(b) That the dimensions of sign panels shall be such that the sign is easily visible for a distance and can be easily understood by a person approaching it; subject to the provisions of subparagraph (c) of this paragraph, these dimensions shall be adapted to the normal speed of vehicles;
(c) That the dimensions of danger warning signs and of regulatory signs (except special regulation signs) shall be standardized in the territory of each Contracting Party. As a general rule, there shall be four sizes for each type of sign: small, normal, large and very large. Small signs shall be used where conditions do not permit the use of normal signs or where traffic can only move slowly; they may also be used to repeat a preceding sign. Large signs shall be used on very wide roads carrying high-speed traffic. Very large signs shall be used on roads carrying very high-speed traffic, such as motorways.
Article 7
1. It is recommended that domestic legislation should provide that in order to make them more visible and legible at night, road signs, in particular danger warning signs and regulatory signs other than those regulating standing and parking in lighted streets of built-up areas, shall be lighted or equipped with reflecting material or reflecting devices, provided that this does not result in road-users being dazzled. Dark or light graphic elements of different colours in the signs may be differentiated by means of contrasting light or dark narrow strips respectively.
2. Nothing in this Convention shall prohibit the use; for conveying information, warnings or rules applying only at certain times or on certain days, of signs which are visible only when the information they convey is relevant.
Article 8
1. In order to facilitate international understanding of signs, the system of signs and signals prescribed in this Convention is based on the use of shapes, and colours characteristic of each class of sign and, wherever possible, on the use of graphic symbols rather than inscriptions. Where Contracting Parties consider it necessary to modify the symbols prescribed, the modifications made shall not alter their essential characteristics.
1 bis. In cases where variable message signs are used, the inscriptions and symbols reproduced on them must also conform to the system of signs and signals prescribed in this Convention. When, however, the technical requirements of a given type of system of signs and signals so warrant, particularly so as to ensure satisfactory legibility, and provided that no error of interpretation is possible, the prescribed dark-coloured signs or symbols may appear in a light colour, light-coloured backgrounds then being replaced by dark backgrounds. The red colour of the symbol of a sign and its border shall not be changed.
2. Contracting Parties wishing to adopt, in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 1 (a) (ii), of this Convention, any sign or symbol not prescribed in this Convention shall endeavour to secure regional agreement on such new sign or symbol.
3. Nothing in this Convention shall prohibit the addition, in order to facilitate the interpretation of signs, of an inscription in a rectangular panel below the sign or in a rectangular panel containing the sign; such an inscription may also be placed on the sign itself, if this does not make the sign more difficult to understand for drivers who cannot understand the inscription.
4. Where the competent authorities consider it advisable to make the meaning of a sign or symbol more explicit or to limit the application of a sign to certain periods, this can be done by inscriptions on the sign as provided in Annex 1 to this Convention or on an additional panel. If regulatory signs are to be restricted to certain road-users or if certain road-users are to be exempt from the regulation, this is done through additional panels according to Annex 1, section H, paragraph 4 (panels H,5a; H,5b; and H,6).
5. The inscriptions referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Article shall be in the national language or in one or more of the national languages, and also, if the Contracting Party concerned considers it advisable, in other languages, in particular official languages of the United Nations.
DANGER WARNING SIGNS
Article 9
1. Section A, subsection I of Annex 1 to this Convention indicates the models for danger warning signs; Section A, subsection II indicates the symbols to be placed on these signs and gives some instructions for their use. In conformity with Article 46, paragraph 2 of this Convention, each State shall notify the Secretary-General whether it has selected Aa or Ab as the model for danger warning signs.
2. The number of danger warning signs shall not be increased unnecessarily, but such signs shall be sited to give warning of possible road hazards which are difficult for a driver proceeding with due caution to perceive in time.
3. Danger warning signs shall be placed at such distance from the danger point as will make them most effective both by day and by night, having regard to road and traffic conditions, including the normal speed of vehicles and the distance at which the sign is visible.
4. The distance between the sign and the beginning of a dangerous section of road may be shown in an additional panel H,1 of Annex 1, section H to this Convention and placed in accordance with the provisions of that section; this information must be given when the distance between the sign and the beginning of the dangerous section of road cannot be judged by drivers and is not what they might normally expect.
