Misplaced Pages

Road signs in France

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Overview of road signs in France
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Road signs in France" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Please check completeness. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2018)
(Learn how and when to remove this message)
Road signs in Ornans.

Road signs in France refer to all conventional signals installed on French roads and intended to ensure the safety of road users, either by informing them of the dangers and regulations relating to traffic as well as elements useful for decision-making, or by indicating to them the landmarks and equipment useful for their travel on the national territory. They generally largely follow the general European conventions concerning the use of shape and color to indicate their function. France is a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. France signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals on 8 November 1968 and ratified it on 9 December 1971.

These road signs can also be found in some overseas territories of France.

History

The first road signs with modern symbols were created in France in 1902 by the Automobile Club of France, which had been founded in 1895. When cars started appearing in France in the 1900s, there were signs for motorists and cyclists with the words "Moderate Speed" or "Slow Down". On 11 October 1909, the first attempt at international unification of road signs was made in Geneva. Four round-shaped obstacle signs were adopted: "break", "Z-bends", "Level crossing with barrier" and "X-crossing".

In 1926, the four danger signs created and used since 1909 were definitively changed from the disc shape to the triangle shape still in use today. Unguarded level crossings were added, and in 1928, at Switzerland's request, one-way, direction, parking and no parking signs were adopted. In 1931, France signed the Geneva Convention concerning the unification of road signs and signals.

On 15 July 1942, during the occupation of French territories by Nazi Germany in World War II, a decree was signed amending the traffic rules: a sheet was to be placed around danger signs and the colour of the vignettes (previously dark blue) was to become black, as was the German custom. However, these changes were probably not implemented.

After the end of the war, a general instruction dated 1 August 1946 on road signs was published. This was the first document to regulate in detail all applications of road signs. Colours were standardised. The shape of some signs was changed, such as danger signs, the corners of which were now rounded. Some graphic elements were changed. New signs appeared: height limits, double speed limits for buses and cars, prohibition of lorries, thawing barriers, etc.

Warning signs

Priority signs

Regulatory signs

  • End of restrictions
  • End of restriction End of restriction
  • End of 50 km/h zone End of 50 km/h zone
  • End of no overtaking End of no overtaking
  • End of no overtaking by lorries End of no overtaking by lorries
  • End of no sounding of horns End of no sounding of horns
  • End of other restrictions End of other restrictions
  • Zonal prescription signs
  • No parking zone No parking zone
  • Restricted parking zone Restricted parking zone
  • Disc parking zone Disc parking zone
  • Meter parking zone Meter parking zone
  • Restricted disc parking zone Restricted disc parking zone
  • End of a no parking zone End of a no parking zone
  • End of a restricted parking zone End of a restricted parking zone
  • End of a disc parking zone End of a disc parking zone
  • End of a meter parking zone End of a meter parking zone
  • End of a restricted disc parking zone End of a restricted disc parking zone
  • 30 km/h zone 30 km/h zone
  • End of 30 km/h zone End of 30 km/h zone
  • Home Zone (20 km/h speed limit) Home Zone (20 km/h speed limit)
  • End of Home Zone End of Home Zone
  • Pedestrian precinct Pedestrian precinct
  • End of pedestrian precinct End of pedestrian precinct
  • Restricted access area Restricted access area
  • End of a restricted access area End of a restricted access area
  • Zone where winter equipment is compulsory Zone where winter equipment is compulsory
  • End of a zone where winter equipment is compulsory End of a zone where winter equipment is compulsory

