Comparison of traffic signs in English-speaking territories

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Most road signs come in a different language rather than English. Example shows a road sign in Malta in Maltese language.

This is a comparison of road signs in countries and regions that speak majorly English, including major ones where it is an official language and widely understood (and as a lingua franca).

Among the countries listed below, Liberia, Nigeria, and the Philippines have ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, while the United Kingdom has signed the convention but not yet ratified it.^[1] Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are all Southern African Development Community (SADC) members who drive on the left and use the SADC Road Traffic Signs Manual. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) used in the United States has also influenced signing practices in other countries.

Differences between traffic signs in English-speaking countries/regions[]

Most speed limits in the US use USC, with the highway signs matching the MUTCD.

Differences in units[]

Imperial measurements reminder in Northern Ireland when entering from the Republic

Road sign used in British Columbia, Canada, near the Canada–US border to remind American drivers that Canada uses the metric system.
Note that the imperial speed limit (left) is shown using a Canadian-style sign, rather than an MUTCD-standard one as would be used in the US

• All main countries/regions, except for the United States and the United Kingdom, use the metric system. Some mark this fact by using units on various signs. Note that some smaller English-speaking countries in the Caribbean also use miles per hour.
  • Ireland, parts of Canada (British Columbia, parts of Ontario, and Yukon), and Liberia^[12] list units (km/h) on their maximum speed limit signs. In Canada and Ireland, this is a reflection of (somewhat) recent transitions from Imperial to metric.
  • Advisory speed limit signs in most countries list units, although New Zealand does not. The US lists units in mph.
  • Height, weight, and width restrictions are almost always accompanied by units (tonnes or metres); in the US, the short ton is used with no distinction from metric tonnes.
  • Signs in some parts of Canada near the US border often include both metric and Imperial units, to remind American drivers that they are entering metric countries. No such equivalent exists in the US.^[13]
• The US was, at one time, planning a transition to the metric system. The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 started the process, but the abolition of the United States Metric Board in 1982 significantly hampered conversion. Nevertheless, the MUTCD specifies metric versions of speed limit signs. Furthermore, Interstate 19 in Arizona is partially signed in metric.

Color differences[]

Warning signs[]

Sheep road sign in the United Kingdom.

Countries in yellow use MUTCD-style diamond warning signs. Click for large image and detailed info key.

• Most warning signs are diamond-shaped and yellow or red-bordered triangular warning signs; some warning signs may be fluorescent yellow-green in order to draw extra attention. There are a few exceptions to this:
  • Pentagonal signs are used in school zones in the United States, Liberia, and many areas in Canada. In the Philippines, pentagonal signs are permanently used for pedestrian crossings.
• Warning signs may be text-only.

Road works and construction[]

• Most countries use orange or yellow diamond-shaped signs or yellow, orange or white red-bordered triangular warning signs for construction zones. Australia and the Philippines use rectangular signs that fit into temporary casings.

Regulatory signs[]

• Prohibitory and restrictive signs are classified as regulatory signs.
• Almost all prohibitory signs use a red circle with a slash. Restrictive signs typically use a red circle, as in Europe. Some may be seated on a rectangular white background.
  • The original MUTCD prohibitory and restrictive signs were text-only (i.e. NO LEFT TURN).^[14] Some of these signs continue to be used in the US.
• Yield signs can be blank or have text with the legend "YIELD" or "GIVE WAY" depending on which country it is.
• The No Entry / Do Not Enter sign may or may not feature text. In Ireland, an upwards-pointing arrow contained within a slashed red circle is used instead. Some countries have those two signs separated.
  • The Latin American-style do not proceed straight sign may take a different meaning in countries with standard No Entry signs. Typically, it indicates an intersection where traffic cannot continue straight ahead, but where cross-traffic may enter the street from the right (or left). Thus, it is distinguished from a No Entry (for all vehicles) sign.

Mandatory or permitted-action signs[]

Various color schemes for mandatory signs. Click for large image and detailed info key.

• The design of mandatory signs varies widely, since the MUTCD does not specify their use.^[15] Rather, the MUTCD's equivalent are classified as regulatory signs.
  • Some countries use simple arrows with the text "ONLY" or its equivalent underneath. This is the US and Australian standard.
  • Some countries use European-style white-on-blue circular signs. These are "Type A Mandatory Signs" as prescribed by the Vienna Convention.
  • Some Latin American countries use red-bordered circular signs, in the same style as regulatory signs. These are "Type B Mandatory Signs" as prescribed by the Vienna Convention. In cases relating to particular types of vehicle traffic (e.g. buses), these signs are identical to some European prohibitory signs.^[a]
  • Canada uses a unique style of mandatory sign that features a green circle.