5. Danger warning signs may be repeated, particularly on motorways and roads treated as motorways. Where they are repeated, the distance between the sign and the beginning of the dangerous section of road shall be shown in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 4 of this Article. However, with respect to danger warning signs giving warning of swing bridges and level crossings, it shall be open to Contracting Parties to apply the following provisions.
A rectangular panel having its longer sides vertical and bearing three oblique red bars on a white or yellow ground may be placed below any danger warning sign bearing one of the symbols A,5; A,25; A,26 or A,27 described in Annex 1, section A, subsection II, paragraphs 5, 25, 26 and 27 to this Convention, provided that additional signs consisting of panels of the same shape bearing respectively one or two oblique red bars on a white or yellow ground are set up at about one third and two thirds of the distance between the sign and the railway line. These signs may be repeated on the opposite side of the carriageway. The panels mentioned in this paragraph are further depicted in section A, subsection II, paragraph 29 of Annex 1 to this Convention.
6. If a danger warning sign is used to give warning of a danger on a section of road of some length (e.g. a series of dangerous bends or a section of carriageway in bad condition) and if it is considered desirable to show the length of that section, this shall be done on an additional panel H,2 of Annex 1, section H to this Convention, placed in accordance with the provisions of that section.
REGULATORY SIGNS
Article 10
Priority signs
1. The signs for notifying or informing road-users of the special rules of priority at intersections are signs B,1; B,2; B,3 and B,4. The signs for informing road-users of a rule of priority on narrow sections of road are signs B,5 and B,6. These signs are described in Annex 1, section B to this Convention.
2. Sign B,1 „GIVE WAY”, shall be used to notify drivers that, at the intersection where the sign is placed, they must give way to vehicles on the road they are approaching.
3. Sign B,2, „STOP”, shall be used to notify drivers that, at the intersection where the sign is placed, they shall stop before entering the intersection and give way to vehicles on the road they are approaching. In conformity with Article 46, paragraph 2, of this Convention, each State shall notify the Secretary-General whether it has selected B,2a or B,2b as the model for the „STOP” sign.
4. Sign B,1 or B,2 may be placed elsewhere than at an intersection if the competent authorities consider it necessary.
5. Signs B,1 and B,2 shall be placed at the intersection, if possible level with the point at which vehicles must stop or beyond which they must not pass when giving way.
6. To give advance warning of sign B,1 the same sign supplemented by an additional panel H,1, described in Annex 1, section H to the Convention, shall be used. To give advance warning of sign B,2, sign B,1, supplemented by a rectangular panel bearing the „STOP” symbol and a figure indicating the distance to the sign B,2 shall be used.
7. Sign B,3, „PRIORITY ROAD”, shall be used to notify users of a road that, at intersections of that road with other roads, the drivers of vehicles moving along or coming from such other roads are required to give way to vehicles moving along that road. This sign may be set up at the beginning of the road and repeated after each intersection; it may also be set up before or at the intersection. Where sign B,3 has been set up on a road, sign B,4, „END OF PRIORITY”, shall be placed at the approach to the point where the road ceases to have priority over other roads. Sign B,4 may be repeated one or more times in advance of the point where the priority ends; the sign or signs set up in advance of that point shall then bear an additional panel H,1 of Annex 1, section H.
8. If warning of an intersection is given on a road by a danger warning sign bearing one of the A,19 symbols, or if at the intersection the road is a priority road and has been marked as such by signs B,3 as provided in paragraph 7 of this Article, a sign B,1 or B,2 shall be placed at the intersection on all the other roads; however, the placing of signs B,1 or B,2 shall not be mandatory on roads such as paths or earth-tracks where drivers are required to give way at the intersection even in the absence of such signs. A sign B,2 shall be set up only if the competent authorities consider it advisable to require drivers to stop, in particular because of the poor visibility, for drivers, of the sections of the road, on either side of the intersection, which they are approaching.
Article 11
Prohibitory or restrictive signs
Section C of Annex 1 to this Convention describes the prohibitory and restrictive signs and gives their meaning. It also describes the signs notifying the end of these prohibitions and restrictions or of any one of them.
Article 12
Mandatory signs
Section D of Annex 1 to this Convention describes the mandatory signs and gives their meaning.
