Comparison of traffic signs in English-speaking territories

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

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^[12] 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.^[13]
• 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).^[14] 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.^[15] 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.^[a]
  • Canada uses a unique style of mandatory sign that features a green circle.

Table

Warning

	Australia	Canada	Hong Kong	Ireland	Jamaica	Liberia	Mauritius	New Zealand	Nigeria	Philippines	SADC[16]	Malta	Singapore	Uganda	United Kingdom	United States
Stop sign ahead
Yield / Give Way sign ahead
Traffic signals ahead
Roundabout ahead
Two-way traffic ahead
Uncontrolled railroad crossing ahead			Not used										Not used[b]
Level railroad crossing with barriers ahead				or
Tram / streetcar crossing		Not used								Not used[c]
Railroad crossbuck	or			Not used				or		or
Level crossing (multiple tracks)	or			Not used				or		Not used					Not used
Crossroads ahead											or[d] or[e]
Junction with a side road ahead
Traffic merges ahead
Staggered crossroads ahead											or[f]
Added lane				Not used[g]
Divided highway ahead
Divided highway ends
Lane ends ahead
Road narrows ahead																or [h]
Narrow bridge ahead				Not used
Dangerous crosswinds			Not used							Not used			Not used
Low-flying aircraft								or							or
Steep hill downwards								or		and
Steep hill upwards								or		and
Uneven surface
Bump in road						or [17]
Dip in road													Not used
Ford					or
Snow / ice
Fog
Slippery road surface
Loose road surface
Dangerous shoulder
Pavement ends				Not used
Gentle curve ahead
Sharp curve ahead
Double gentle curve ahead				Not used
Double sharp curve ahead										[i]
Series of curves ahead
Hairpin curve ahead				Not used [j]
Loop curve ahead
Chevron (short turn)
Chevron (sharp turn)
School zone	or[k] or									[l]	[m]
Children / playground ahead					or
Pedestrian crossing ahead								or
Disabled / elderly pedestrian crossing		or	or	Not used									or
Domesticated animals											or or				or
Wild animals										Not used	or or or				or or
Cyclists crossing
Equestrians										Not used
Emergency vehicles				Not used						Not used
Farm vehicles										Not used						or
Falling rocks or debris																or [n]
Opening or swing bridge			Not used					Not used					Not used
Quay or riverbank															or
Tunnel ahead
Height restriction ahead															or or
Width restriction ahead	Not used							Not used
Length restriction ahead
Weight restriction ahead	Not used							Not used
Roadworks [o]										Not used
Flagman ahead
Traffic congestion
Other danger

Regulatory

Priority

	Australia	Canada	Hong Kong	Ireland	Jamaica	Liberia	Mauritius	New Zealand	Nigeria	Philippines	SADC[16]	Malta	Singapore	Uganda	United Kingdom	United States
Stop
Yield / Give Way				or											or
Yield to oncoming traffic			Not used	Not used
Priority over oncoming traffic				Not used
Priority road				Not used
End of priority road				Not used