4. Regulatory signs may be restricted to particular road users by displaying the symbol for their category. For example: H,5a and H,5b.

In cases where the regulatory sign is to be regarded as not applying to a certain category of road users this is indicated by the symbol for their category and by the term „exept” in the language of the particular country. For example: H,6. If necessary the symbol may be replaced by an inscription in that language.

5. To indicate parking space reserved for handicapped persons, panel H,7 should be used with signs C,18 or E,14.

6. The additional panel H,8 displays a diagram of the intersection in which broad strokes indicate priority roads and thin strokes indicate the roads on which signs B,1 or B,2 are set up.

7. To indicate that the section of road ahead is slippery because of ice or snow the additional panel H,9 should be used:

NOTE APPROPRIATE TO THE WHOLE OF ANNEX I: In countries where traffic keeps to the left, signs and/or symbols shall be reversed as appropriate.

Annex 2

Road markings

Chapter I

GENERAL

1. Road surface markings (road markings) should be of non-skid materials and should not protrude more than 6 mm above the level of the carriageway. Studs or similar devices used for marking should not protrude more than 1.5 cm above the level of the carriageway (or more than 2.5 cm in the case of studs incorporating reflex reflectors); they should be used in accordance with road traffic safety requirements.

Chapter II

LONGITUDINAL MARKINGS

A. Dimensions

2. The width of continuous or broken lines used for longitudinal markings should be at least 0.10 m.

3. The distance between two adjacent longitudinal lines (double line) should be between 0.10 m and 0.18 m.

4. A broken line shall consist of strokes of equal length separated by uniform gaps. The speed of vehicles on the section of road or in the area in question should be taken into account in determining the length of the strokes and of the gaps between them.

5. Outside built-up areas a broken line should consist of strokes between 2 m and 10 m long. The length of the strokes forming the approach line referred to in paragraph 23 of this Annex should be from two to three times the length of the gaps.

6. In built-up areas, the length and spacing of the strokes should be less than they are outside built-up areas. The strokes may be reduced to 1 m. On certain main urban arteries where traffic moves fast, however, the characteristics of longitudinal markings may be the same as outside built-up areas.

B. Traffic lane markings

7. Traffic lanes shall be marked by broken lines, by continuous lines or by other appropriate means.

(i) Outside built-up areas

8. On two-way roads having two lanes, the centre line of the carriageway should be indicated by a longitudinal marking. This marking shall normally consist of a broken line. Continuous lines should only be used for this purpose in special circumstances.

9. On three-lane roads, the lanes should, as a general rule, be indicated by broken lines along sections where visibility is normal. In specific cases and in order to ensure greater traffic safety, continuous lines or broken lines adjacent to continuous lines may be used.

10. On carriageways having more than three traffic lanes, the two directions of traffic should be separated by one continuous line or by two continuous lines, except in cases where the direction of traffic in the central lanes can be reversed. In addition, the traffic lanes should be marked by broken lines (diagrams 1a and 1b).

(ii) In built-up areas

11. In built-up areas, the recommendations contained in paragraphs 8 to 10 of this Annex are applicable to two-way streets and to one-way streets with at least two traffic lanes.

12. Traffic lanes should be marked at points where the width of the roadway is reduced by kerbs, islands or directional islands.

13. At the approaches to major intersections (especially intersections where traffic is controlled), where the width is sufficient for two or more lines of vehicles, traffic lanes should be marked as shown in diagrams 2 and 3. In such cases, the lines marking the lanes may be supplemented with arrow markings (see para. 39 of this Annex).

C. Markings for particular situations

(i) Use of continuous lines

14. In order to improve traffic safety, the broken centre lines at certain intersections (diagram 4) should be replaced or supplemented by a continuous line (diagrams 5 and 6).

15. When it is necessary to prohibit the use of the part of the carriageway reserved for oncoming traffic at places where the range of vision is restricted (hill crest, bend in the road, etc.) or on sections where the carriageway is narrow or has some other peculiarity, restrictions should be imposed on sections where the range of vision is less than a certain minimum M, by means of a continuous line laid out in accordance with diagrams 7a to 16.3 In countries where the design of motor vehicles justifies it, the eye level of 1 m indicated in diagrams 7a to 10a may be raised to 1.20 m.

