Road signs in Sweden

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

Most signs are based on pictograms, except signs like the prohibition-sign for stop at told and signal, the sign indicating taxi rank, low speed road and the sign for accident. If the sign included text, the text is written in Swedish, except the stop sign, which is written in English ("STOP").

Swedish signs depict classical silhouetted persons.

Contents

[edit] Major differences between Swedish and general European signs

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 it is a symbol on them, not if it is a numeric value. General European prohibition signs do usually not have such a red line. Swedish warning and prohibition signs also have a thicker border than their European counterparts. Traffic signs in Slovenia and Finland are quite similar.

[edit] 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 similar, but by a private person. As is custom in Sweden, if you own a private road or a land, you can prohibit cars (but not people) from using the road. But if there is support from the state for the maintenance, you can't prohibit cars from it. This is mostly the case if several families live along the road. Then they must form an association for the road. The Swedish word for this kind of road is "enskild", that can be both translated to "private" and "individual".

[edit] 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. Moose, deer, wild boar, reindeer, sheep, horse and cow can appear.

  • Dangerous bend (to right)

  • Dangerous bend (to left)

  • Dangerous bends, first bend to right

  • Dangerous bends, first bend to left

  • Steep hill downwards

  • Steep hill upwards

  • Road narrows from respective side

  • Opening or swing bridge

  • Quayside or ferry berth

  • Uneven road

  • Road works

  • Slippery road

  • Falling rocks from respective side

  • Loose chippings

  • Junction

  • Roundabout

  • Junction with a road, the drivers of which must give way

  • Traffic signals

  • Level crossing with gates

  • Level crossing without gates

  • Distance to level crossing

  • Intersection with tramway line

  • Single track level crossing

  • Multitrack level crossing

  • Pedestrian crossing

  • Children

  • Cyclists and moped riders on carriageway

  • Skiers crossing

  • Low-flying aircraft

  • Crosswind from respective side

  • Two-way traffic (One-way traffic is ending).

  • Tunnel

  • Other dangers

[edit] Animals

  • Moose

  • Deer

  • Reindeer

  • Sheep

  • Wild boar

  • Cow

  • Horse

  • Crossing horses

[edit] 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.

  • No vehicles

  • No entry

  • No power-driven vehicles

  • No power-driven vehicles with more than 2 wheels

  • No motorcycles or mopeds Class I

  • No trailers

  • No lorries

  • No tractors, construction vehicles etc.

  • No cycles or mopeds

  • No mopeds

  • No animal-drawn vehicles

  • No riding

  • No pedestrians

  • No off-road vehicles

  • No vehicles having an overall width exceeding ... meters

  • No vehicles having an overall height exceeding ... meters

  • No vehicles exceeding ... tons laden weight

  • No vehicles having a weight exceeding ... tons on one axel

  • Minimum distance between power driven vehicles

  • No vehicles or combination of vehicles exceeding ... meters

  • No vehicles or combination of vehicles exceeding ... tons laden weight or bearing capacity class

  • No vehicles having a weight exceeding ... tons on a tandem axel

  • No parking

  • No stopping or parking

  • Passing without stopping prohibited due to signal

  • No turn

  • No overtaking

  • No overtaking by lorries

  • Maximum speed

  • No vehicles carrying dangerous goods

  • End of overtaking restriction

  • End of overtaking by lorries restriction

  • No parking zone

  • End of no parking zone

[edit] Stop at customs

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

  • Danish

  • Finnish

  • German

  • Norwegian

[edit] Mandatory signs

Mandatory signs are always round blue signs with white border.

  • Direction to be followed

  • Pass this side. Right

  • Pass this side. Left

  • Pass this side. Either side

  • Roundabout

  • Foot path

  • Track for cycles and mopeds

  • 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).

[edit] Signs giving information

The only Swedish diamond shaped sign is the sign informing about priority road, which is a road to which intersection roads have to give way.

