Road signs in Thailand
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Road signs in Thailand are standardized road signs similar to those used in other nations but with certain differences. Until the early 1980s, Thailand closely followed US, Australian, and Japanese practices in road sign design, with diamond-shaped warning signs and circular restrictive signs to regulate traffic. Signs usually use the FHWA Series fonts ("Highway Gothic") typeface also used in the United States.[dubious ]
Thai traffic signs use Thai, the national language of Thailand. However, English is also used for important public places such as tourist attractions, airports, railway stations, and immigration checkpoints. Both Thai and English are used on directional signage.
Thailand is a signatory to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, but has yet to fully ratify the convention.
Regulatory signs[]
With the exception of the special designs used for Stop, Yield, and No Entry signs, mandatory signs (e.g., Must Turn Left) are round with a blue background, white border, and a white pictogram. Those which express a prohibition (e.g., No Left Turn) show the pictogram crossed out by a red diagonal bar. This is in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals (Type A variants).[1][2]
Priority Regulating Signs[]
Stop (Thai language)
Stop (Thai and English languages)
Give way (Thai language)
Give way (Thai and English languages)
Give way to oncoming vehicles (used at traffic bottleneck points)
Prohibitory or Restrictive Signs[]
No overtaking
No entry
No right U-turn
No left U-turn, Unused
No left turn
No right turn
No changing to left lane
No changing to right lane
No right turn nor right U-turn
No Left Turn nor U-turn, Unused
No cars
No trucks
No motorcycles
No trailers
No tuk-tuks
No tricycle
No bicycles
No carts
No tractors
No animal-drawn carts
No motor vehicles
No tricycle or bicycles and motorcycles.
No motorcycles or moto-rickshaws
No honking
No pedestrians
No parking
No stopping
Stop at checkpoint (e.g.: customs, police)
Speed limit (20 km/h)
Speed limit (30 km/h)
Speed limit (40 km/h)
Speed limit (50 km/h)
Speed limit (60 km/h)
Speed limit (70 km/h)
Speed limit (80 km/h)
Speed limit (90 km/h)
Speed limit (100 km/h)
Speed limit (110 km/h)
Speed limit (120 km/h)
Weight limit
Maximum width
Maximum height
Maximum vehicle length (Thai language)
Maximum vehicle length (Thai and English languages)
No vehicles conveying dangerous goods
Mandatory Signs[]
Go straight
Turn left
Turn right
Keep left
Keep right
Pass on either side
Turn left
Turn right
Turn left or right
Go straight or turn left
Go straight or turn right
Roundabout
Buses only
High occupancy vehicles only
Motorcycles only
Bicycles only
Pedestrians only
Minimum speed limit (30 km/h)
Minimum speed limit (40 km/h)
Minimum speed limit (50 km/h)
Minimum speed limit (60 km/h)
Minimum speed limit (70 km/h)
Minimum speed limit (80 km/h)
Minimum speed limit (90 km/h)
Other regulatory signs[]
Speed limit zone ends
boundary
boundary
General regulatory signs[]
Speed limit (In city – Bangkok, Pattaya and cities inbound)
Speed limit (Countryside – Bangkok, Pattaya and cities outbound)
Prohibited on Motorways
Prohibited on Expressways
Slow traffic keep left
Right lane passing only
All cars use low gears
Limited visibility, no overtaking
Wrong Way
Right lane only for U-turn
left lane, turn left
Stop waiting for the signal here
car speed rating
Truck weight for rural roads
Truck weight for local highways
Superseded regulatory signs[]
These signs have been superseded, but are still around.