Article 13
Provisions applying generally to the signs described in Annex 1, sections C and D to this Convention
1. Prohibitory, restrictive and mandatory signs shall be placed in the immediate vicinity of the point where the obligation, restriction or prohibition begins and may be repeated if the competent authorities consider it necessary. Nevertheless, if the competent authorities consider it advisable for reasons of visibility or in order to give users advance warning, these signs may be placed at a suitable distance in advance of the point where the obligation, restriction or prohibition applies. An additional panel H,1 of Annex 1, section H shall be placed under signs set up in advance of the point where the obligation, restriction or prohibition applies.
2. Regulatory signs placed level with or shortly after a sign giving the name of a built-up area shall mean that the rule applies throughout the built-up area, unless a different rule is notified by other signs on certain sections of the road in the built-up area.
3. Prohibitory and restrictive signs shall apply as from the place they are, displayed until the point where a contrary sign is displayed, otherwise until the next intersection. If the prohibition or restriction should continue to be applied after the intersection the sign shall be repeated in accordance with provisions in domestic legislation.
4. Where a regulatory sign applies to all roads in a zone (zonal validity), it shall be displayed in the way described in Annex 1, section E, subsection II, paragraph 8 (a) to this Convention.
5. The exit from the zones referred to in paragraph 4 above shall be indicated in the way described in Annex 1, of section E, subsection II, paragraph 8 (b) of this Convention.
Article 13 bis
Special regulation signs
1. Section E of Annex 1 to this Convention describes the special regulation signs and gives their meaning.
2. Signs E,7a; E,7b; E,7c or E,7d and E,8a; E,8b; E,8c or E,8d shall notify road-users that the general regulations governing traffic in built-up areas in the territory of the State apply from signs E,7a; E,7b; E,7c; or E,7d to signs E,8a; E,8b; E,8c; or E,8d except in so far as different regulations may be notified by other signs on certain sections of road in the built-up area. However, sign B,4 shall always be placed on a priority road marked with sign B,3 if that road ceases to have priority where it passes through the built-up area. The provisions of Article 14, paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 apply to these signs.
3. Signs E,12a; E,12b or E,12c shall be placed at pedestrian crossings when the competent authorities consider it advisable.
4. The special regulations signs shall be set up, with due regard to the requirements of Article 6, paragraph 1, only where the competent authorities consider it essential. They may be repeated; an additional panel placed below the sign may show the distance between the sign and the point which it indicates; this distance may also be inscribed on the lower part of the sign itself.
INFORMATIVE SIGNS
Article 14
1. Sections F and G of Annex 1 to this Convention describe the signs which convey useful information to road-users, or give examples of such signs, and also give some instructions for their use.
2. The inscription of words on informative signs (ii) of Article 5, paragraph 1 (c), in countries not using the Latin alphabet shall be both in the national language and in the form of a transliteration into the Latin alphabet reproducing as closely as possible the pronunciation in the national language.
3. In countries not using the Latin alphabet, the words in Latin characters may be entered either on the same sign as the words in the national language or on a repeat sign.
4. A sign shall not bear inscriptions in more than two languages.
Article 15
Advance direction signs
Advance direction signs shall be placed at such distance from the intersection as will make them most effective both by day and by night, having regard to road and traffic conditions, including the normal speed of vehicles and the distance at which the sign is visible; this distance need not exceed about 50 meters (55 yards) in built-up areas but shall be not less than 500 meters (550 yards) on motorways and other roads carrying fast traffic. The signs may be repeated. An additional panel placed below the sign may show the distance between the sign and the intersection; this distance may also be shown on the lower part of the sign itself.
Article 16
Direction signs
1. One direction sign may bear the names of several places; the names shall then appear one below the other on the sign. The letters used for one place name may be larger than those used for the others only if the place in question is the largest of them.
2. When distances are shown, the figures expressing them shall be inscribed at the same height as the place-name. On direction signs which are arrow-shaped, these figures shall be placed between the place-name and the point of the arrow; on rectangular-shaped signs they shall be placed after the placename.
Article 17
Road identification signs
The signs used to identify roads either by their number, made up of figures, letters or a combination of figures and letters, or by their name, shall consist of that number or that name framed in a rectangle or shield. However, Contracting Parties having a route classification system may replace the rectangle by a route classification symbol.
Article 18