Road Signs

Traffic Control Devices

Road Signs

Road Signs are means of communication to the road users to warn and guide them in advance. Road signs fulfills multiple purposes such as they promote road safety, ensure orderly movement of road users on all roads, notify the road users of about road regulations / conditions and provide warning and guidance where needed. Road Sign should meet five basic requirements, which are as follows:

1. Fulfil a need.
2. Command attention.
3. Convey a clear and simple meaning.
4. Command respect from road users.
5. Give adequate time for response.

Categories of Road Signs

Road Signs are basically divided into three categories:

1. Mandatory/Regulatory Signs
2. Cautionary Signs
3. Informatory Signs

Mandatory/Regulatory Signs

Mandatory/Regulatory road signs are usually have circular shape and these signs give order which must be followed by every road user. Violation of these road signs is a punishable traffic offence. The category of Mandatory Signs is as follows:

S.N.	Type	Shape	Purpose
1	Operational Control RED Circular Ring White Background Black Symbols		Prescribe the limit of an operation or manoeuvre
2	Prohibitory RED Circular Ring with Diagonal Bar White Background Black Symbols		Prescribe the limit of an operation or manoeuvre
3	Compulsory BLUE Background White Symbols		Prescribe the limit of an operation or manoeuvre

Apart from the above three categories there are two other signs recognized worldwide. These are STOP and Give Way Sign. STOP Sign have red background and depicted in Octagon shape whereas Give Way Sign is depicted in a reverse Triangle with apex at bottom. Both signs are mandatory in nature therefore their violation is also an offence. The list of Mandatory/Regulatory signs is depicted hereunder:

STOP	GIVE WAY	NO ENTRY	ONE WAY	RIGHT TURN PROHIBITED	LEFT TURN PROHIBITED
U-TURN PROHIBITED	OVERTAKING PROHIBITED	HORN PROHIBITED	NO PARKING	MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT	NO STANDING
NO STOPPING	RESTRICTION ENDS	PRIORITY FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC	TONGA PROHIBITED	TRUCKS PROHIBITED	BULLOCK CART PROHIBITED
BULLOCK CARTS & HAND CARTS PROHIBITED	HAND CART PROHIBITED	CYCLE PROHIBITED	PEDESTRIAN PROHIBITED	COMPULSORY TURN LEFT	COMPULSORY TURN RIGHT
COMPULSORY TURN LEFT (in advance of junction)	COMPULSORY TURN RIGHT: (in advance of junction)	COMPULSORY AHEAD OR TURN LEFT	COMPULSORY AHEAD OR TURN RIGHT	COMPULSORY AHEAD	COMPULSORY KEEP LEFT
COMPULSORY CYCLE TRACK or CYCLE ONLY	COMPULSORY MINIMUM SPEED LIMIT	COMPULSORY SOUND HORN	PEDESTRIAN ONLY	BUS ONLY	Mini Roundabout

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Cautionary/Warning Road Signs

These triangular shaped signs give you warning about coming dangers on road and changes in the road conditions. The periphery of these signs is displayed in red and sign is made in black with white background.

RIGHT HAND CURVE	LEFT HAND CURVE	RIGHT HAIR PIN BEND	LEFT HAIR PIN BEND	LEFT REVERSE BEND	RIGHT REVERSE BEND
ROAD WIDENS	NARROW ROAD	NARROW BRIDGE	GAP IN MEDIAN	CYCLE CROSSING	PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
SCHOOL AHEAD	PEOPLE AT WORK	SIDE ROAD RIGHT	SIDE ROAD LEFT	Y-INTERSECTION	MAJOR ROAD
T-INTERSECTION	T-INTERSECTION MAJOR ROAD AHEAD	ROUNDABOUT	CROSS ROAD	END OF DUAL CARRIAGEWAY	WILD ANIMALS
STEEP ASCENT	STEEP DESCENT	RUMBLE STRIP	DANGEROUS DIP	SPEED BREAKER	SLIPPERY ROAD
FALLING ROCKS	BARRIER	OVERHEAD CABLE	CATTLE	FERRY	LOOSE GRAVEL
QUARY SIDE OR RIVER BANK	TRAFFIC SIGNALS	TRAFFIC MERGING AHEAD (FROM RIGHT)	START OF DUAL CARRIAGEWAY	UNGUARDED RAILWAY CROSSING	GUARDED RAILWAY CROSSING

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Informatory Signs

These rectangular signs give you information about any place or facilities available ahead such as hospital, petrol pump or restaurant etc.

1. Direction and Place Identification Signs

2. Facility Information Signs

3. Parking Signs

4. Route Marker Signs

5. Flood Gauge

Direction and Place Identification Signs

Facility Information Signs

These signs inform the road users about the facilities available on the road like telephone booth, petrol pump, hospital, restaurant, repair facility etc. It is necessary for road users to inform about the facilities because as they drive they need some place to rest, eat, refuel their vehicle or repair it. These signs therefore help the road users and inform about the facilities which are available ahead on the road.

EMERGENCY SOS FACILITY	FUEL STATION	HOSPITAL	EATING PLACE	LIGHT REFRESHMENT	RESTING PLACE
REPAIR FACILITY	NO THROUGH ROAD	FIRST AID	PEDESTRIAN SUBWAY	AIRPORT	RAILWAY STATION
U TURN FACILITY	BUS STAND	POLICE STATION	FOOT OVER BRIDGE	FIRE EXTINGUISHER	CHARGING STATION

Parking Signs

According to the category of vehicles, different types of parking signs are provided which are depicted below. The road users are required to park their vehicles as per the parking facility provided. It is essential to understand that “No Parking” sign is a regulatory sign and depicted in circular shape with a diagonal bar and “Parking” is a facility information sign which is depicted in rectangular shape having blue background. Parking a vehicle in a non-designated parking area may also lead booking of a No Parking ticket.

AUTO RICKSHAW PARKING	CYCLE PARKING	CYCLE RICKSHAW PARKING	SCOOTER AND MOTOR CYCLE PARKING	TAXI PARKING	CAR PARKING

Route Marker Signs

Route Marker signs are also a type of Informatory Sign. They depict the category of road along with the number of road on which the road user is traveling. The category of road includes National Highway, State Highway, Expressway and Asian Highway. The Route Marker for each category of road is depicted below.

STATE HIGHWAY	NATIONAL HIGHWAY	ASIAN HIGHWAY	EXPRESSWAY

Flood Gauge

The Flood Gauge sign is used on the section of road where water flows of logs in rainy season to give information to the road user about the depth of water. Such locations include low level bridges, roads passing through the river beds, under passes etc. It is important to understand there when the level of water is above the danger level depicted on the Flood Gauge, the users should not drive through the road and should wait till the water level subsidizes. This applicable for all types of vehicles ranging from two-wheelers to heave motor vehicles such as buses, trucks and trailers etc.