 2 at the top of the descent, where the danger zone begins and at the entry to the escape lane. Depending on the length of the descent the sign should be repeated as necessary, again with a distance plate.
The symbol may be varied corresponding to the siting of the escape lane in relation to the road concerned.
9. Signs notifying a pedestrian overpass or underpass
(a) Sign G, 20 is used to indicate a pedestrian overpass or underpass.
(b) Sign G, 21 is used to indicate an overpass or underpass without steps. The symbol for handicapped persons may also be used on this sign.
10. Signs notifying an exit from a motorway
Signs G, 22a; G, 22b and G, 22c are examples of advance signs for notifying an exit from a motorway. These signs shall bear the indication of a distance to the exit from a motorway, as determined by domestic legislation, provided that signs bearing respectively one and two oblique bars are set up at one third and two thirds of the distance between the sign bearing three oblique bars and the exit from a motorway.