Stop
No entry
Stop at checkpoint (e.g.: customs, police)
Speed limit (50 km/h)
Go straight
Turn left
Turn right
Keep left
Keep right
Pass on either side
Turn left
Turn right
Turn left or right
Roundabout
Warning signs[]
Thai warning signs are diamond-shaped and are yellow and black in colour.[3]
Curves and Turns[]
Curve to left
Curve to right
Sharp curve to left
Sharp curve to right
Double curve, first to left
Double curve, first to right
Sharp double curve, first to left
Sharp double curve, first to right
Winding road, first bend to left
Winding road for next --- km, first bend to left
Winding road, first bend to right
Winding road for next --- km, first bend to right
Intersections[]
Crossroads
Y-junction
Side road junction on left
Side road junction on right
Offset road junction, left and right
Offset road junction, left and right
Skewed side road junction on left
Skewed side road junction on right
Skewed side road junction on left
Skewed side road junction on right
T-junction
Roundabout[]
Roundabout ahead
Road narrows[]
Road narrows on both sides
Road narrows on left side
Road narrows on right side
Narrow bridge[]
Narrow bridge
Narrow bridge - give way to oncoming vehicles (used at traffic bottleneck points)
Lane transitions[]
Left lane ends
Right lane ends
Rail[]
Railway crossing without gates
Railway crossing with automatic gates
Railway crossing on next side road
Railroad crossing
Lane width restrictions[]
Width restriction ahead (Thai language)
Width restriction ahead (Thai and English languages)
Lane height restrictions[]
Height restriction ahead (Thai language)
Height restriction ahead (Thai and English languages)
Hills and Grades[]
Steep climb
Steep climb for next --- km
Steep descent
Steep descent for next --- km
Steep descent – use low gear (Thai language)
Steep descent – use low gear (Thai and English languages)
Lane conditions[]
Hump
Speed hump
Uneven road
Dip
Slippery road
Slippery road
Loose road surface
Falling rocks
Slippery when wet
Opening bridge[]
Opening bridge
Lane shiftings[]
Shift to left carriageway
Shift to right carriageway
Added lane ahead
Added lane ahead
Lane mergings[]
Left merging traffic
Merging traffic - beware cars from the left
Right merging traffic
Merging traffic - beware cars from the right
Divided highways[]
Divided road begins
Divided road ends
U-turns[]
Hairpin curve to right
Hairpin curve to left
Two-way traffic[]
Two-way traffic
Two-way traffic
Advance traffic control[]
Traffic lights ahead
Stop ahead (Thai language)
Stop ahead (Thai and English languages)
Give way ahead (Thai language)
Give way ahead (Thai and English languages)
Forward Intersection-1
Forward Intersection-2
Forward Intersection-3
Railroad ahead-1
Railroad ahead-2
Pedestrian crossing
Children
School zone
School zone (In Bangkok local highway zone)
Animals ahead
Low-flying aircraft
Other danger (Thai language)
Other danger (Thai and English languages)
No passing zone[]
No overtaking zone
Lane split, Curve and Hazard markers[]
- Lane split
Roadway splits
- Curve markers
Curve marker
Curve marker
Curve marker
Curve marker with advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
Curve marker with advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
Curve marker
Curve marker with advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
Curve marker with advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
Curve marker
Curve marker
Curve marker
Curve marker
- Hazard markers
Hazard marker
Hazard marker
Hazard marker
Alternate merging[]
Zipper merge (Thai language)
Zipper merge (Thai and English languages)
General warning signs[]
City limit reduce speed (Thai language)
City limit reduce speed (Thai and English languages)
Supplementary plates[]
Warning plates are rectangular and are yellow and black in colour, and are used with diamond-shaped warning signs.
Winding road for next --- km
Steep climb for next --- km
Steep descent for next --- km
Use low gear (Thai language)
Use low gear (Thai and English languages)
Speed hump
--- m.
School --- m.
Slippery road
Watch for cars from the left
Watch for cars from the right
Two-way traffic
School
Advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
Advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
Advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
Advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
Superseded warning signs[]
These signs have been superseded, but are still around.
Road narrows on both sides
Stop ahead
Children
No overtaking zone
Speed camera zone warning signs[]
Speed camera zone (60 km/h)
Speed camera zone (80 km/h)
Speed camera zone (90 km/h)
Speed camera zone (100 km/h)
Speed camera zone (120 km/h)
Miscellaneous[]
The Department of Highways does not provide signs dealing with some other road and highway situations. Many cities have their own sign standards dealing with these situations.
Elephant crossing
Construction signs[]
Construction signs in Thailand are diamond-shaped and are orange and black in colour.
