Traffic signs and traffic symbols play a pivotal role in regulating and guiding road users, ensuring safe and organized transportation systems. Traffic signs are visual indicators strategically placed along roadways, conveying essential information to drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
These signs encompass a range of symbols, colors, and shapes, each with a specific meaning. From stop signs and speed limits to directional arrows and pedestrian crossings, traffic signs are designed to communicate rules, warnings, and regulatory information.
The universality of traffic symbols allows for quick comprehension by individuals of diverse linguistic backgrounds. These symbols contribute significantly to road safety, helping prevent accidents and maintaining a smooth flow of traffic.
Traffic Signs
Traffic signs and symbols are crucial elements of road infrastructure designed to convey important information to road users. They are categorized into several types, each serving a specific purpose:
1. Regulatory or Mandatory Signs
These traffic signs are used to indicate a prohibition of a particular vehicle maneuver or vehicle type or restrictions such as parking restriction, speed limit, etc.
Purpose:
- To regulate traffic operations.
- These signs are to be compulsorily followed, violating which is a legal offence.
Features:
- Shape: Circular
- Background: White
- Border: Red
- Symbol/Letter: Black
- Red ring: Indicates prohibitory regulation
- Diagonal red bar: indicates Prohibition of action symbolized by the black symbol
For instructions, which are to be compulsorily followed, the above features are changed as follows:
- Background: blue
- Symbol: white
Exception:
- For the STOP sign, the octagonal shape is used.
- For the GIVEWAY sign, the triangle shape is adopted.
Types of Regulatory Signs
It is one of important types of traffic signs used in road. Regulatory/Mandatory signs are further classified as follows:
- STOP & GIVEWAY signs
- NO PARKING & NO STOPPING signs
- VEHICLE CONTROL signs & SPEED LIMIT
- RESTRICTION ENDS SIGN
- COMPULSORY CONTROL & OTHER signs
2. Cautionary or Warning Signs
These road signs are used to beware or alert the road users of potential danger or presence of hazardous conditions either on the road or adjacent to the road so that the users can safely avoid a catastrophe. This is one of the initial and important types of traffic signs.
Purpose:
- To caution the road users of danger on the road
- To promote the smooth flow of traffic
- To provide information on the existing conditions of the road, like bend ahead, right turn ahead, intersection ahead, narrow bridge, etc
Features:
- Shape: Triangular
- Background: White
- Border: Red
- Symbol/Letter: Black
3. Informatory or Guiding Signs
These signs are used to indicate the location and direction of a particular facility so that users can safely navigate to that facility without much confusion. These is informatory types of traffic signs.
Purpose:
- To inform the road users of various facilities on the route
- To provide the road users with information which aid in their travel on the route, such as fueling station, destination, parking, etc
Features:
- Shape: rectangular
- Background: blue
- Symbol/Letter: white
Types of Regulatory Signs:
Regulatory/Mandatory types of traffic signs are further classified as follows:
- Direction and Place Identification Signs
- Facility Information Signs
- Parking Signs
- Flood Gauge
- Other Useful Information Signs
1. Regulatory or Mandatory Signs
The following are regulatory traffic signs,
Sr. No. | Sign | Purpose | Location | Remarks |
1. | Stop Sign |
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2. | Give Way Signs |
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3. | Prohibitory Signs |
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4. |
No Standing & No Stopping signs |
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5. | Â Speed Limit and Vehicle Control Signs |
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6. |
Restrictions End Sign |
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7. | Â Compulsory Direction Control and Other Signs |
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Types of Traffic Signs
2. Cautionary or Warning Signs
Cautionary types of traffic signs and their purpose, location details are given below,
Sr. No. | Signs | Purpose | Location | Remarks |
1. |
Left/Right curve |
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2. |
Right/Left Hairpin Bend |
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3. |
Right/Left Reverse Bend |
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4. |
Series of Bends |
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5. |
Side road |
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6. |
T-intersection |
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7. |
Y-Intersection |
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8. |
Cross Road |
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9. |
Roundabout |
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10. |
Traffic Signals |
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11. |
Major road ahead |
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12 |
Staggered Inter-section |
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13. |
Merging Traffic Ahead |
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14 |
Narrow Road Ahead |
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15. |
Road Widens |
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16 |
Narrow Bridge Ahead |
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17. |
Reduced Carriageway |
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18. |
Gap in Median |
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19. |
Pedestrian Crossing |
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20. |
School Ahead |
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20. |
Lane Closures |
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21. |
Men at Work |
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22. |
Danger Warning Sign |
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23. |
Cycle Crossing |
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24. |
Cycle Route Ahead |
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25. |
Dangerous Dip |
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26. |
Speed Breaker |
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27. |
Rough Road |
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28. |
Loose Gravel |
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29. |
Slippery Road
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30. |
Barrier |
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31. |
Tunnel Ahead Warning |
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32. |
Falling Rocks |
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33. |
Wild Animals likely to be on Road Ahead |
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34. |
Airport/Airfield |
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35. |
Unguarded Railway Crossing |
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38. |
Guarded Railway Crossing |
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Hazard Marker |
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Types of Traffic Signs
1. Informatory Signs
Informatory types of traffic signs and their purpose, location details are given below,
Sr. No. | Signs | Purpose | Locations | Remarks | |||
1. | Direction & Place Identification Signs |
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2. | Facility Information Signs |
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3. |
Parking signs |
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4. |
Flood Gauge signs |
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5. |
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4. Prohibitory Signs
Prohibitory signs falling under Regulatory types of traffic signs are described below:
Sr. No. | Signs | Purpose | Location | Remarks |
1. |
Bullock Carts Prohibited |
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2. |
Hand Carts Prohibited |
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3. |
Horse Riding Prohibited |
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4. |
Buses Prohibited |
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5. |
