Road signs in Sweden

Road signs in Stockholm.

Road sign for parking lot, 1930's - 1950's

Road signs in Sweden are regulated in Vägmärkesförordningen, VMF (2007:90), and are to be placed 2 metres from the road with the sign 1.6 m from the base for motorized roads. Except for route numbers, there are a maximum of three signs on a pole, with the most important sign at the top. All signs have a reflective layer added on selected parts of the sign as is custom in European countries; most larger signs also have their own illumination.

Most signs are based on pictograms, with some exceptions like the prohibition-sign for stop at customs and signal and speed limit signs. If the sign includes text, the text is written in Swedish, except the stop sign, which is written in English ("STOP").

Swedish road signs depict people with realistic (as opposed to stylized) silhouettes.

Major differences between Swedish and general European signs

Like other countries in Europe, Swedish signs follow the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. Whereas European signs usually have white background on warning and prohibition signs, the Swedish signs have a yellow/orange colour. This is for the purpose of enhancing the visibility of the sign during the winter, as white signs would be hard to see in the snow. The prohibition signs have a red line across them if there is a symbol on them, not if it is a numeric value. General European prohibition signs do not usually have such a red line. Swedish warning and prohibition signs also have a thicker border than their European counterparts. Traffic signs in Iceland and Finland are quite similar.

History

Around 1930 some warning signs and prohibitory signs looking like today's signs with yellow background were introduced. The direction indication signs were however yellow with black text. Around 1965, there was a reform where the colour of those were changed to dark blue with white text. Around 1980, Sweden followed the Vienna convention rule that motorways should have a different colour, so green was introduced for them, and medium blue for ordinary roads.

Private road direction sign

Private road sign

The reason there is a sign indicating private road, is because they are not strictly private. A private road is a road that is not maintained by the state or municipality, but by a private person or association. An owner of a private road in Sweden can prohibit cars (but not people) from using the road. But if the state pays support for the maintenance, cars can't be prohibited. This is mostly the case if several families live along the road. Then they must form an association for it. The Swedish word for this kind of road is "enskild", that can be both translated to "private" and "individual". The background of the sign is yellow, indicating that the quality is often less good, and warning signs might be missing. Signs indicating roads owned by companies or leading to companies usually have white background instead.

Warning signs

Warning signs are triangular and have red borders, but in contrast with those of most other countries that use triangular warning signs, Swedish signs have yellow backgrounds, rather than white. More types of warning signs for animals are used than in most European countries, such as moose, deer, wild boar, reindeer, sheep, horse, and cow appearing alongside roads.

Dangerous curve to left
Dangerous curve to right
Dangerous curves ahead, first to left
Dangerous curves ahead, first to right
Steep downhill
Steep uphill
Road narrows on both sides
Road narrows on right sides
Road narrows on left sides
Unprotected quayside or riverbank
Uneven road
Speed refulcation bump
Dip
Slippery road
Loose chipings
Falling rocks (from) right
Falling rocks (from) left
Pedestrian crossing
Pedestrian
Children
Cyclist and mopeds rides on carrigeway
Skiers crossing
Equestrian
Moose
Wild animals
Cattle
Wild horses
Reindeer
Sheep
Wild boars
Roadworks
End of roadworks
Traffic signals
Low-flying aircraft
Side winds
Two-way traffic
Tunnel
Dangerous shoulder
Crossroad intersection
Crossroad without priority
Right way at crocked intersection
Right way junction from the left or right winding junction from right
Right way junction from the left or right winding junction from left
Side road priority on left
Side road priority on right
Skewed side road priority on left
Skewed side road priority on right
Roundabout
Slow moving vehicles
Horse drawn-carts
Off road-vehicles
Traffic congestion
Level crossing with barrier
Level crossing without barrier
Tramway
Level crossing countdown
Single track level crossing
Multi track level crossing
Other hazard
Accident

Priority signs

The pedestrian and bicycle crossing signs are priority signs in Sweden, whereas the pedestrian crossing sign is regarded as a special regulation sign in the Vienna convention on road signs and signals. A sign for bicycle crossing is not yet implemented in the Vienna convention.

