In This Article We Cover Transportation Engineering Topic “Traffic Signs” In India With Names And Their Meaning, Providing “Traffic Signs Chart” For Easy To Understand.
Let’s Begin Key Points,
Traffic Signs In India
Traffic control device the medium used for communicating between traffic engineer and road users. Unlike other modes of transportation, there is no control on the drivers using the road.
Here traffic control devices comes to the help of the traffic engineer. The major types of traffic control devices used are-traffic signs, road markings , traffic signals and parking control.
This chapter discusses traffic control signs. Different types of traffic signs are regulatory signs, warning signs and informatory signs.
Requirements Of Traffic Control Devices
- The control device should fulfill a need
- It should command attention from the road users
- It should convey a clear, simple meaning:
- Road users must respect the signs:
- The control device should provide adequate time for proper response from the road users
Types Of Traffic Signs
Road safety signs basically divided into three broad categories, namely- Regulatory/Mandatory signs, Warning/Cautionary signs and Informatory signs.
Regulatory Signs
- These signs are also called mandatory signs because it is mandatory that the drivers must obey these signs.
- If the driver fails to obey them, the control agency has the right to take legal action against the driver.
- These signs primarily meant for the safety of other road users.
- These signs have generally black legend on a white background. They are circular in shape with red borders.
Different Classes Of Regulatory Sign
Right of way series:- These include two unique signs that assign the right of way to the select approaches of an intersection. They are the STOP sign and GIVE WAY sign For example, when one minor road and major road meets at an intersection, preference should be given to the vehicles passing through the major road.
Hence the give way sign board will placed on the minor road to inform the driver on the minor road that he should give way for the vehicles on the major road.
In case two major roads are meeting, then the traffic engineer decides based on the traffic on which approach the sign board mark has to be placed.
Stop sign is another example of regulatory signs that comes in right of way series which requires the driver to stop the vehicle at the stop line.
Speed series:- Number of speed signs may used to limit the speed of the vehicle on the road. They include typical speed limit signs, truck speed, minimum speed signs etc.
Speed limit signs placed to limit the speed of the vehicle to a particular speed for many reasons. Separate truck speed limits applied on high speed roadways where heavy commercial vehicles must limited to slower speeds than passenger cars for safety reasons.
Minimum speed limits are applied on high speed roads like expressways, freeways etc. where safety is again a predominant reason. Very slow vehicles may present hazard to themselves and other vehicles also.
Movement series:- They contain a number of signs that affect specific vehicle maneuvers. These include turn signs, alignment signs, exclusion signs, one way signs etc.
Turn signs include turn prohibitions and lane use control signs. Lane use signs make use of arrows to specify the movements which all vehicles in the lane must take. Turn signs used to safely accommodate turns in unsignalized intersections.
Parking series:- They include parking signs which indicate not only parking prohibitions or restrictions, but also indicate places where parking permitted, the type of vehicle to parked, duration for parking etc.
Pedestrian series:- They include both legend and symbol signs. These signs meant for the safety of pedestrians and include signs indicating pedestrian only roads, pedestrian crossing sites etc.
Miscellaneous:- Wide variety of signs that included in this category are: a “KEEP OF MEDIAN“ sign, signs indicating road closures, signs restricting vehicles carrying hazardous cargo or substances, signs indicating vehicle weight limitations etc.
Regulatory Signs Chart
Traffic Sign | Traffic Sign Name | Traffic Signs Meaning |
Stop | The sign indicates that the drivers must stop right there at their place. | |
No Parking | It prohibits parking of a vehicle in a designated area. | |
Speed Limit | Whatever number the sign carries, the driver should limit his speed accordingly. | |
Horn Prohibited | When there’s no requirement of honking, then this sign is put so that the drivers should respect the silence and do not use horn. | |
Give Way | The sign is used to give a direction to the traffic to give way to right side drivers. | |
Overtaking Prohibited | Sometimes, at highways or where the roads are narrow or at bridges, overtaking proves to be extremely dangerous. The signs are put over these kind of places to ensure safety. | |
U Turn Prohibited | The sign directs the driver to evade right turn. | |
Left Turn Prohibited | The sign directs the driver to evade left turn. | |
Right Turn Prohibited | The sign directs the driver to evade right turn | |
No Entry | This sign clearly shows that there is a restricted area ahead, so the driver should not go and reroute. | |
One Way | This indicates that the traffic is allowed to be moved in a single direction. | |
Vehicles Prohibited In Both Directions | The sign suggests the area ahead is blocked from both the sides. The traffic can not be moved from either side. | |
Compulsory Ahead or Turn-Right | This sign gives an indication to either go straight or turn right. | |
Compulsory Ahead or Turn Left | This sign gives an indication to either go straight or turn left. | |
Compulsory Sound Horn | This sign indicates that must blow the horn. Normally, this sign will be seen at the highway’s where you do not have any idea about the oncoming traffic. | |
Compulsory Turn Left | Due to a diversion, this sign is placed. One has to turn left after watching it. | |
Compulsory Right Turn | There is a particular reason for why this sign is installed so the driver should obey and move in right direction for a safety perspective. | |
Compulsory Ahead | The sign indicates that one should go in straight direction. |
Warning Signs
- Warning signs or cautionary signs give information to the driver about the impending road condition.
- They advice the driver to obey the rules. These signs are meant for the own safety of drivers.
- They call for extra vigilance from the part of drivers.
- The color convention used for this type of signs is that the legend will be black in color with a white background.
- The shape used is upward triangular or diamond shape with red borders.
Warning signs are used to give a warning to the road persons of the coming hazardous conditions on the way or beside the roadway. With the help of those symbols the Drivers can be careful and can mould the situation accordingly.