  • Motorway

  • End of motorway

  • Expressway

  • End of expressway

  • Low-speed road (recommended top speed)

  • End of low-speed road

  • Residential area

  • End of residential area

  • One-way traffic

  • Pedestrian area

  • End of pedestrian area

  • Built-up area

  • End of built-up area

  • Maximum recommended speed

  • End of maximum recommended speed

  • Toll road

  • No through road

  • Pedestrian crossing

  • Lay-by or passing place

  • Parking (max 24 hours on weekdays except weekday before sunday or holiday).

  • Park and ride

  • Taxi rink

  • 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

  • Lorry

  • Car

  • Bus

  • 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

  • Interchange number

  • 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

  • Cycle track

  • Post office

  • Telephone

  • Radio station for road and traffic information

  • Information

  • Workshop

  • Petrol station

  • Refreshments

  • Restaurant

  • Hotel

  • Picnic site

  • Toilet

  • First aid

  • Industrial zone

  • Youth hostel

  • Holiday chalets

  • Caravan site

  • Camping site

  • Bathing

  • National heritage

  • Open-air recreation

  • Hiking trail

  • Chair lift

  • Tow lift

  • Fishing licences on sale here

  • Golf course

[edit] Priority signs

  • Priority road

  • End of priority road

  • Priority for oncoming vehicles

  • Priority over oncoming vehicles

  • Give way

  • Stop

[edit] 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

  • Marking for sharp bends, bridge parapets, abutment, walls, tunnel mouths etc. Side marker

  • Marking for obstacle

  • Gore area marker

  • Accident

[edit] Additional panels

  • Parking garage

  • Length of stretch of road beginning at specified distance from sign

  • Length of stretch of road beginning at sign

  • 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.

  • No parking between times indicated

  • 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

  • Parking configuration

  • Parking configuration

  • Parking configuration

  • Parking configuration

  • 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 (motorcycle)

  • 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)

  • Parking permitted for specified period between times shown

  • Soft shoulder

  • Forestry vehicle crossing ahead

  • High voltage cable

  • Direction sign

  • Direction sign

  • Direction sign

  • Blind persons crossing or in the vicinity of the road

  • Deaf persons crossing or in the vicinity of the road

  • All way stop

  • Direction of priority road at intersect

  • Two-way traffic on cycle and moped track

[edit] Traffic light signals

  • Red = Stop!. Red+yellow = The light is turning to green. Green = Go!. Yellow = Stop, but go if you not are able to stop!

  • Flashing yellow = proceed with caution

  • Bicycle and moped lights

  • Pedestrian lights

  • Public transport lights

  • Lane-control signals

  • Lights at level crossing

  • Light signals at opening or swing bridges, ferries, airfields, emergency service stations etc.

  • Drive with extra caution signal

[edit] Road markings

  • Centre line

  • No passing line

  • Warning line

  • Centre line and no passing line

  • Centre line and warning line

  • Warning line and no passing line

  • Double no passing line

  • Reversible lane markings (lane that may be used for alternating direction of traffic flow)

  • Guide line

  • Reserved lane line

  • Cycle lane marking

  • Broken edge line

  • Continuous edge line

  • Stop line

  • Give way line

  • Pedestrian crossing

  • Cycle crossing

  • Lane selection arrows

  • Deflecting arrow

  • Obstruction marking

  • Text conforming bus and taxi lane, text conforming stop line

  • Parking bay

  • Standing and parking prohibited

  • Parking prohibited

  • Parking prohibited

  • Cycle and moped route

  • Advance warning of obligation to give way

  • Disabled persons

[edit] Signals by police officers

  • 13.1.1 Vehicles approaching from in front and behind must stop. Vehicles approaching from the side may continue
    13.1.2 Beckoning on a vehicle
    13.2.1 Slow down
    13.2.2 Stop

  • 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

  • Control

  • Advance direction sign control

[edit] References
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