Warning[]

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	Australia	Canada	Hong Kong	Ireland	Jamaica	Liberia	Mauritius	New Zealand	Nigeria	Philippines	SADC	Malta	Singapore	Uganda	United Kingdom	United States
Stop sign ahead
Yield / Give Way sign ahead
Traffic signals ahead
Roundabout ahead
Two-way traffic ahead
Uncontrolled railroad crossing ahead	or		Not used										Not used[b]
Level railroad crossing with barriers ahead				or
Tram / streetcar crossing		Not used								Not used[c]
Railroad crossbuck	or			Not used				or		or
Level crossing (multiple tracks)	or			Not used				or		Not used					Not used
Crossroads ahead											or[d] or[e]
Junction with a side road ahead	or		or												or
Traffic merges ahead	or		or												or	or or
Added lane	or															or
Divided highway ahead
Divided highway ends
Lane ends ahead			or												or
Road narrows ahead
Narrow bridge ahead
Dangerous crosswinds			Not used							Not used			Not used
Low-flying aircraft								or							or
Steep grade downwards								or		or
Steep grade upwards								or		or
Uneven surface
Dip in road													Not used
Bump in road						or [16]
Slippery road surface
Loose road surface
Pavement ends
Gentle curve ahead	or									or
Sharp curve ahead	or		or							or					or
Double gentle curve ahead	or									or
Double sharp curve ahead	or		or							or [f]					or
Series of curves ahead	or									or
Hairpin curve ahead	or									or
Chevron (short turn)
Chevron (sharp turn)
School zone	or[g] or									[h]
Children / playground ahead				or
Pedestrian crossing ahead
Pedestrians on road ahead
Domestic animals															or
Wild animals										Not used					or or
Cyclists crossing
Trucks crossing
Equestrians										Not used
Emergency vehicles										Not used
Farm vehicles										Not used						or
Falling rocks or debris										or
Opening or swing bridge			Not used					Not used					Not used
Tunnel ahead
Height restriction ahead										or or					or or
Width restriction ahead	Not used							Not used
Length restriction ahead
Weight restriction ahead	Not used							Not used		or[i]
Roadworks [j]										Not used
Flagman ahead
Other danger

Regulatory[]

Priority[]

	Australia	Canada	Hong Kong	Ireland	Jamaica	Liberia	Mauritius	New Zealand	Nigeria	Philippines	SADC	Malta	Singapore	Uganda	United Kingdom	United States
Stop
Yield / Give Way				or											or
Yield to oncoming traffic				Not used

Prohibitory[]

	Australia	Canada	Hong Kong	Ireland	Jamaica	Liberia	Mauritius	New Zealand	Nigeria	Philippines	SADC	Malta	Singapore	Uganda	United Kingdom	United States
No entry	or[k]			or		[17]
Road closed	or
No motor vehicles													Not used
No motorcycles				Not used
No bicycles
No pedestrians																or
No heavy goods vehicles											or					or
No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
No vehicles carrying explosives																Not used
No buses
Maximum speed limit						or [12]
Speed restriction ends
Maximum height
Maximum width	Not used							Not used								Not used
Maximum length
Maximum weight
Maximum weight per axle
No left turn	or[k]									or	or
No right turn	or[k]									or	or
No U-turn	or[k]					[18]				or			Not used[l]
No overtaking																or
No parking
No stopping

Mandatory or permitted actions[]

Mandatory signs indicating an obligation to turn left do exist, but are not included in the list below since they are functionally mirror versions of signs indicating an obligation to turn right.

	Australia	Canada	Hong Kong	Ireland	Jamaica	Liberia	Mauritius	New Zealand	Nigeria	Philippines	SADC	Malta	Singapore	Uganda	United Kingdom	United States
Proceed straight (no turns)
Turn right	Not used							Not used
Turn right ahead
Proceed straight or turn right	Not used			Not used						Not used
Keep right (or left)																or
Pass on either side
Roundabout
Minimum speed limit	Not used			Not used				Not used
Seatbelts required
Overtaking permitted [m]										Not used
Pedestrians only
Bicycles only
Shared use path				or or		or			or	Not used	or				or or
Transit only

Other[]

	Australia	Canada	Hong Kong	Ireland	Jamaica	Liberia	Mauritius	New Zealand	Nigeria	Philippines	SADC	Malta	Singapore	Uganda	United Kingdom	United States
One-way street				Not used												or
Two-way traffic				Not used				Not used
Pedestrian crossing						[19] or [20]
Dead end	or	or	or or		or or		or or				or or	or or or or	or or		or or or	or
Escape lane						or			or						or or or
Speed limit zone
No parking zone
Parking zone
Hospital															or
Bus stop				or
Train station
Airport
Electric vehicle charging station
Freeway begins								or
Freeway ends								or
Customs post				Not used												Not used
National highway shield(s)

See also[]

Notes[]

References[]