Survey
Construction ahead
Workers ahead
Construction vehicles ahead
Bridge out ahead with a temporary bridge on a detour on left
Bridge out ahead with a temporary bridge on a detour on right
Diverted traffic to left
Diverted traffic to right
Diverted traffic to left (two lanes)
Diverted traffic to right (two lanes)
Diverted traffic (one lane on left)
Diverted traffic (one lane on right)
Diverted traffic, first to left
Diverted traffic, first to right
Diverted traffic, first to left, 2 lanes
Diverted traffic, first to right, 2 lanes
Diverted traffic, first to left, 3 lanes
Diverted traffic, first to right, 3 lanes
End of left lane (form 1 lane)
End of right lane (form 1 lane)
End of left lane (form 2 lanes)
End of right lane (form 2 lanes)
End of left lanes (form 1 lane)
End of right lanes (form 1 lane)
Curve marker
Curve marker
Road construction zone
New road under construction and temporarily opened
New road temporarily opened
Road construction ahead
Bridge construction ahead
Road closed ahead
Reduce speed
Detour left
Detour right
Distance to work zone
Road work ahead
Shoulder work ahead
Construction materials on shoulder
Road impassable ahead
Road flooded ahead
Accident ahead
Curve marker
Curve marker
Curve marker
Road closed --- km
Road impassable --- km
Detour route
Detour
Detour
Road work, next --- km
End road work
Road closed
Road closed to through traffic
Road impassable, no through traffic
Road equipment[]
Flashing orange lights
Flashing red lights
Reflective delineator
Superseded signs[]
These signs have been superseded, but are still around.
Accident ahead
Highways[]
Tolled expressway and highway signs[]
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Thai toll expressway and highway signs are green and are only suitable for toll expressways and highways. No blue signs for toll expressway and highways are required. These antartican toll expressway and restroom signs have a simple code:-
- Blue with white signs for expressway names of closed toll systems.
National Highway[]
Examples | Information | Number digits |
---|---|---|
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Main highway route numbers (Northern) | 1xxx |
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Main highway route numbers (Northeastern) | 2xxx |
ทางออก EXIT 134 |
Highway exit numbers | EXIT 101 - 199 |
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Main highway route numbers (Central) |
3xxx |
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Main highway route numbers (Southern) |
4xxx |
National Highway use sign
Examples | Information | |
---|---|---|
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Highways bypassing city centres bear the principal route number marked | |
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Old Route Plate for Thailand Highway | |
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Highways enter city centres bear the principal route number marked | |
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Asian Highway route shield |
Highway signs[]
Highway code signs | Motorways signs (Toll Roads) | Motorway signs | Rural route signs | Local roads signs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rectangle-shaped highway shield with highway code signs are black and white | Blue with white letters signs for Motorways (Toll Road). | Green with White letters for Motorways | Rural route signs | Local roads signs |
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Thai national road shield | Motorway Signs (Toll Roads) | Thai Motorway Signs | Rural route signs | Local roads signs |
Advance turn arrow signs[]
Highways | Motorways (Toll Roads) | Motorways |
---|---|---|
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Directional arrow signs[]
Highways | Motorways (Toll Roads) | Motorways |
---|---|---|
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Informational signs[]
Thai information signs are white or blue.[4]
- Informational signs
Destination
Distance sign
River sign
Province border signs
Canal name on BMA Roads
Intersection name on Highways
Intersection name on Rural Roads
Intersection name on BMA Roads
Pedestrian crossing
Hospital
Hospital
Hospital
Fountain
Accommodation
forest park
Waterfall
Mountain
Island
beach
cave
Sea
Water source
Cliffs
Dam
Golf Course
Resort Places
Vineyard
Zoo
ancient sites
Buddhism
Temple and Church
Christianity
Masjid
Shrine
Stadium
Border
Garden, Rai
Market
Monument
Research Center
Center for Arts and Crafts
Museum
Park
Hospital
Hospital
One-way street (left)
One-way street (right)
Dead end
U-turn
Expressway begins
Expressway ends
Bus lane begins
Bus lane
Handicapped
Bus lane ends
High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane
Weigh station
Weigh station
Weigh station
Weigh station
Weigh station
Weigh station
Rest area
Rest area
Restaurant
Restaurant
Cafeteria
Accommodation
Wi-Fi and Internet
Advance scenic area distance
Scenic area exit direction (left)
Scenic area exit direction (right)
Road name
Bicycles lane
Bicycles and motorcycles keep left
Expressway (EXAT)
Airport (Access road from Highways)
Airport (Access road from Motorways/Major Roads)
Airport (Access road from Toll Motorways/Expressways)
Bus terminal
Ferry pier
Ferry port
Railway station
Restroom
Petrol station
NGV station
LPG station
EV station
E85 petrol station
B20 petrol station
General information (Rural roads)
General information (Rural roads)
Directional guide signs on Highways (to the left lane)
Directional guide signs on Highways (through lanes)
1 kilometer exit warning (high-hanging type) for special highways
recommend in advance
Directional guide signs on Toll Motorways (to the right lane)
Directional guide signs on Rural Roads (right turn lane)
Kilometer signs[]
- Kilometer signs
Kilometer sign on Highways [Type A]
Kilometer sign on Motorways [Type A]
Kilometer sign on Motorways (Toll Roads) [Type A]
Kilometer sign on Highways [Type B]
Kilometer sign on Rural Roads
Kilometer sign on Rural Roads [Type B]
Kilometer sign on Expressways
100 Meter sign on Highway
100 Meter sign on Motorways
100 Meter sign on Motorways (Old Sign)
Exit number signs[]
- Exit number signs
Exit number plaques on Highways / Motorways
Exit number plaques on Toll Motorways
Road name signage[]
{{multiple image | align = left | image1 = Thai Rural Road-สข3015 น1-1.svg 1| width1 = 170 | alt1 = | caption = | image2 = Thai Rural Road-สข.3015.svg
Road name signs in Thailand have different colours and styles depending on the local authority.