Give way
Stop
Pedestrian crossing (male person)
Pedestrian crossing (female person)
Priority road
End of priority road
Priority for oncoming vehicles
Priority over oncoming vehicles
Cyclists crossing

Prohibitory signs

Prohibitory signs are round with yellow backgrounds and red borders, except the international standard stop sign that is an octagon with red background and white border and the no parking and no standing signs that have a blue background instead of yellow.

Do not enter
Closed to all motor vehicles in both directions
No motor vehicles
No motor vehicles with more than two wheels
No motorcycles
No towed trailers
No trucks
No tractors
No vehicles transporting dangerous goods
No bike
No mopeds
No horse-drawns
No snowmobiles
No horses
No pedestrians
No vehicles exceeding width shown
No vehicles exceeding height shown
No vehicles exceeding length shown
Minimum distance between 2-tracked motor vehicles
No vehicles exceeding weight shown
No vehicles or combination of vehicles exceeding weight shown
No vehicles having a weight exceeding weight on 1 axle
No vehicles exceeding weight shown on a tandem axle
No left turn
No right turn
No U-turns
No overtaking
No overtaking by trucks
Speed limit
End of overtaking prohibition
End of overtaking prohibition by trucks
Stop at the sign if the signal shows red
(only applies when driving towards the signal concerned)
Stop for police control. There are variants STOPP VAKT (stop for guard) STOPP FÄRJA (stop here when waiting for ferry)
No parking or waiting
No parking on odd days
No parking on even days
Date-based parking
No stopping or standing
No 2-tracked motor vehicles with studded tires
Restriction zone.
In this example, this is no parking zone. However, the restriction doesn't apply when the signs inside the zone says otherwise.
End of the restriction zone

Stop at customs

The sign "Stop at customs" ("Stopp vid tull") is multilingual and exists in four variants.

Danish
Finnish
German
Norwegian

Mandatory signs

Mandatory signs are always round blue signs with white border.

Turn left
Turn right
Go straight ahead
Pass on the right
Pass on the left
Pass either side
Roundabout
Track for cyclists and mopeds
Footpath
Compulsory track for pedestrians, cyclists and moped drivers.
Compulsory track for pedestrians, cyclists and moped drivers. Dual track
Compulsory track for pedestrians, cyclists and moped drivers. Dual track
Track for rider on horseback (and pedestrians)
Track for off-road vehicles
Beginning of lane reserved for public transport (and cycles and mopeds Class II).
End of lane reserved for public transport (and cycles and mopeds Class II).

Special regulation signs

Expressway
End of expressway
Clearway
End of clearway
Built-up area
End of built-up area
Pedestrian area
End of pedestrian area
Residential area
End of residential area
Low-speed road (recommended top speed)
End of low-speed road
Maximum recommended speed (in km/h)
End of maximum recommended speed (in km/h)
One-way traffic
Dead end
Passing place
Parking (max 24 hours on weekdays except weekday before Sunday or holiday).
Bus stop
Taxi rank
Toll road

Signs giving information

Sign when entering Sweden from another country
Post office
Telephone
Radio station for road and traffic information
First aid
Industrial zone
Information
Breakdown service
Gas station
Refreshment
Restaurant
Hotel
Youth hostel
Holiday chalets
Camping site
Caravan site
Picnic site
Public lavatory
Bathing
Open-air recreation
Hiking trail
Chair lift
Tow lift
Golf course
Fishing licences on sale here
National heritage
Park and ride
The long turn — mandatory turning manoeuvre for pedal cycles and mopeds.
Advance direction sign, diagrammatic type
Advance direction sign, stack type
Lane preselection sign
Lane merge
Lane ends
Temporary sign, left most lane ends
Temporary sign, Lane merges with oncoming traffic
Temporary sign, oncoming traffic merges with this lane
Advance direction sign diagrammatic indicating prohibition of left turning
Direction sign flag type
Direction to motorway or expressway
Sign to specific district or area
Sign to place reached by a private road
Sign to local amenities
Lane assignment type
Advance direction sign exit ahead from motorway or expressway
Advance direction sign exit ahead from other road than motorway or expressway
Direction sign exit sign
Number of exit
Lorries
Car
Airfield
Airfield straight ahead
Ferry
Place indication sign
Road number sign European highway
Main highways (other than European highways) numbered 1-499
Road number sign. Direction to a numbered road
Road number sign for traffic diversion
Confirmatory sign
Grouped destinations (i.e. For Pajala and Övertorneå, follow signs for Kiruna)
Recommended route for vehicles carrying dangerous goods
Tourist route
Tourist attraction area
Landmark
Sign to temporary event
Recommended route for pedal cycles and mopeds
Recommended route for pedestrians
Disabled persons
Stack type design
Flag type sign
Place indication sign
Confirmatory sign
Bike track

