Comparison of traffic signs in English-speaking territories explained

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

	Australia	Bahamas	Belize	Canada	Hong Kong	Ireland	Jamaica	Liberia	Mauritius	New Zealand	Nigeria	Philippines	South Africa	Malta	Singapore	United Kingdom	United States	Zimbabwe
Drives on...	Left	Left	Right	Right	Left	Left	Left	Right	Left	Left	Right	Right	Left	Left	Left	Left	Right	Left
Speed units	km/h	mph	mph	km/h	km/h	km/h	km/h	km/h	km/h	km/h	km/h	km/h	km/h	km/h	mph	mph	km/h
Sign typeface	AS1744 (Highway Gothic)	Highway Gothic	Highway Gothic	Highway Gothic or Clearview	Transport or Helvetica	Transport and Motorway	Highway Gothic	Highway Gothic	Transport	Highway Gothic or Transport	Highway Gothic	Highway Gothic or Clearview	DIN 1451	Transport	Local variety or DIN 1451	Transport and Motorway	Highway Gothic or Clearview	DIN 1451

Differences in units

• 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 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.^[2]
• 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

• 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).^[3] 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

• The design of mandatory signs varies widely, since the MUTCD does not specify their use.^[4] 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 and Caribbean 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.^[5]
  • Canada uses a unique style of mandatory sign that features a green circle.

Table

Regulatory

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.

Other

See also

• Comparison of European road signs
• Comparison of MUTCD-influenced traffic signs
• Glossary of road transport terms
• Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
• Traffic sign
• Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals

Notes and References

1. Web site: Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. United Nations Treaty Collection. May 14, 2021.
2. http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/publications/eng_publications/electrical/most_pm.pdf British Columbia Manual of Standard Traffic Signs & Pavement Markings
3. Web site: MUTCD HISTORY. 2021-03-08. ceprofs.civil.tamu.edu.
4. https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009/mutcd2009edition.pdf Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 2009 Edition
5. Compare Bicycles Only (Ciclovia) sign in Jamaica: with No Bicycles sign in Continental Europe:
6. Book: D Bain . Road Traffic Signs Technical Committee . . Uniform Traffic Control Devices . Southern African Development Community Road Traffic Signs Manual . 1 . 2022-05-23 . May 2012 . 3rd .
7. Signs below used for crossroads with priority.
8. The sign below is a uniquely Tanzanian version of the sign above.
9. The sign below is a uniquely Tanzanian version of the sign above.
10. Used only in New York.
11. Web site: August 18, 2018 . Image by draperc . April 21, 2019 . Mapillary.
12. Described by the DPWH as a "reverse turn" sign.
13. Top sign used in Victoria. Middle sign used in New South Wales. Bottom sign used in Queensland.
14. Described by the DPWH as a "school children crossing" sign.
15. This is combination advance warning sign (W308 "children") with a supplementary plate (IN11.4), commonly used to warn of school zones in South Africa. There is also a W305 "scholar patrol" warning for guarded pedestrian crossings:
16. Used only in California.
17. Temporary use only.
18. Top sign used in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. Bottom sign used in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory.
19. Web site: Joseph . Dan B. . April 14, 2016 . Image by danbjoseph . April 21, 2019 . Mapillary.
20. Web site: October 11, 2018 . Image by draperc . April 21, 2019 . Mapillary.
21. Used only in New York.
22. In many jurisdictions, "Overtaking Permitted" is indicated solely through a change in road markings, e.g. a solid center line changing to a dashed center line. In such jurisdictions, signs in this category are only posted in locations where a change in road markings is deemed insufficient notice for drivers. This is in contrast to "No Overtaking" signs, which are almost always posted alongside changes in road markings to indicate the end of an overtaking zone.
23. Temporary use only.
24. Web site: September 10, 2017 . Image by mkanyala . April 21, 2019 . Mapillary.
25. Web site: February 25, 2019 . Image by draperc . April 21, 2019 . Mapillary.
26. The circular sign is used to indicate on-street parking, while the square-shaped sign indicates off-street parking.
27. Pictographic symbol for use on guidance signs and supplementary plates; seldom a sign in its own right
28. Australia has no land borders. The sign is used when interstate borders are closed (eg during COVID-19 restrictions).
29. For ferry terminals and ports only.