Road signs in Norway

Road signs in Sandane

Road signs in Norway are regulated by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in conformity with the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, to which Norway is a signatory.

Signs follow the general European conventions concerning the use of shape and colour to indicate function. Any text included on supplementary signs will normally be in Norwegian, but may in some cases be bi- or trilingual. In Northern parts of Norway, municipal and informative signs may be printed in both Norwegian and Sami. Close to the Finnish border and in municipalities with significant Norwegian Finnish population signs and village names are also shown in Finnish. In areas close to the Russian border, signs may be written in both the Latin and Cyrillic scripts.

No more than three signs (road number indications excepted) may be mounted on any one pole, with the most important sign appearing at the top. As is customary in European countries, all signs are partly or fully reflectorized or are provided with their own night-time illumination.

The current set of designs were introduced through a reform that went into effect on 1 June 2006, replacing the old sets from 1967 and 1980. As the law outlining this reform was published on 7 October 2005, some signs were already replaced before the law went into effect. The most notable change was the removal of hats and hair on the stickmen making them gender-neutral, but many signs were redesigned or introduced for the first time. ^{[1] [2] [3]} In 2022, the meanings of a number of signs were modified to include or exclude users of electric scooters from the regulations they impose. ^[4]

Norway signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals on December 23, 1969 and ratified it on April 1, 1985. ^[5]

Warning signs

Warning signs are mostly triangular in shape with black symbols on a white background with a red border. Warning signs that are used only temporarily have a yellow background. On Svalbard, a unique warning sign with a black background and white symbol is used for polar bears.

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  Curve to right
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  Curve to left
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  Double curve, first to right
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  Double curve, first to left
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  Steep hill
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  Steep hill
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  Road narrows on both sides.
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  Road narrows on right side.
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  Road narrows on left side.
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  Uneven road
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  Speed bump
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  Roadworks
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  Loose chippings
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  Falling rocks
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  Falling rocks
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  Slippery road
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  Dangerous verges
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  Movable bridge
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  Quayside, beach, or riverbank
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  Tunnel ahead
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  Crossroads ^[a]
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  Roundabout ahead
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  Traffic signals
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  Level crossing with a barrier or gate
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  Level crossing without a barrier or gate
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  Distance to level crossing (closest to the crossing)
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  Distance to level crossing (between other countdown markers)
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  Distance to level crossing (furthest from the crossing)
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  Single-track railway
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  Multi-track railway
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  Tramway
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  Pedestrian crossing ahead
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  Children
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  Cyclists
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  Animals (moose)
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  Animals (reindeer)
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  Animals (deer)
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  Animals (cattle)
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  Animals (sheep)
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  Animals (polar bear)
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  Two-way traffic
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  Traffic queues
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  Low-flying aircraft
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  Military activity
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  Crosswind
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  Traffic accident
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  Riders
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  Other danger ^[b]
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  (1) Polar bears
  (2) Snowmobiles

Priority signs

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  Yield (give way)
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  Stop
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  Priority road
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  End of priority road
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  Priority crossroads ^[c]
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  Give way for oncoming traffic
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  Priority over oncoming traffic

Prohibitory signs

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  No entry
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  Road closed to all traffic
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  No motor vehicles except small electric vehicles
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  No tractors, or motor vehicles slower than 40 km/h
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  No motorcycles or mopeds
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  No lorries and tractor units
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  No cyclists and riders of small electric vehicle
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  No pedestrians
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  No pedestrians, cyclists, and riders of small electric vehicle
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  No riders
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  No small electric vehicles
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  No transport of dangerous goods
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  Total weight limit ^[d]
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  Width limit
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  Height limit
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  Length limit
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  Weight limit for vehicles
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  Weight limit for lorries
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  Axle weight limit ^[e]
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  Bogie weight limit
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  Stop for control
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  Stop for tax^{[ clarification needed ]}
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  Stop for customs
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  No right turn
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  No left turn
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  No U-turn
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  No overtaking
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  No overtaking for lorries
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  End of no overtaking
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  End of no overtaking for lorries
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  Speed limit
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  End of special speed limit ^[f]
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  Speed limit zone
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  Speed limit zone for small electric vehicles
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  End of speed limit zone
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  End of speed limit zone for small electric vehicles
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  No stopping
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  No parking
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  Parking zone
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  No parking zone
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  No parking zone for small electric vehicles
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  End of parking zone
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  End of no parking zone
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  End of no parking zone for small electric vehicles
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  No small electric vehicle zone
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  End of no small electric vehicle zone

Mandatory signs

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  Proceed right
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  Proceed left
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  Proceed straight
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  Turn right
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  Turn left
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  Drive straight or turn right
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  Drive straight or turn left
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  Turn right or left
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  Pass on right
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  Pass on left
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  Roundabout
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  Mandatory direction in roundabout