Other signs

End of road works
Limited access on side marker
Limited access marker
Limited access arrow marker
Marking for sharp bends, bridge parapets, abutment, walls, tunnel mouths etc. Arrow marker
Exit

Additional panels

High voltage cable
Distance to
Stop and give way at specified distance ahead
Lateral clearance
Total weight
Times the restriction applies. Weekday; Weekday before Sunday or public holiday in brackets; Sunday and public holiday in red.
Parking permitted for specified period between times shown
No parking between times indicated
Blind persons crossing or in the vicinity of the road
Deaf persons crossing or in the vicinity of the road
All way stop
Parking configuration
Parking configuration
Parking configuration
Parking configuration
Parking garage
Length of stretch of road beginning at specified distance from sign
Length of stretch of road beginning at sign
Prohibition effective in both directions of the sign
Prohibition end at sign
Prohibition effective in the direction of arrow
Parking, effective in both directions of the sign
Parking ends at sign
Parking, effective in direction of arrow
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (lorry)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (lorry)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (handicapped)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (bus)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (bus)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (motorbike)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (bike)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (caravan)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (caravan)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car + caravan)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car + caravan)
Soft verges
Forestry vehicle crossing ahead
Direction sign
Direction sign
Direction sign
Direction of priority road at intersection
Two-way traffic on cycle and moped track

A Supreme Court case has clarified that if there are multiple individually framed additional panels for a road sign, they add information to the road sign, not to each other. The two panels in the case was Avgift (fee) and the other 4 hours 9-18, which means that there is mandatory fee anytime and maximum 4 hours 9 am-6 pm.^[1]

Traffic light signals

Note: tip-down triangles indicates blinking/flashing light.

Standard & arrow Red: Stop.
Red + yellow: The light is turning to green.
Green: Proceed.
Yellow: Stop, but only if safe to do so.
Flashing yellow: Traffic light malfunction or out of service.
Cycles and moped lights.
Pedestrian lights.
Red: Don't walk.
Green: Walk.
Public transport lights.
"S": Stop.
"S" + "–": The light is turning to "I" / arrow.
"I" (or arrow): Proceed (for indicated direction).
"–": Stop, but only if safe to do so.
Lane-control signals.
Red cross: Lane closed.
Yellow arrow(s): Lane closed ahead, change to indicated lane(s).
Green arrow: Lane open.
Lights at level crossing.
Flashing reds: Stop.
Flashing white (optional): Signals are operational.
Light signals at opening or swing bridges, ferries, airfields, emergency service stations etc.
Flashing reds: Stop.
Flashing yellow(s), accompanied with a sign: Drive with extra caution.

Road markings

Centre line
No overtaking line
Warning line
Centre line and no overtaking line
Centre line and warning line
Warning line and no overtaking line
Double no overtaking line
Reversible lane markings (lane that may be used for alternating direction of traffic flow)
Guide line
Reserved lane line
Bike lane marking
Broken edge line
Continuous edge line
Stop line
Give way line
Zebra crossing
Bike crossing
Lane selection arrows
Deflecting arrow
Obstruction marking; no crossing on or over that marking
Text conforming bus and taxi lane, text conforming stop line
Parking bay
Standing and parking prohibited
Parking prohibited
Parking prohibited
Bike and moped route
Advance warning of obligation to give way
Wheelchair persons

Signals by police officers

Control
Advance direction sign control
13.3.1 Slow down
13.3.2 Follow the police car and pull up behind it when it stops
13.3.3 Slow down
13.3.4 Drive off the road and stop in front of the police car