16. The value to be adopted for M varies with road conditions. Diagrams 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d show, for two- and three-lane roads respectively, the design of the lines at a hill crest with a restricted range of vision. These diagrams correspond to the longitudinal section at the top of the same page and to a distance M specified in paragraph 24 below: A (or D) is the point where the range of vision becomes less than M, while C (or B) is the point where the range of vision again begins to exceed M.4

17. Where the sections AB and CD overlap, i.e. when forward visibility in both directions becomes greater than M before the crest of the hill is reached, the lines should be arranged in the same way, but the continuous lines alongside a broken line should not overlap. This is indicated in diagrams 9, 10a and 10b.

18. Diagrams 11a and 11b show the position of the lines for the same case on a curve with restricted range of vision on a two-lane road.

19. On three-lane roads two methods are possible. These are shown in diagrams 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d (or 10a and 10b). Diagram 8a (or 8b or 10a) should be used on roads carrying a substantial proportion of two-wheeled vehicles and diagrams 8c and 8d (or 10b) where the traffic consists mainly of four-wheeled vehicles. Diagram 11c shows the arrangement of the lines for the same case on a curve with restricted range of vision on a three-lane road.

20. Diagrams 12, 13 and 14 show the lines which indicate narrowing of the carriageway.

21. In diagrams 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 10a and 10b, the inclination of the oblique transition lines to the centre line should not exceed 1/20.

22. In diagrams 13 and 14 which show the lines used to indicate a change in width of the available carriageway, as well as in diagrams 15, 16 and 17 which show obstacles necessitating a deviation from the continuous line(s), the inclination of the line(s) should preferably be less than 1/50 on fast roads and less than 1/20 on roads where speeds do not exceed 50 km/h (30 m.p.h.). In addition, the oblique continuous lines should be preceded, in the direction to which they apply, by a continuous line parallel to the centre line of the roadway, the length of the continuous line being the distance covered in one second at the driving speed adopted.

23. When it is not necessary to mark the traffic lanes by broken lines on a normal section of road, the continuous line should be preceded by an approach line consisting of a broken line, for a distance of at least 50 m, depending on the normal speed of the vehicles using the road. Where the traffic lanes are marked by broken lines on a normal section of road, the continuous line should also be preceded by an approach line for a distance of at least 50 m, depending on the normal speed of the vehicles using the road. The marking may be supplemented by one or more arrows showing drivers which lane they should take.

(ii) Conditions for the use of continuous lines

24. The choice of range of vision to be used in determining the sections on which a continuous line is or is not desirable, and the choice of the length of the line, is bound to be a compromise. The following table gives the recommended value of M for various approach speeds:5

25. For speeds not given in the preceding table the value of M should be calculated by interpolation or extrapolation.

D. Border lines indicating the limits of the carriageway

26. The limits of the carriageway shall preferably be marked by continuous lines. Studs, buttons or reflex reflectors may be used in conjunction with these lines.

E. Marking of obstructions

27. Diagrams 15, 16 and 17 show the markings to be used near an island or any other obstruction on the carriageway.

F. Guidelines for turning vehicles

28. At certain intersections it is desirable to show drivers how to turn left, in countries with right-hand traffic, or how to turn right in countries with left-hand traffic.

G. Road markings for a lane reserved for certain categories of vehicle

28 bis. The marking of lanes reserved for certain categories of vehicle shall be by means of lines which should be clearly distinguished from other continuous or broken lines of the carriageway, notably by being wider and with less space between strokes. With respect to a lane reserved primarily for buses, the word „BUS” or the letter „A” shall be marked on the reserved lane wherever necessary and specifically at the beginning of the lane and after intersections. Diagrams 28a and 28b show examples of markings for a lane reserved for regular public transport service vehicles.

Chapter III

TRANSVERSE MARKINGS

A. General

29. Because of the angle at which the driver sees markings on the carriageway, transverse markings shall be wider than longitudinal markings.

B. Stop lines

30. The minimum width of a stop line shall be 0.20 m and the maximum 0.60 m. A width of 0.30 m is recommended.

31. When used in conjunction with a STOP sign, the stop line should be placed in such a position that a driver who stops immediately behind the line has the clearest possible view of the traffic on the other arms of the intersection consistent with the requirements of other vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

32. Stop lines may be supplemented by longitudinal lines (diagrams 18 and 19). They may also be supplemented by the word „STOP” inscribed on the carriageway as shown in the examples given in diagrams 20 and 21. The distance between the top of the letters of the word „STOP” and the stop line should be between 2 m and 25 m.

