Road signs in France

Road sign in Brest.

Road signs in France refer to all conventional signals installed on French roads and intended to ensure the safety of road users, either by informing them of the dangers and regulations relating to traffic as well as elements useful for decision-making, or by indicating to them the landmarks and equipment useful for their travel on the national territory. They generally largely follow the general European conventions concerning the use of shape and color to indicate their function. France is a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. ^[1] France signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals on 8 November 1968 and ratified it on 9 December 1971. ^[2]

These road signs can also be found in some overseas territories of France. ^[3]

History

The first road signs with modern symbols were created in France in 1902 by the Automobile Club of France, which had been founded in 1895. ^[4] When cars started appearing in France in the 1900s, there were signs for motorists and cyclists with the words "Moderate Speed" or "Slow Down". On 11 October 1909, the first attempt at international unification of road signs was made in Geneva. Four round-shaped obstacle signs were adopted: "break", "Z-bends", "Level crossing with barrier" and "X-crossing".

In 1926, the four danger signs created and used since 1909 were definitively changed from the disc shape to the triangle shape still in use today. Unguarded level crossings were added, and in 1928, at Switzerland's request, one-way, direction, parking and no parking signs were adopted. In 1931, France signed the Geneva Convention concerning the unification of road signs and signals.

On 15 July 1942, during the occupation of French territories by Nazi Germany in World War II, a decree was signed amending the traffic rules: a sheet was to be placed around danger signs and the colour of the vignettes (previously dark blue) was to become black, as was the German custom. However, these changes were probably not implemented. ^[5]

After the end of the war, a general instruction dated 1 August 1946 on road signs was published. This was the first document to regulate in detail all applications of road signs. Colours were standardised. The shape of some signs was changed, such as danger signs, the corners of which were now rounded. Some graphic elements were changed. New signs appeared: height limits, double speed limits for buses and cars, prohibition of lorries, thawing barriers, etc.

Warning signs

• Warning signs
• 
  Bend to right
• 
  Bend to left
• 
  Double bend first to right
• 
  Double bend first to left
• 
  Collapse or bump
• 
  Speed bump
• 
  Road narrows
• 
  Road narrows on right
• 
  Road narrows on left
• 
  Slippery road
• 
  Opening bridge ahead
• 
  Level crossing with gates
• 
  Level crossing without gates
• 
  Buses crossing ahead
• 
  Trams crossing ahead
• 
  Children crossing
• 
  Pedestrian crossing ahead
• 
  Other danger
• 
  Cattle
• 
  Sheep
• 
  Wild animals
• 
  Equestrians
• 
  Steep hill downwards
• 
  Traffic light
• 
  Two-way traffic ahead
• 
  Risk of rockfall
• 
  Quayside or river bank
• 
  Cyclists
• 
  Low-flying aircraft
• 
  Side winds
• 
  Roundabout ahead

Priority signs

• Priority signs
• 
  Crossroads with right of way from the right
• 
  Crossroads with priority
• 
  Give way
• 
  Give Way sign 150 metres ahead
• 
  Stop, give way
• 
  Stop sign 150 metres ahead
• 
  Priority road
• 
  End of priority road

Regulatory signs

• Regulatory signs
• 
  No vehicles
• 
  No entry
• 
  No left turn
• 
  No right turn
• 
  No U-turns
• 
  No overtaking
• 
  No overtaking by lorries
• 
  Stop - customs
• 
  Stop - gendarmerie
• 
  Stop - police
• 
  Stop - toll
• 
  No parking
• 
  Parking restrictions
• 
  Parking restrictions
• 
  No stopping
• 
  No motor vehicles except mopeds
• 
  No motor vehicles including mopeds
• 
  No lorries
• 
  No pedestrians
• 
  No cycling
• 
  No horse-drawn vehicles
• 
  No tractors
• 
  No handcarts
• 
  No buses
• 
  No mopeds
• 
  No motorcycles
• 
  No vehicles towing caravans
• 
  Length limit
• 
  Width limit
• 
  Height limit
• 
  Weight limit
• 
  Axle weight limit
• 
  Speed limit
• 
  Give priority to oncoming vehicles
• 
  No sounding of horns
• 
  No traffic allowed without indicated minimum distance between vehicles
• 
  No vehicles carrying explosives
• 
  No vehicles carrying water pollutants
• 
  No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
• 
  Other restrictions
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Turn left
• 
  Keep right
• 
  Keep left
• 
  Ahead only
• 
  Turn right ahead
• 
  Turn left ahead
• 
  Go ahead or turn right
• 
  Go ahead or turn left
• 
  Turn left or right
• 
  Bicycle lane
• 
  Pedestrian lane
• 
  Bridleway
• 
  Minimum speed
• 
  Snow chains compulsory
• 
  Bus lane
• 
  Tram lane
• 
  Other obligations
• 
  30 km/h zone
• 
  End of restriction
• 
  End of 50 km/h zone
• 
  End of no overtaking
• 
  End of no overtaking by lorries
• 
  End of no sounding of horns
• 
  End of other restrictions
• 
  End of bicycle lane
• 
  End of pedestrian lane
• 
  End of bridleway
• 
  End of minimum speed
• 
  End of snow chains zone
• 
  End of bus lane
• 
  End of other obligations
• 
  End of 30 km/h zone
• 
  Home Zone (20 km/h speed limit)
• 
  End of Home Zone
• 
  Pedestrian precinct
• 
  End of pedestrian precinct