Cars Prohibited |
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6. |
Trucks Prohibited |
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7. |
Tractor Prohibited |
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8. |
Construction Vehicles Prohibited |
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9. |
Two Wheelers Prohibited |
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10. |
Cycles Prohibited |
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11. |
Blowing Horn Prohibited |
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12. |
Straight Prohibited/NoEntry |
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13. |
One Way |
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14. |
Left or Right Turn Prohibited |
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15. |
Overtaking Prohibited |
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16. |
U-turn Prohibited |
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Types of Traffic Signs
5. Speed Limit & Vehicle Control Signs
Speed Limit & Vehicle Control Signs falling under Regulatory types of traffic signs are described below:
Sr. No. | Signs | Purpose | Locations | Remarks |
1. |
Axle Load Limit |
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2. |
Length Limit |
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3. |
Height Limit |
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4. |
Load Limit |
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5. |
Width Limit |
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6. |
Maximum Speed Limit |
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7. |
Stop for Police Check |
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6. Compulsory Direction Control and Other Signs
Compulsory Direction Control Signs falling under Regulatory types of traffic signs are described below,
Sr. No. | Signs | Purpose | Locations | Remarks |
1. |
Compulsory Ahead |
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2. |
Compulsory Ahead or Turn Right |
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3. |
Compulsory Turn Right |
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4. |
Compulsory keep Left |
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5. |
Pass Either Side |
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6. |
Minimum Speed Limit |
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7. |
Compulsory Cycle Track |
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8. |
Compulsory Cyclist and Pedestrian Route |
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9. |
Pedestrians only |
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‘PEDESTRIANS ONLY’ |
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10. |
Buses only |
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‘BUSES ONLY’ |
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11. |
Compulsory Sound Horn |
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Types of Traffic Signs
7. Direction & Place Identification Signs
The color pattern for this sign is decided based on the type of roadway as briefed below:
Road type | Background | Arrows/Borders/Letters |
Expressway | Blue | White |
National Highway | Green | White |
State Highway | Green | White |
Major District Road | Green | White |
Other District Road | White | Black |
Village Road | Blue | White |
Direction & Place Identification Signs falling under Regulatory types of traffic signs are described below:
Sr. No. | Signs | Purpose | Locations |
1. |
Advance Direction Signs |
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2. |
Destination sign |
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3. |
Route Confirmatory Sign/ Reassurance Sign |
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4. |
Place or City Identification |
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5. |
Truck Lay Bye |
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6. |
Toll Booth Ahead |
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7. |
Weigh Bridge ahead |
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Types of Traffic Signs
8. Facility Information Signs
Facility Information Signs falling under Informatory types of traffic signs are described below:
Sr. No. | Signs | Purpose | Locations |
1. |
Eating Place |
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2. |
Light Refreshments |
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3. |
Resting Place |
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4. |
First Aid Post |
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5. |
Toilet |
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6. |
Filling Station |
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7. |
Hospital |
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8. |
Public Telephone |
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9. |
U-turn Ahead |
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10. |
Pedestrian Subway |
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11. |
Foot Over Bridge |
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12. |
Chair Lift |
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13. |
Police Station |
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14. |
Picnic Site |
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15. |
Repair Facilities |
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16. |
Railway Station/Metro Station/Monorail Station |
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17. |
Industrial Area |
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18. |
Taxi Stand |
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19. |
Auto-rickshaw Stand |
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20. |
Camp Site |
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21. |
Airport |
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22. |
National Heritage |
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23. |
No Through Road |
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24. |
No Through Side Road |
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25. |
Guide Sign for ETC Lane |
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26. |
Toll Road Ahead |
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27. |
Entry ramp for Expressway |
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28. |
Exit Ramp for Expressway |
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29. |
Expressway Symbol |
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30. |
End of Expressway |
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31. |
Bus Stop |
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32. |
Bus Lane |
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33. |
Cycle lane |
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34. |
Emergency Exit in Tunnel |
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9. Parking Signs
Parking Signs falling under Informatory types of traffic signs are described below:
Sr. No. | Signs | Purpose | Locations |
1. |
Parking Signs |
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2. |
Auto Rickshaw Parking |
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3. |
Cycle Parking |
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4. |
Cycle Rickshaw Parking |
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5. |
Scooter and Motorcycle Parking |
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6. |
Taxi Parking |
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7. |
Park and Ride |
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8. |
Parking Restrictions Signs for Traffic Management |
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Other Important Signs
Other Important Signs falling under Informatory types of traffic signs,
- Signs for Person with Disabilities
- Route Marker Signs
- are described below:
Signs for Person with Disabilities:
Sr. No. | Signs | Purpose | Locations |
1. |
Parking Information |
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2. |
Ramped Entrance to Subway/Over Bridge |
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3. |
Telephone Facility |
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4. |
Toilet Facility |
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5. |
Way Finding Sign for Disabled |
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