Information signs

  • Information signs
  • Parking zone Parking zone
  • Disc parking zone Disc parking zone
  • Meter parking zone Meter parking zone
  • Risk of fire Risk of fire
  • Advisory minimum speed Advisory minimum speed
  • End of advisory minimum speed End of advisory minimum speed
  • Taxi rank Taxi rank
  • Bus stop Bus stop
  • Breakdown bay Breakdown bay
  • Carsharing Carsharing
  • One-way traffic One-way traffic
  • Dead end Dead end
  • Dead end (right) Dead end (right)
  • Dead end permeable for pedestrians Dead end permeable for pedestrians
  • Dead end permeable for pedestrians and cyclists Dead end permeable for pedestrians and cyclists
  • Road use restrictions Road use restrictions
  • Road use restrictions Road use restrictions
  • Priority over oncoming vehicles Priority over oncoming vehicles
  • Pedestrian crossing Pedestrian crossing
  • Bus lane crossing Bus lane crossing
  • Tram crossing Tram crossing
  • Caravan parking restricted Caravan parking restricted
  • Lane forbidden for use by lorries Lane forbidden for use by lorries
  • Contra-flow cyclists Contra-flow cyclists
  • Contra-flow bus lane Contra-flow bus lane
  • Slip road to left Slip road to left
  • Slip road to right Slip road to right
  • Level crossing with gates on side road Level crossing with gates on side road
  • Contra-flow cycle lane Contra-flow cycle lane
  • Speed limits in France (at entrance to country) Speed limits in France (at entrance to country)
  • Speed limits on motorways Speed limits on motorways
  • Escape lane on right Escape lane on right
  • Escape lane on left Escape lane on left
  • Speed bump Speed bump
  • Lanes merge Lanes merge
  • Lanes merge Lanes merge
  • Overtaking lanes Overtaking lanes
  • Overtaking lanes Overtaking lanes
  • End of overtaking lanes End of overtaking lanes
  • Other informations Other informations
  • Toll ticket marking point Toll ticket marking point
  • Manned tollbooth Manned tollbooth
  • Toll payment by debit or credit card Toll payment by debit or credit card
  • Toll payment by cash Toll payment by cash
  • Toll payment by subscription Toll payment by subscription
  • Expressway (controlled-access highway) Expressway (controlled-access highway)
  • End of expressway End of expressway
  • Tunnel Tunnel
  • End of tunnel End of tunnel
  • Cycle route Cycle route
  • End of cycle route End of cycle route
  • Pedestrian and cycle route Pedestrian and cycle route
  • End of pedestrian and cycle route End of pedestrian and cycle route
  • Motorway Motorway
  • End of motorway End of motorway

Service signs

  • Service signs
  • First aid First aid
  • Emergency telephone Emergency telephone
  • Telephone Telephone
  • Information Information
  • Tourist information board Tourist information board
  • Campsite Campsite
  • Caravan site Caravan site
  • Camping and caravan site Camping and caravan site
  • Youth hostel Youth hostel
  • Self-catering accommodation Self-catering accommodation
  • Hiking itinerary Hiking itinerary
  • Winter sports itinerary Winter sports itinerary
  • Picnic site Picnic site
  • Motorail services Motorail services
  • Video-monitored car park Video-monitored car park
  • Car ferry Car ferry
  • Toilets Toilets
  • Services for the disabled Services for the disabled
  • Petrol Petrol
  • Petrol and liquid petroleum gas Petrol and liquid petroleum gas
  • Petrol Petrol
  • Petrol and liquid petroleum gas Petrol and liquid petroleum gas
  • Petrol and charging station Petrol and charging station
  • Petrol, liquid petroleum gas and charging station Petrol, liquid petroleum gas and charging station
  • Charging station Charging station
  • Charging station and liquid petroleum gas Charging station and liquid petroleum gas
  • Restaurant Restaurant
  • Hotel Hotel
  • Café Café
  • Mooring for boats Mooring for boats
  • Cable car Cable car
  • Chairlift or gondola lift Chairlift or gondola lift
  • Viewpoint Viewpoint
  • Local radio station Local radio station
  • Playground Playground
  • Drainage Drainage
  • ATM ATM
  • Air pressure check Air pressure check
  • Recreation area Recreation area
  • Repairs Repairs
  • Fire extinguisher Fire extinguisher
  • Emergency exit (right) Emergency exit (right)
  • Emergency exit (left) Emergency exit (left)
  • Other services Other services
  • Eco-tax for trucks Eco-tax for trucks
  • Carpooling Carpooling

Location signs

  • Town signs
  • Entrance to town or village (speed limit 50 km/h) Entrance to town or village (speed limit 50 km/h)
  • End of town or village End of town or village

Railway signs

  • Railway signs
  • Level crossing without gates (single track) or aircraft crossing area Level crossing without gates (single track) or aircraft crossing area
  • Level crossing without gates (several tracks) Level crossing without gates (several tracks)
  • Level crossing without gates (single track) or aircraft crossing area Level crossing without gates (single track) or aircraft crossing area
  • Level crossing without gates (several tracks) Level crossing without gates (several tracks)
  • Level crossing without gates and with a flashing red warning light (single track) Level crossing without gates and with a flashing red warning light (single track)
  • Level crossing without gates and with a flashing red warning light (single track) Level crossing without gates and with a flashing red warning light (single track)
  • Gates Gates
  • Gantry in the presence of high-voltage cables Gantry in the presence of high-voltage cables

Temporary signs

  • Warning signs
  • Uneven road Uneven road
  • Road narrows Road narrows
  • Slippery road Slippery road
  • Road works Road works
  • Other danger Other danger
  • Temporary traffic signals Temporary traffic signals
  • Loose chippings Loose chippings
  • Queues likely Queues likely
  • Accident Accident
  • Reduced visibility Reduced visibility
  • Information signs
  • Other informations Other informations
  • Lanes change Lanes change
  • Lanes Lanes
  • Lanes merge Lanes merge
  • Lanes merge Lanes merge
  • Additional signs
  • Distance Distance
  • Extent Extent
  • Other indication Other indication