Traffic Sign | Traffic Sign Name | Traffic Signs Meaning |
Side Road Right | The sign indicates of a right side turn along with a straight way ahead. | |
Side Road Left | The sign indicates of a left side turn along with a straight way ahead. | |
Y Intersection | There is a Y-shaped formation ahead. It depicts the actual formation of the road. | |
Staggered Intersection | This sign placed where there are left and right turns are available on the straight road having a tiny distance between them. | |
T Intersection | The signs notifies that there’s a T intersection on the road ahead and from where you can not go forward. | |
Major Road Ahead | This sign is placed where there is going to be a major cross over road ahead. | |
Round About | This sign can be used as a substitute of a road crossing. | |
Gap In Median | The sign suggests that a provision of U-turn is there ahead. | |
Cross Road | This sign tells the crossing of two roads ahead. | |
Falling Rocks | The sign cautions about the falling of rocks ahead due to landslides in extreme climates. | |
Guarded Level Crossing | This sign indicates that a railway crossing ahead is guarded by a person. | |
Unguarded railway crossing | The sign indicates that there is a railway crossing ahead. The type unguarded depicts that the driver should cross the road on his own risk when there is no train coming. | |
Hump or Rough Road | A hump on the road is created so that the driver should slow down the speed. The sign indicates the same. | |
Dangerous Dip | It shows there is a dip ahead on the road. | |
Right Hand Curve | It notifies about a right hand curve on the way forward. | |
Left Hand Curve | It notifies about a left hand curve on the way forward. | |
Right Hair Pin-Band | One can find this sign board on hilly roads where there are sharp turns. When there’s a sharp right turn ahead, it will caution you to move right.0 | |
Left Hair-Pin-Band | This sign will warn you about a sharp left turn ahead. These are very much essential at hilly roads. | |
Right Reverse Band | This Z-shaped sign indicates the same Z-shaped formation of the road ahead towards the right. This cautions the driver the reduce the speed. | |
Left Reverse Band | This Z-shaped sign indicates the same Z-shaped formation of the road ahead towards the left. This cautions the driver the reduce the speed. | |
Steep Ascent | These signs are usually found at the hilly areas where there’s a steep upward slope. | |
Steep Descent | The sign is found at hilly roads where there’s a Steep downward slope. | |
Narrow Road Ahead | The sign indicates about the narrowness of the road ahead so that the driver can reduce the speed. | |
Road Widens Ahead | The sign conveys about the widening of the road ahead so that the traffic could be adjusted accordingly. | |
Narrow Bridge | This sign board is erected before there’s a narrow bridge ahead. | |
Slippery Road | The sign says about the slippery road ahead due to any leakage of water or oil spill etc. | |
Loose Gravel | This sign is usually placed on the hilly paths where there’s a possibility of loose earth or gravel keeps on falling. | |
Cycle Crossing | There is cycle path crossing the major road, the sign will warn the driver about that. | |
Pedestrian Crossing | Pedestrians are the ones to be served first than the rest of the traffic. When this is erected, that means the driver should either reduce the speed or stop the vehicle and let the pedestrian cross the road first. | |
School Ahead | This sign indicates about a school ahead. | |
Men At Work | This shows some kind of labour work or repair is going on ahead the road. | |
Cattle | Possibilities are there that a cattle may be straying on the road. |
Informative Signs
- Informative signs also called guide signs, are provided to assist the drivers to reach their desired destinations.
- These predominantly meant for the drivers who are unfamiliar to the place. The guide signs redundant for the users who accustomed to the location.
- Some of the examples for these type of signs are route markers, destination signs, mile posts, service information, recreational and cultural interest area signing etc.
- Route markers used to identify numbered highways. They have designs that are distinctive and unique. They written black letters on yellow background.
- Destination signs used to indicate the direction to the critical destination points, and to mark important intersections. Distance in kilometres sometimes marked to the right side of the destination. They are, in general, rectangular with the long dimension in the horizontal direction. They color coded as white letters with green background.
- Mile posts provided to inform the driver about the progress along a route to reach his destination. Service guide signs give information to the driver regarding various services such as food, fuel, medical assistance etc. They written with white letters on blue background
Informative Signs Chart
These are the signs, which will provide the road users a guided information. For example, information about the routes, destination, how much remaining distance is there, historical and geographical locations.
Traffic Sign | Traffic Sign Name | Traffic Signs Meaning |
Park This Side | This sign indicates the location where you can park the vehicle. | |
Parking Scooters And Motorcycles | One can park his scooter or motorcycle at the destination where this sign is placed. | |
Parking Lot Cycles | This Informatory sign indicates that the parking is meant only for cycles. | |
Parking Lot Cars | This Informatory sign indicates that the parking is meant only for cars. | |
Public Telephone | The sign indicates that one can avail a telephone service ahead. | |
Petrol Pump | This sign clearly indicates the availability of a Petrol Pump in the way ahead. | |
Hospital | This sign shows an availability of a nearby hospital ahead. | |
First Aid Post | This informatory sign will indicate you about the first aid facility available ahead. | |
Eating Place | This sign will be usually seen on the highways indicating any food facility ahead. | |
Light Refreshment | This sign will notify about the availability of any light refreshment on road. | |
No Thorough Road | This sign is placed from where you can’t take an exit. | |
No Thorough Side Road | This sign is erected when there is no through side road on the main road. | |
Resting Place | Whenever there’s a motel or a lodge, which is nearby, you will find this sign on the road. |
I Hope You Get All “Traffic Sign” Information Which Are Used In India, Always Remember Above “Traffic Signs Chart”
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