Road signs in France
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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.[1] France signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals on 8 November 1968 and ratified it on 9 December 1971.[2]
These road signs can also be found in some overseas territories of France.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5]
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
- Warning signs
Bend to right
Bend to left
Double bend first to right
Double bend first to left
Collapse or bump
Speed bump
Road narrows
Road narrows on right
Road narrows on left
Slippery road
Opening bridge ahead
Level crossing with gates
Level crossing without gates
Buses crossing ahead
Trams crossing ahead
Children crossing
Pedestrian crossing ahead
Other danger
Cattle
Sheep
Steep hill downwards
Two-way traffic ahead
Risk of rockfall
Quayside or river bank
Cyclists
Low-flying aircraft
Priority signs
- Priority signs
Crossroads with priority
Give Way sign 150 metres ahead
Stop, give way
Stop sign 150 metres ahead
End of priority road
Roundabout ahead
Regulatory signs
- Prohibitory signs
No vehicles
No left turn
No right turn
No U-turns
No overtaking
No overtaking by lorries
Stop - customs
Stop - gendarmerie
Stop - police
Stop - toll
No parking
Parking restrictions
Parking restrictions
No stopping
No motor vehicles except mopeds
No motor vehicles including mopeds
No lorries
No pedestrians
No cycling
No tractors
No handcarts
No buses
No mopeds
No motorcycles
Length limit
Width limit
Height limit
Weight limit
Axle weight limit
Give priority to oncoming vehicles
No sounding of horns
No traffic allowed without indicated minimum distance between vehicles
No vehicles carrying explosives
No vehicles carrying water pollutants
No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
Other restrictions
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- Mandatory signs
Turn right
Turn left
Keep right
Keep left
Ahead only
Turn right ahead
Turn left ahead
Go ahead or turn right
Go ahead or turn left
Turn left or right
Pedestrian lane
Minimum speed
Snow chains compulsory
Tram lane
Other obligations
End of bicycle lane
End of pedestrian lane
End of bridleway
End of minimum speed
End of snow chains zone
End of bus lane
End of other obligations
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- End of restrictions
End of restriction
End of 50 km/h zone
End of no overtaking
End of no overtaking by lorries
End of no sounding of horns
End of other restrictions
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- Zonal prescription signs
30 km/h zone
End of 30 km/h zone
Home Zone (20 km/h speed limit)
End of Home Zone
Pedestrian precinct
End of pedestrian precinct
Restricted access area
End of a restricted access area
Zone where winter equipment is compulsory
End of a zone where winter equipment is compulsory
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Information signs
- Information signs
Parking zone
Disc parking zone
Meter parking zone
Risk of fire
Advisory minimum speed
End of advisory minimum speed
Breakdown bay
Carsharing
Dead end
Dead end (right)
Dead end permeable for pedestrians
Dead end permeable for pedestrians and cyclists
Road use restrictions
Road use restrictions
Priority over oncoming vehicles
Bus lane crossing
Tram crossing
Caravan parking restricted
Lane forbidden for use by lorries
Contra-flow cyclists
Contra-flow bus lane
Slip road to left
Slip road to right
Level crossing with gates on side road
Contra-flow cycle lane
Speed limits in France (at entrance to country)
Speed limits on motorways
Escape lane on right
Escape lane on left
Speed bump
Lanes merge
Lanes merge
Overtaking lanes
Overtaking lanes
End of overtaking lanes
Other informations
Toll ticket marking point
Manned tollbooth
Toll payment by debit or credit card
Toll payment by cash
Toll payment by subscription
Expressway (controlled-access highway)
End of expressway
End of tunnel
Cycle route
End of cycle route
Pedestrian and cycle route
End of pedestrian and cycle route
End of motorway
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Service signs
- Service signs
First aid
Emergency telephone
Telephone
Information
Tourist information board
Campsite
Caravan site
Camping and caravan site
Youth hostel
Self-catering accommodation
Hiking itinerary
Winter sports itinerary
Picnic site
Motorail services
Video-monitored car park
Car ferry
Toilets
Services for the disabled
Petrol
Petrol and liquid petroleum gas
Petrol
Petrol and liquid petroleum gas
Petrol and charging station
Petrol, liquid petroleum gas and charging station
Charging station
Charging station and liquid petroleum gas
Restaurant
Hotel
Café
Mooring for boats
Cable car
Chairlift or gondola lift
Viewpoint
Local radio station
Playground
Drainage
Bank
Air pressure check
Recreation area
Repairs
Fire extinguisher
Emergency exit (right)
Emergency exit (left)
Other services
Eco-tax for trucks
Carpooling
Location signs
- Town signs
Entrance to town or village (speed limit 50 km/h)
End of town or village
Railway signs
- Railway signs
Level crossing without gates (single track) or aircraft crossing area
Level crossing without gates (several tracks)
Level crossing without gates (single track) or aircraft crossing area
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)
Gates
Gantry in the presence of high-voltage cables
Temporary signs
- Warning signs
Uneven road
Road narrows
Slippery road
Road works
Other danger
Temporary traffic signals
Loose chippings
Queues likely
Accident
Reduced visibility
- Information signs
Other informations
Lanes change
Lanes
Lanes merge
Lanes merge
- Additional signs
Distance
Extent
Other indication
Additional signs
- Distance signs
Distance
Distance to the next gas station
- Extent sign
Extent
- Direction signs
On the right lane
On the left lane
Right
Left
On the indicated lane
- Vehicle categories
Cars
Buses
Motorbikes
Bicycles
Mopeds
Other category
Weight
Lorries
Weight of lorries
Tractors
Vehicles with snow chains
Vehicles carrying explosives
Vehicles carrying water polluants
Vehicles carrying dangerous goods
Disabled
Pedestrians
Length
Axle weight
Horses-drawn vehicles
Handcarts
Width
Height
Trailers
Vehicles towing caravans
Horses
Carsharing
- Stop ahead sign
Stop ahead
- Signs related to parking
Parked vehicles will be towed away
Parking restrictions
Disc parking restrictions
Parking for disabled only
Parking for electric vehicles only
Parking for carsharing only
Carpooling
Parking for carpooling only
- Priority road sign
Course of the priority road at intersections
- Lane section signs
Begin
End
Lane section
Right
Left
Right and left
- Indication signs
Aircraft crossing
High voltage cables
Give way
Speed bump
Emergency phone
Emergency phone and fire extinguisher
Risk of accident
Risk of accident
Reserved lane
Reserved lanes
Noise protection
Except for bicycles
Except for bicycles
Other indication
- Road number signs
Road number
Exit number
Ring
Ring number
Ring name
- Other restrictions signs
Authorised vehicle category
Time slot
Other restrictions in a zone
Tunnel category for vehicles carrying dangerous goods
Tunnel category for vehicles carrying dangerous goods (with time restriction)
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 going straight
Retired signs
Obsolete signs since 1998
Cyclists approaching from the left
Obsolete signs since 1977
Children crossing
Other danger
Cattle
Steep hill downwards
Roadworks
Campsite
Caravan site
Camping and caravan site
Youth hostel
References
- ^ "Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals - unece" (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). UNITED NATIONS. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ "United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ "Signalisation routière" (in French). CodeFast.fr. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ^ "Histoire des inventions. Mais quand sont apparus les premiers panneaux routiers?". www.leprogres.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ 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.