Informative signs

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  Motorway
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  Motor traffic road
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  End of motorway
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  End of motor traffic road
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  Heavy traffic lane ^[g]
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  End of heavy traffic lane
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  Bus lane ^[h]
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  Bus and taxi lane ^[h]
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  Car-pool lane ^{[i] [j]}
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  End of bus lane
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  End of bus and taxi lane
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  End of car-pool lane
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  Bus stop
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  Tram stop
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  Taxi stop
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  Pedestrian crossing
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  Pedestrian crossing
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  Pedestrian way
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  Cycle track
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  Cycle lane (edge)
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  Cycle lane (centered)
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  Shared-use footway
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  Passing place (møteplass) ^[k]
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  One-way
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  One-way
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  Dead end
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  Dead end
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  Dead end ^[l]
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  Dead end ^[m]
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  Free choice of lane
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  Merging lanes
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  Merging roads with speed regulation lane
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  Merging roads with speed regulation lane
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  End of lane
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  New lane starts
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  Added lane with oncoming traffic
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  Lane division ^[n]
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  Changed driving pattern
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  Living street
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  End of living street
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  Pedestrian zone ^[o]
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  End of pedestrian zone
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  Parking
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  Emergency layby
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  Speed camera
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  Average speed camera
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  Video surveillance
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  Information board ^[p]
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  General speed limits
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  Pedestrians and cyclist prohibited
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  Speed measuring
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  Wrong way
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  Emergency exit
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  Direction and distance to emergency exit

Service signs

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  Radio channel
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  First aid
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  Emergency phone
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  Fire extinguisher
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  Automobile repair shop
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  Electric vehicle fast charging station
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  Petrol station
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  Fuel ^[q]
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  Toilet emptying facility
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  Toilet
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  Rest stop
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  Rest stop with toilet
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  Simple dining
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  Dining
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  Camp site
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  Caravan park
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  Camping park
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  Hostel
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  Bed & breakfast
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  Hotel
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  Information
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  Tourist information office
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  Attraction ^[r]
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  Museum or art gallery
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  Viewpoint
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  Protected natural area
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  World Heritage Site
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  National fortifications
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  Activities, outdoor recreation, etc.
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  Fishing area
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  Hiking trail
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  Ski trail
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  Bicycle trail
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  Traditional food and rural tourism
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  Olavsrosa (seal of quality)

Direction signs

Direction signs inform about places, businesses, routes, choice of lanes, choice of roads and distance to destinations. Direction signs with a yellow background (blue on motorways) show geographical destinations. Direction signs with a white background (or white fields on yellow and blue signs) show local destinations. Direction signs with a brown background show destinations of special interest to tourism. Orange backgrounds denote temporary detours.

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  Distance sign
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  Highway distance sign
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  Orientation board
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  Diagram orientation board
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  Exit board
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  Lane orientation board
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  Gantry orientation board
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  Board guide
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  Regular destination guide
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  Exit guide
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  Lane guide
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  Gantry guide
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  European route
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  European route ^[s]
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  Trunk road
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  Trunk road ^[s]
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  Numbered province road
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  Numbered province road ^[s]
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  Ring road
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  Ring road ^[s]
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  National tourist road ^[t]
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  Detour for large vehicles
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  Route for vehicles with dangerous goods
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  Miscellaneous detour ^[u]
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  Miscellaneous detour
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  Miscellaneous detour
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  Miscellaneous detour
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  Miscellaneous detour ^[v]
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  Miscellaneous detour ^[w]
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  Intersection number (motorways)
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  Intersection number (general roads)
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  Intersection number (general roads with a single lane)
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  City/urban area name sign
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  Administrative region name sign
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  City/urban area name sign with symbol
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  National border sign
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  Tunnel name sign
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  Street sign
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  Collective guide sign ^[x]
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  Detour for certain vehicles
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  Temporary detour
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  Temporary detour
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  End of temporary detour
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  Guide for pedestrians
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  Guide for bicycle route
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  Board guide for bicycle route
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  Bicycle route
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  Distance sign for bicycle route
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  Motorway
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  Motor traffic road
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  Toll road
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  Parking
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  Multistory car park
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  Airport
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  Helipad
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  Bus station/terminal
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  Train station/terminal
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  Ferry
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  Cargo port
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  Suitable layby for equipping tire chains
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  Church
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  Industrial area
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  Shopping center
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  Swimming hall
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  Alpine facility
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  Ski jump slope
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  Ski arena
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  Golf course
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  Payment with electronic chip
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  Payment to attendant
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  Payment with coins to machine
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  Payment with card to machine
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  Payment with banknotes to machine
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  Remove ticket from closed payment system
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  Use ticket in closed payment system
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  Automatic toll road

Supplementary signs

Supplementary signs are placed below other signs to indicate additional information, such as the distance, length, times of day or type of vehicle to which it applies.

