FACTOID # 129: ‘Dollar’ is the most common currency name, followed by ‘franc,’ ‘pound,’ ‘dinar,’ ‘peso,’ and ‘rupee.’
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

FACTS & STATISTICS    Simple view

  1. Select countries to view: (hold down Control key and click to select several)

     

     

    Compare:

     

     

  1. Select fact or statistic: (* = graphable)

     

     

     

  2. (OPTIONAL) Compare to statistic: (both need to be graphable)

     

     

     

  3. View result as:

     

       
(OR) SEARCH ALL encyclopedia, stats & forums:   

Encyclopedia > Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals
A typical warning sign, as defined by the convention.
Enlarge
A typical warning sign, as defined by the convention.

The Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals is an international treaty designed to increase road safety and aid international road traffic by standardising the road signs, traffic lights and road markings in use internationally. This convention was agreed upon by the United Nations Economic and Social Council at the UNESC Conference on Road Traffic in Vienna 7 October 1968 to 8 November 1968, and came into force 6 June 1978. This conference also produced the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which complements this legislation by standardising international traffic laws. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A treaty is a binding agreement under international law concluded by subjects of international law, namely states and international organizations. ... See also: street sign theft External links http://homepages. ... Traffic lights will sometimes differ where there are several lanes of traffic. ... It has been suggested that Lane#Lane_markings be merged into this article or section. ... The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations assists the General Assembly in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development. ... Vienna (German: Wien ; Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian: Beč, Czech: Vídeň, Hungarian: Bécs, Romanian: Viena, Romani: Bech or Vidnya, Russian: Вена, Slovak: Viedeň, Slovenian: Dunaj) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... October 7 is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is an international treaty designed to facilitate international road traffic and to increase road safety by standardising the uniform traffic rules among the contracting parties. ... Red = drive on right Blue = drive on left Rules of the road are the general practices and procedures followed by people on roads, especially those driving cars or on bicycles or other vehicles. ...

Contents


Rules

Road signs

An acceptable variant of the above sign. Note the different background and the shape of the symbol.
Enlarge
An acceptable variant of the above sign. Note the different background and the shape of the symbol.

The convention classes all road signs into a number of categories and subcategories:

The convention then lays out precise colours, sizes and shapes for each of these classes of sign: This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Regulatory signs are intended to instruct road users on what they must or should do (or not do) under a given set of circumstances. ... Prohibitory traffic signs Prohibitory traffic signs are used to prohibit certain types of manoeuvres or some types of traffic. ...

Class of sign Shape Ground Border Size Symbol
Danger warning sign Equilaterial triangle White or yellow Red 0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small) Varies, black
Diamond Yellow Black 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small) Varies, black
Priority signs
Give way sign Inverted equilateral triangle White or yellow Red 0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small) None
Stop sign Octagon Red None 0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small) Stop† written in white
Circular White or yellow Yellow 0.9 m (large), 0.6 m (small) Stop† written in blue or black
Priority road Diamond White Black 0.5 m (large), 0.35 m (small) Yellow square
End priority Diamond White Black 0.5 m (large), 0.35 m (small) Yellow square and grey or black diagonal lines crossing the sign
Priority for oncoming traffic Circular White or yellow Red Unspecified Black arrow indicating direction with priority, red arrow indicating direction without
Priority over oncoming traffic Rectangle Blue None Unspecified White arrow indicating direction with priority, red arrow indicating direction without
Prohibitory signs
Standard prohibitory Circular White or yellow Red 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small) Varies
Parking prohibitory Circular Blue None 0.6 m (large), 0.2 m (small) Varies
End of prohibition Circular White or yellow None 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small) Black or grey diagonal line
Mandatory signs
Standard mandatory Circular Blue None 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small), 0.3 m (very small) Varies, white
Circular White Red 0.6 m (large), 0.4 m (small), 0.3 m (very small) Varies, black
Special regulation signs
All signs Rectangular Blue Unspecified Unspecified Varies, white
Light Unspecified Unspecified Varies, Black
Information, facilities or service signs
All signs Unspecified Blue or green Unspecified Unspecified Varies, on white or yellow rectangle
Direction, position or indication signs
Informative signs Rectangular, sometimes with arrowhead Light Unspecified Unspecified Varies, dark
Dark Unspecified Unspecified Varies, light
Motorways Rectangular Blue or green Unspecified Unspecified Varies, white
Temporary Rectangular Yellow or orange Unspecified Unspecified Varies, black
Additional panels
All panels Unspecified White or yellow Black, blue or red Unspecified Varies, black or dark blue
Black or dark blue White or yellow Unspecified Varies, white or yellow

† May be written in English or the national language In road transport, a yield (American English and Republic of Ireland) or give way (Commonwealth English) traffic sign indicates that a driver of a vehicle must slow down and prepare to stop if necessary (usually while merging into traffic on another road) but does not need to stop if there... Stop sign used in English-speaking countries, as well as in the European Union Former European stop sign consisting of red Give Way triangle inside a circle A stop sign is a traffic sign, usually erected at road junctions, that instructs drivers to make a brief and temporary, but complete... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...


It also specifies the symbols and pictograms 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 which do not apply at night, must be reflective enough to been seen in darkness with headlights from a distance. Pictogram for public toilets A pictogram or pictograph is a symbol representing an object or concept by illustration. ...


Road markings

The convention also specifies road markings. All such markings must be less than 6 mm high, with cat's eye reflectors no more than 15 mm above the road surface. A close up of a surface red cats eye as used in motorway repair work. ...


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 which are recognisable in most langauges, such as "Stop" or "Taxi".


Traffic lights

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

Type Shape Colour Position Meaning
Non-flashing Plain Green At intersection Proceed
Amber At intersection Stop if possible
Red At intersection Stop
Red and amber At intersection Signal is about to change
Arrow pointing left Green At intersection Only traffic turning left may proceed
Arrow pointing right Green At intersection Only traffic turning right may proceed
Arrow pointing upwards Green At intersection Only traffic travelling straight ahead may proceed
Arrow pointing downwards Green Above lane Traffic may continue in lane
Cross Red Above lane Traffic may not enter lane
Arrow pointing diagonally downwards Amber or white Above lane Lane closes shortly ahead, change lane
Flashing Plain Red At level crossing, swing bridge, airport, fire station or ferry terminal Stop
Amber Anywhere Proceed with caution
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.


See also

The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is an international treaty designed to facilitate international road traffic and to increase road safety by standardising the uniform traffic rules among the contracting parties. ...

External links

Full text of convention


  Results from FactBites:
 
Traffic sign - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (2429 words)
In 1926 road sign standards similar to those used in the UK at the time were adopted, albeit with Irish (Gaelic) type in addition to English.
In 1956, road signs in the south were changed to markedly differ from the UK standard with the adoption of US-style "diamond" signs for many road hazard warnings (junctions, bends, railway crossings, traffic lights).
It is gradually moving toward internationally-accepted signs; it abandoned, for example, a localised version of the "no parking sign" (with a Hanzi character) and used the blue-red cross sign as of the late 1990s.
  More results at FactBites »


 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.