Information signs

• Information signs
• 
  Parking zone
• 
  Disc parking zone
• 
  Meter parking zone
• 
  Risk of fire
• 
  Advisory minimum speed
• 
  End of advisory minimum speed
• 
  Taxi rank
• 
  Bus stop
• 
  Breakdown bay
• 
  Carsharing
• 
  One-way traffic
• 
  Dead end
• 
  Dead end (right)
• 
  Dead end permeable for pedestrians
• 
  Dead end permeable for pedestrians and cyclists
• 
  Road use restrictions
• 
  Road use restrictions
• 
  Priority over oncoming vehicles
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Bus lane crossing
• 
  Tram crossing
• 
  Caravan parking restricted
• 
  Lane forbidden for use by lorries
• 
  Contra-flow cyclists
• 
  Contra-flow bus lane
• 
  Slip road to left
• 
  Slip road to right
• 
  Level crossing with gates on side road
• 
  Contra-flow cycle lane
• 
  Speed limits in France (at entrance to country)
• 
  Speed limits on motorways
• 
  Escape lane on right
• 
  Escape lane on left
• 
  Speed bump
• 
  Lanes merge
• 
  Lanes merge
• 
  Overtaking lanes
• 
  Overtaking lanes
• 
  End of overtaking lanes
• 
  Parking allowed on pavement
• 
  Toll ticket marking point
• 
  Manned tollbooth
• 
  Toll payment by debit or credit card
• 
  Toll payment by cash
• 
  Toll payment by subscription
• 
  Expressway (controlled-access highway)
• 
  End of expressway
• 
  Tunnel
• 
  End of tunnel
• 
  Cycle route
• 
  End of cycle route
• 
  Pedestrian and cycle route
• 
  End of pedestrian and cycle route
• 
  Motorway
• 
  End of motorway
• 
  Entrance to town or village (speed limit 50 km/h)
• 
  End of town or village

Service signs

• Service signs
• 
  First aid
• 
  Emergency telephone
• 
  Telephone
• 
  Information
• 
  Tourist information board
• 
  Campsite
• 
  Caravan site
• 
  Camping and caravan site
• 
  Youth hostel
• 
  Self-catering accommodation
• 
  Hiking itinerary
• 
  Winter sports itinerary
• 
  Picnic site
• 
  Motorail services
• 
  Video-monitored car park
• 
  Car ferry
• 
  Toilets
• 
  Services for the disabled
• 
  Petrol
• 
  Petrol and liquid petroleum gas
• 
  Petrol
• 
  Petrol and liquid petroleum gas
• 
  Petrol and charging station
• 
  Petrol, liquid petroleum gas and charging station
• 
  Charging station
• 
  Charging station and liquid petroleum gas
• 
  Restaurant
• 
  Hotel
• 
  Café
• 
  Mooring for boats
• 
  Cable car
• 
  Chairlift or gondola lift
• 
  Viewpoint
• 
  Local radio station
• 
  Playground
• 
  Drainage
• 
  Bank
• 
  Air pressure check
• 
  Recreation area
• 
  Repairs
• 
  Fire extinguisher
• 
  Emergency exit (right)
• 
  Emergency exit (left)
• 
  Other services
• 
  Eco-tax for trucks
• 
  Carpooling

Railway signs

• Railway signs
• 
  Level crossing without gates (single track)
• 
  Level crossing without gates (several tracks)
• 
  Level crossing without gates (single track)
• 
  Level crossing without gates (several tracks)
• 
  Level crossing without gates and with a flashing red warning light (single track)
• 
  Level crossing without gates and with a flashing red warning light (single track)
• 
  Gates
• 
  Gantry in the presence of high-voltage cables

Temporary signs

• Temporary signs
• 
  Uneven road
• 
  Road narrows
• 
  Slippery road
• 
  Road works
• 
  Other danger
• 
  Temporary traffic signals
• 
  Loose chippings
• 
  Queues likely
• 
  Accident
• 
  Reduced visibility

Retired signs

Obsolete signs since 1998

• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Cyclists approaching from the left
• 
  Pedestrian crossing

Obsolete signs since 1977

• 
  Children crossing
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Other danger
• 
  Cattle
• 
  Wild animals
• 
  Steep hill downwards
• 
  Traffic light
• 
  Roadworks
• 
  No through road
• 
  Campsite
• 
  Caravan site
• 
  Camping and caravan site
• 
  Youth hostel

References

1. "Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals - unece" (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). UNITED NATIONS. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
2. "United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
3. "Signalisation routière" (in French). CodeFast.fr. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
4. "Histoire des inventions. Mais quand sont apparus les premiers panneaux routiers?". www.leprogres.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-20.
5. Duhamel, Marina (1994). Un demi-siècle de signalisation routière – Naissance et évolution du panneau de signalisation routière en France (in French). Edts des Presses des Ponts et Chaussées. ISBN   9782859782207.