Additional signs

  • Distance signs
  • Distance Distance
  • Distance to the next gas station Distance to the next gas station
  • Extent sign
  • Extent Extent
  • Direction signs
  • On the right lane On the right lane
  • On the left lane On the left lane
  • Right Right
  • Left Left
  • On the indicated lane On the indicated lane
  • Vehicle categories
  • Cars Cars
  • Buses Buses
  • Motorbikes Motorbikes
  • Bicycles Bicycles
  • Mopeds Mopeds
  • Other category Other category
  • Weight Weight
  • Lorries Lorries
  • Weight of lorries Weight of lorries
  • Tractors Tractors
  • Vehicles with snow chains Vehicles with snow chains
  • Vehicles carrying explosives Vehicles carrying explosives
  • Vehicles carrying water polluants Vehicles carrying water polluants
  • Vehicles carrying dangerous goods Vehicles carrying dangerous goods
  • Disabled Disabled
  • Pedestrians Pedestrians
  • Length Length
  • Axle weight Axle weight
  • Horse-drawn vehicles Horse-drawn vehicles
  • Handcarts Handcarts
  • Width Width
  • Height Height
  • Trailers Trailers
  • Vehicles towing caravans Vehicles towing caravans
  • Horses Horses
  • Carsharing Carsharing
  • Stop ahead sign
  • Stop ahead Stop ahead
  • Signs related to parking
  • Parked vehicles will be towed away Parked vehicles will be towed away
  • Parking restrictions Parking restrictions
  • Disc parking restrictions Disc parking restrictions
  • Parking for disabled only Parking for disabled only
  • Parking for electric vehicles only Parking for electric vehicles only
  • Parking for carsharing only Parking for carsharing only
  • Carpooling Carpooling
  • Parking for carpooling only Parking for carpooling only
  • Priority road sign
  • Course of the priority road at intersections Course of the priority road at intersections
  • Lane section signs
  • Begin Begin
  • End End
  • Lane section Lane section
  • Right Right
  • Left Left
  • Right and left Right and left
  • Indication signs
  • Aircraft crossing Aircraft crossing
  • High voltage cables High voltage cables
  • Give way Give way
  • Speed bump Speed bump
  • Emergency phone Emergency phone
  • Emergency phone and fire extinguisher Emergency phone and fire extinguisher
  • Risk of accident Risk of accident
  • Risk of accident Risk of accident
  • Reserved lane Reserved lane
  • Reserved lanes Reserved lanes
  • Noise protection Noise protection
  • Except for bicycles Except for bicycles
  • Except for bicycles Except for bicycles
  • Other indication Other indication
  • Road number signs
  • Road number Road number
  • Exit number Exit number
  • Ring Ring
  • Ring number Ring number
  • Ring name Ring name
  • Other restrictions signs
  • Authorised vehicle category Authorised vehicle category
  • Time slot Time slot
  • Other restrictions in a zone Other restrictions in a zone
  • Tunnel category for vehicles carrying dangerous goods Tunnel category for vehicles carrying dangerous goods
  • Tunnel category for vehicles carrying dangerous goods (with time restriction) Tunnel category for vehicles carrying dangerous goods (with time restriction)
  • Low emission zone Low emission zone
  • Specific signs for bicycles
  • Bicycles are allowed to cross the red light for turning right Bicycles are allowed to cross the red light for turning right
  • Bicycles are allowed to cross the red light for going straight Bicycles are allowed to cross the red light for going straight

Retired signs

Obsolete signs since 1998

  • Pedestrian crossing Pedestrian crossing
  • Cyclists approaching from the right Cyclists approaching from the right
  • Disc parking zone Disc parking zone
  • Restricted disc parking zone Restricted disc parking zone
  • End of tramway lane End of tramway lane
  • Disc parking Disc parking
  • Hospital Hospital
  • Priority over oncoming traffic Priority over oncoming traffic
  • Pedestrian crossing Pedestrian crossing
  • Emergency lane (Middle) Emergency lane (Middle)

Obsolete signs since 1977

References

  1. "Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals - unece" (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). UNITED NATIONS. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  2. "United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  3. "Signalisation routière" (in French). CodeFast.fr. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  4. "Histoire des inventions. Mais quand sont apparus les premiers panneaux routiers?". www.leprogres.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  5. Duhamel, Marina (1994). Un demi-siècle de signalisation routière – Naissance et évolution du panneau de signalisation routière en France (in French). Edts des Presses des Ponts et Chaussées. ISBN 9782859782207.
Traffic signs
Signs
Priority signs
Vienna Convention Groups
By country
Africa
Asia
Europe
North America
Oceania
South America
Former countries
Lights
Typefaces
International conventions
National standards
Comparisons
Road signs in Europe
Sovereign states
States with limited
recognition
Dependencies and
other entities
Category: