What Country Has the Best Road Signs? (GPS, engine, lights)

[whiteboyslo]

Originally Posted by KaaBoom

Sorry but I can't getting the meaning of that sign. It looks like a classic "prohibited" sign, but it actually means "end of restriction". They reversed the meaning around. It must be a German culturally thing. I guess it would make sense if you were German.

You figure it out the first time you're on the Autobahn and people take off like the Green flag dropped at Indy when they see it.

Mike

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by KaaBoom

Yeah, those flashing green lights are irritating, and I believe they are not standard in all the provinces. They should replace those with standard green arrows.

I believe the flashing greens are being gradually phased out when traffic signals are replaced as part of regular maintenance and upgrading. My sense is that they invented this for the old days when many light structures only had three lights (red, yellow and green). It was an easy and cheap way to allow protected left turns without changing a whole bunch of traffic lights overnight. As I said, as they are replaced with new ones with four or five lights or more, the flashing greens are becoming a rarer sight.

I was just thinking that in some places in Canada you actually have a small sign next to the lights that says what the flashing green is for.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by KaaBoom

Seems to me that "END WORK ZONE" signs are pretty common here in the western US. But I'd be irritated too, if it wasn't posted. I don't want to have to guess, if I'm through it or not.

I'm not sure if you got my meaning. I meant that in Europe (the countries I have driven in) there are signs at the end of various zones. When a speed zone ends there will be signs like the one posted earlier. That sign doesn't mean no speed limit, it means end of zone where a specific speed limit was posted. I like that. In the country I'm most familiar with they have town signs with the name of the town and when you get to the other side, they have the same sign with the end slashes on it. It's very clear where a zone begins and ends. I also like that many iitersections have signs telling where each road goes, and how many kilometers. Overall, though, I prefer American signage, but not all of them. In Denmark's northern area I do not recall seeing any stop signs. I like that. Yield signs are used instead. Rolling stops are legal. Both continents can learn from each other. Both have good ways of doing things like signs.

[KaaBoom]

Originally Posted by dkf747

I'm not sure if you got my meaning. I meant that in Europe (the countries I have driven in) there are signs at the end of various zones. When a speed zone ends there will be signs like the one posted earlier. That sign doesn't mean no speed limit, it means end of zone where a specific speed limit was posted. I like that. In the country I'm most familiar with they have town signs with the name of the town and when you get to the other side, they have the same sign with the end slashes on it. It's very clear where a zone begins and ends. I also like that many iitersections have signs telling where each road goes, and how many kilometers. Overall, though, I prefer American signage, but not all of them. In Denmark's northern area I do not recall seeing any stop signs. I like that. Yield signs are used instead. Rolling stops are legal. Both continents can learn from each other. Both have good ways of doing things like signs.

Thats a big problem here in the US. It seems to me that they keep replacing yield signs with stop signs. Yield signs are becoming pretty rare. But it generates revenue for the cities, with all the cops giving out tickets for drivers not coming to a complete stop.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by dkf747

. I also like that many iitersections have signs telling where each road goes, and how many kilometers. Overall, though, I prefer American signage, but not all of them. .

I tend to agree. I don't like the absence of East, West, North and South in Europe. This is very useful in the US and Canada.

On the other hand those directional signs at intersections in Europe are great. In France: TOUTES DIRECTIONS (All directions) always leads you to the major highway junction outside of town. Very handy.

[rfp]

Originally Posted by whiteboyslo

... a slash through the sign in Germany doesn't mean 'prohibited'. It means 'end of' whatever the sign is.

A bar dexter means prohibited; a bar sinister means end of restriction.

[MustangMad]

Great Britain's road signs are undoubtedly the best in the world. The fantastic typeface on direction signs is incredibly easy to read from a distance and at high speed. Direction signs are also cleverly coloured - blue for motorways, green for A Roads and white for B Roads. Warning signs are very easy to understand too, not only the symbols but what they mean thanks to a clever sign shape system. Red triangles are to warn you of something (i.e. beware, school nearby) and red triangles are telling you that you can't do something (i.e. no overtaking). Blue signs are mostly telling you that you can or must do something (i.e. ahead only). Even traffic light systems are superior to the like of the US'.

I am from Washington DC and driven all round the world. And I can confirm that the best road signs are to be found in the UK

[beachmouse]

And how can you not love the UK Danger Badger sign?

http://www.neebg.co.uk/images/Badgers-road-sign.jpg

[Blue biker]

Originally Posted by KaaBoom

Yeah, I don't like the German signs too much. I don't like the small triangle warning signs. They just don't have the same impact that the large black on yellow warning signs in North America do. I especially don't like the large yellow diamond priority road signs. I don't get the purpose of it. Seems like it should be kind of obvious if you are on a priority road. The signs ("Yield" or "Give Way") should be on the minor road. No need for anything on the main road. And whats up with the "prohibited" red circle signs that don't have the slash through the middle? I though that was a universal symbol.

Honestly I've never been to Germany, but I think I'd have a real hard time ever getting used to German road signs.

I was in Germany in the 70's in the service and had to get an International Driver License to drive a private car there. I liked the "priority road" sign. When you were approaching an intersection you knew whether you would have to stop or not.

[DutchRoadSigns]

Originally Posted by KaaBoom

Yeah, I don't like the German signs too much. I don't like the small triangle warning signs. They just don't have the same impact that the large black on yellow warning signs in North America do. I especially don't like the large yellow diamond priority road signs. I don't get the purpose of it. Seems like it should be kind of obvious if you are on a priority road. The signs ("Yield" or "Give Way") should be on the minor road. No need for anything on the main road. And whats up with the "prohibited" red circle signs that don't have the slash through the middle? I though that was a universal symbol.

Honestly I've never been to Germany, but I think I'd have a real hard time ever getting used to German road signs.

the triangle signs with the pointy side down are the only triangle signs that exists, this is because if there was heavy snow people still could see the shape of the sign an know what sign it is, the other triangle chapes signs have the pointy side up, btw these triangle shapes 'signs / pictograms' are (called haaientanden in dutch when they are painted on the road) and off course when there was snow u can't see them, but then u still have the sign on the pole telling you u to be careful when crossing the priority road.

the red circle sign with white in the middle, without a slash is called a general prohibited zone for motorised traffic. when it has blue in the middle and a slash its forbidden to park on the side the slash is placed.