C. Lines indicating points at which drivers must give way

33. The minimum width of these lines should be 0.20 m and the maximum width 0.60 m; if there are two lines, the distance between them should be at least 0.30 m. The line may be replaced by triangles marked side by side on the ground with their vertices pointing towards the driver who is required to give way. The bases of these triangles should measure at least 0.40 m but not more than 0.60 m and their height should be at least 0.60 m but not more than 0.70 m.

34. Transverse marking(s) should be placed in the same positions as the stop lines referred to in paragraph 31 of this Annex.

35. The marking(s) referred to in paragraph 34 above may be supplemented by a triangle drawn on the carriageway as shown in the example given in diagram 22. The distance between the base of the triangle and the transverse marking should be between 2 m and 25 m. The base of the triangle shall be at least 1 m; its height shall be three times its base.

36. This transverse marking may be supplemented by longitudinal lines.

D. Pedestrian crossings

37. The space between the stripes marking a pedestrian crossing should be at least equal to the width of the stripes and not more than twice that width: the width of a space and a stripe together should be between 1 m and 1.40 m. The minimum width recommended for pedestrian crossings is 2.5 m on roads on which the speed limit is 60 km/h, and 4 m on roads in which the speed limit is higher or there is no speed limit.

E. Cyclist crossings

38. Cyclist crossings should be indicated by two broken lines. The broken line should preferably be made up of squares (0.40-0.60)x(0.40-0.60) m. The distance between the squares should be 0.40-0.60 m. The width of the crossings should be not less than 1.80 m. Studs and buttons are not recommended.

Chapter IV

OTHER MARKINGS

A. Arrow markings

39. On roads having sufficient traffic lanes to separate vehicles approaching an intersection, the lanes which traffic should use may be indicated by arrow markings on the surface of the carriageway (diagrams 2, 3, 19 and 23). Arrows may also be used or a one-way road to confirm the direction of traffic. The arrow should not be less than 2 m long. They may be supplemented by word markings on the carriageway.

B. Oblique parallel lines

40. Diagrams 24 and 25 give examples of areas which vehicles should not enter.

C. Word markings

41. Word markings on the carriageway may be used for the purpose of regulating traffic or warning or guiding road users. The words used should preferably be either place names, highway numbers or words which are easily understandable internationally (e.g. „Stop”, „Bus”, „Taxi”).

42. The letters should be considerably elongated in the direction of traffic movement because of the small angle at which they are seen by approaching drivers (diagram 20).

43. Where approach speeds exceed 50 km/h (30 m.p.h.), the letters should be at least 2.5 m in height.

D. Standing and parking regulations

44. Standing and parking restrictions may be indicated by markings on the kerbs or on the carriageway. Parking space limits may be indicated on the surface of the carriageway by appropriate lines.

E. Markings on the carriageway and on adjacent structures

(i) Markings indicating parking restrictions

45. Diagram 26 gives an example of a zigzag line.

(ii) Marking of obstructions

46. Diagram 27 gives an example of a marking on an obstacle.

EUROPEAN AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENTING THE CONVENTION ON ROAD SIGNS AND SIGNALS

OPENED FOR SIGNATURE AT VIENNA ON 8 NOVEMBER 1968

The Contracting Parties, being also Parties to the Convention on Road Signs and Signals opened for signature at Vienna on 8 November 1968,

desiring to achieve greater uniformity in the rules governing road signs, signals and symbols and road markings in Europe,

have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The Contracting Parties, being also Parties to the Convention on Road Signs and Signals opened for signature at Vienna on 8 November 1968, shall take appropriate measures to ensure that the system of road signs and signals and of road markings applied in their territories conforms to the provisions of the annex to this Agreement.

Article 2

1. This Agreement shall be open until 30 April 1972 for signature by States which are signatories to the Convention on Road Signs and Signals opened for signature at Vienna on 8 November 1968, or have acceded thereto, and are either members of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe or have been admitted to the Commission in a consultative capacity in conformity with paragraph 8 of the terms of reference of the Commission.