Road signs in Sweden
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Road signs in Sweden are regulated in Vägmärkesförordningen, VMF (1978:1001), and are to be placed 2 meters from the road with the base-sign at an altitude of 1.6 meters 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 prohibiton-sign for stop at told and signal, the sign indicating taxi rink, 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").
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[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 color. 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. Swedish warning and prohibition signs also have a thicker border than their European counterparts.
[edit] Warning signs
Warning signs are triangular, but in contrast to those of most other states using triangular warning signs, Swedish signs have yellow backgrounds, rather than white. The signs warning for animals do not render the vehicle, as is usual of other states' signs, but only render the animal in question (for example the famous elk warning sign).
[edit] Private road direction 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 maintenance by the state or simlar, but is maintenance by a private person. As 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. The Swedish word for this kind of road is "enskild", that can be both translated to "private" and "individual".
 Dangerous bend, bend to right |
 Dangerous bend, bend to left |
 Dangerous bends, first bend to right |
 Dangerous bends, first bend to left |
 Steep hill downwards |
 Steep hill upwards |
 Road narrows on both sides |
 Road narrows from right side |
 Road narrows from left side |
 Opening or swing bridge |
 Quayside or ferry berth |
 Uneven road |
 Road works |
 Slippery road |
 Falling rocks from right |
 Falling rocks from left |
 Loose chippings |
 Junction |
 Roundabout |
 Junction with a road the users of which must give way, 90° left, 90° right |
 Junction with a road the users of which must give way, 45° left, 45° right |
 Junction with a road the users of which must give way, 90° left, 45° right |
 Junction with a road the users of which must give way, 45° left, 90° right |
 Junction with a road the users of which must give way, 90° left |
 Junction with a road the users of which must give way, 45° left |
 Junction with a road the users of which must give way, 90° right |
 Junction with a road the users of which must give way, 45° right |
 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 |
 Animals (elk) |
 Animals (deer etc.) |
 Animals (cow) |
 Animals (horse) |
 Animals (reindeer) |
 Animals (sheep) |
 Cyclists and moped riders on carriageway |
 Skiers crossing |
 Crossing horses |
 Low-flying aircraft |
 Crosswind from right |
 Crosswind from left |
 Two-way traffic |
 Tunnel |
 Other dangers |
[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.
 Closed to all vehicles in both directions |
 No entry |
 No power-driven vehicles |
 No power-driven vehicles except motorcycles without side cars |
 No motorcycles |
 No power driven vehicles drawing a trailer other than a semitrailer or a single axle trailer |
 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 standing or parking |
 Stop |
 passing without stopping prohibited at customs |
 Passing without stopping prohibited due to signal |
 Priority for oncoming vehicles |
 No right turn |
 No left turn |
 No U-turns |
 No overtaking |
 No overtaking by lorries |
 Maximum speed (30 km/h) |
 Maximum speed (50 km/h) |
 Maximum speed (70 km/h) |
 Maximum speed (90 km/h) |
 Maximum speed (110 km/h) |
 No vehicles carrying dangerous goods |
 End of overtaking restriction |
 End of overtaking by lorries restriction |
 No parking zone |
 End of no parking zone |
[edit] Mandatory signs
Mandatory signs are always round blue signs with white border.
 Direction to be followed. Right only |
 Direction to be followed. Left only |
 Direction to be followed. Straight ahead only |
 Direction to be followed. Turn right |
 Direction to be followed. Turn left |
 Direction to be followed. Turn right or continue straight ahead. |
 Direction to be followed. Turn left or continue straight ahead. |
 Direction to be followed. Turn left or right. |
 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 a horseback |
 Track for off-road vehicles |
 Beginning of lane reserved for scheduled buses etc. |
 End lane reserved for scheduled buses etc. |
[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 |
 Priority road |
 End of priority road |
 Low-speed road |
 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 |
 Priority over oncoming vehicles |
 No through road |
 Pedestrian crossing |
 Lay-by or passing place |
 Parking |
 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 |
 Collection sign |
 Recommended route for vehicles carrying dangerous goods |
 Tourist route |
 Tourist attraction area |
 Landmark |
 World heritage site |
 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] 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 sharp bends, bridge parapets, abutment, walls, tunnel mouths etc. Arrow marker |
 Gore area marker |
 Accident |
[edit] Additional panels
 Parking house |
 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. |
 No parking between times indicated |
 No parking between times indicated (with weekday given) |
 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 tension cable |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 Direction sign |
 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 |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Direction of priority road at intersect |
 Two-way traffic on cycle and moped tracks |
[edit] Traffic light signals
 Red = stop, red and yellow = the light is turning to green, green = go, yellow = stop |
 Flashing yellow = proceed with caution |
 Bicycle and moped lights |
 Pedestrian only 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 policemen
 13.1.1 Vehicles approaching from in front and behind must stop. Vehicles approaching from the side may continue |
 13.3.1 Slow down |
 Control |
 Advance direction sign control |