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  Distance
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  Length
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  Time ^[y]
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  Car
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  Light commercial vehicle, lorry and tractor unit
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  Bus
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  Vehicle with trailer
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  Trailer furnished for camping (caravan)
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  Bicycle and small electric vehicle
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  Motorcycle and moped
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  Handicapped driver
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  Vehicle furnished for camping (motorhome)
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  Small electric vehicle
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  Other information ^[z]
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  Turn arrow ^[aa]
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  Recommended speed
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  Uphill inclination
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  Inclination
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  Actual available width
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  Crossing lumber transport
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  Particular danger of accident ^[ab]
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  Course of priority road ^[ac]
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  Advance warning for stop sign
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  Bicycle traffic in both directions
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  Direction of stopping or parking restrictions
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  Direction of stopping or parking restrictions
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  Direction of stopping or parking restrictions
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  Arrangement for parked vehicles
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  Disc parking
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  Combined regulation

Marker signs

Marker signs inform drivers of a road's onward course, or warn of obstacles near or on the road. Temporary marker signs, e.g. during roadworks, use a red background colour.

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  Directional marker
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  Directional marker
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  Directional marker
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  Directional marker
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  Obstacle marker (keep left)
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  Obstacle marker (keep right)
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  Obstacle marker (pass on either side)
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  Obstacle marker
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  Lanes diverge either side of the marker
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  Tunnel marker
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  Tunnel marker
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  Distance marker for tunnels ^[ad]
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  Reflective post
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  Reflective post
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  Reflective post
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  Traffic cone
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  Traffic cylinder

Historic signs

1938 road signs

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  Uneven road
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  Series of bends
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  Crossroad
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  Level crossing with barriers
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  Level crossing without barriers
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  Danger
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  Yield

Notes

1. Warns about dangerous crossroads which have normal rules for traffic priority.^{[ clarify ]}
2. Details are written on a supplementary sign.
3. Warns about dangerous crossroads where the road this sign is placed on has priority. Crossing roads have give way or stop signs.
4. Restriction is for motor vehicles with more than two wheels and a gross vehicle weight rating above the given weight limit.
5. No vehicle with weight above the given limit for each axle, and maximum 150% of the limit for each bogie.
6. Indicates a general speed limit of 50 km/h in populated areas and 80 km/h in rural areas by law.
7. Only vehicles with gross vehicle weight rating higher than indicated can use this lane.
8. Electric and hydrogen vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, small electric vehicles, and marked emergency vehicles can also use this lane, unless otherwise stated by a supplementary sign.
9. Only vehicles with more than indicated occupants including driver can use this lane. Buses and taxis, regardless of how many occupants, can also use this lane.
10. Electric and hydrogen vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, small electric vehicles, and marked emergency vehicles, regardless of how many occupants, can also use this lane, unless otherwise stated by a supplementary sign.
11. Used frequently on long stretches of single-track roads.
12. Road closed for motor vehicles.
13. Side-road closed for motor vehicles.
14. Denotes the number of lanes and direction of travel.
15. Motor vehicles are normally prohibited in pedestrian zone, except small electric vehicles. If exemption is granted by a supplementary sign, the speed limit is "walking speed."
16. Used to provide miscellaneous information. May have a brown background (tourist sign), yellow background (temporary sign) or orange background (detour sign). Example: toll plaza in 150 metres.
17. Text may vary depending on fuel type available.
18. Symbol may be replaced by a representation of the attraction.
19. Dashed lines indicate a route that leads to the given route.
20. Symbol may be used on service signs.
21. Indicates a detour where use of road names is not viable. One symbol is used for the entire route, so that different symbols may be used in the event of multiple routes. The line is generally used.
22. Generally only used under special circumstances, as some countries use this symbol on detours for vehicles with dangerous goods.
23. Arrows vary.
24. Destinations shown above may be reached by following that shown at the bottom at the next crossroads or exit.
25. Black numbers in parentheses apply on Saturdays, and red numbers apply on Sundays and official holidays.
26. Used when there are no symbols that represent the regulation or information. Example: except buses and taxis.
27. Arrows vary. Main sign applies after the turn.
28. Symbol varies.
29. Symbol varies. Priority road is represented by the thick line. Roads represented by thin lines have give way or stop signs for the priority road.
30. Indicates the distance to each exit.

References

1. "Forskrift om offentlige trafikkskilt, vegoppmerking, trafikklyssignaler og anvisninger (skiltforskriften)". Lovdata (in Norwegian). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
2. "Trafikkskilt". Statens vegvesen. Archived from the original on 2 June 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
3. "Bogart og selbyggen skal vekk". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian Bokmål). 3 February 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
4. "Forskrift om endring i forskrift om offentlige trafikkskilt, vegoppmerking, trafikklyssignaler og anvisninger (skiltforskriften)". Lovdata (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 18 June 2022.
5. "United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 9 December 2023.