Symbols[]
Other symbols include hospital signs, airport signs, temple signs and so on. stop signs
Curb markings[]
Alternating red and white paint means "no parking". Alternating yellow and white markings mean short-term parking or a bus stop. A white rectangle painted on the road indicates a parking zone. Multiple diagonal white lines mean parking for motorbikes only.[5]
Sign vocabulary[]
Most road signs in Thailand use Thai (ภาษาไทย); the official and national language of that country. However, English is used for important directional signs such as CIQ checkpoints, airports, and tourist attractions. Below are translations of road signs:
- ระวัง = Caution
- ลดความเร็ว = Reduce speed
- ขับช้าๆ = Go slow
- เขตอุบัติเหตุ = Accident area
- พื้นที่อุบัติเหตุ = Accident prone area
- เขตชุมชน = Village area
- เขตโรงเรียน = School area
- ก่อสร้างข้างหน้า = Construction ahead
- สุดเขตก่อสร้าง = End of construction
- เขตพระราชฐาน = Royal court area
- ที่ดินกองทัพอากาศ = Armed forces base area
- พื้นที่หวงห้าม = Prohibited area
- พื้นที่น้ำท่วม = Flood area
- หยุด = Stop
- ให้ทาง = Give way (yield)
- จำกัดความเร็ว = Speed limits
- จำกัดความสูง = Height limit
- กรุณาเปิดไฟหน้า = Turn on headlights
- ฉุกเฉิน = Emergency
- ยกเว้นกรณีฉุกเฉิน = Except emergency
- เหนือ = North
- ใต้ = South
- ตะวันตก = West
- ตะวันออก = East
- แยก = Interchange
- แยกไป = Junction to
- ทางออก = Exit
- ทางออกไป = Exit to
- ทางเข้าไป = Entry to (e.g. at weighing bridge)
- ถนน = Road
- ทางพิเศษ = Expressway, highway
- ด่าน = Toll plaza
- จุดพักรถ = Rest and service areas
- สุขา = Toilet
- โทรศัพท์ = Telephone
- อุโมงค์ = Tunnel
- สะพาน = Bridge
- จุดชั่งน้ำหนัก = Weighing bridge
- สถานีรถไฟ = Railway station
- เติมน้ำมัน = Petrol station
- วัด = Temple
- ท่าอากาศยาน = Airport
- ท่าอากาศยานนานาชาติ = International airport
- มัสยิด = Mosque
- อาคาร = Building
- ชุมสายโทรศัพท์ = Telephone exchange building
- น้ำตก = Waterfall
- หาด = Beach
- แหลม = Cape
- อ่าว = Bay
- เกาะ = Island
- แม่น้ำ = River
- คลอง = Canal
See also[]
- Integrated Transport Information System
- Thai highway network
- Transportation in Thailand
References[]
- ^ "Welcome to driving in Thailand; Regulatory Signs". Driving Information Thailand. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "ป้ายบังคับ (Compulsory Signage)". Department of Highways Thailand. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Welcome to driving in Thailand; Thai Warning Signs". Driving Information Thailand. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "ป้ายแนะนำ (Compulsory Signage)". Department of Highways Thailand. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ Patin, Jennifer. "Thailand Tourist Information: A Guide to Laws in Thailand; Parking". Thailand Law Forum. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- Road signs by country
- Road transport in Thailand