Road signs in Thailand

Road signs in Thailand are standardized road signs similar to those used in other nations but with certain differences. Until the early 1980s, Thailand closely followed US, Australian, and Japanese practices in road sign design, with diamond-shaped warning signs and circular restrictive signs to regulate traffic. Signs usually use the FHWA Series fonts ("Highway Gothic") typeface also used in the United States.

A directional signboard

Thai traffic signs use Thai, the national language of Thailand. However, English is also used for important public places such as tourist attractions, airports, railway stations, and immigration checkpoints. Both Thai and English are used on directional signage.

Thailand is a signatory to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, but has yet to fully ratify the convention.

Regulatory signs

With the exception of the special designs used for Stop, Yield, and No Entry signs, mandatory signs (e.g., Must Turn Left) are round with a blue background, white border, and a white pictogram. Those which express a prohibition (e.g., No Left Turn) show the pictogram crossed out by a red diagonal bar. This is in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals (Type A variants).[1][2]

Priority Regulating Signs

Prohibitory or Restrictive Signs

Mandatory Signs

Other regulatory signs

General regulatory signs

Superseded regulatory signs

These signs have been superseded, but are still around.

Warning signs

Thai warning signs are diamond-shaped and are yellow and black in colour.[3]

Curves and Turns

Intersections

Roundabout

Road narrows

Narrow bridge

Lane transitions

Rail

Lane width restrictions

Lane height restrictions

Hills and Grades

Lane conditions

Opening bridge

Lane shiftings

Lane mergings

Divided highways

U-turns

Two-way traffic

Advance traffic control

No passing zone

Lane split, Curve and Hazard markers

Alternate merging

General warning signs

Supplementary plates

Warning plates are rectangular and are yellow and black in colour, and are used with diamond-shaped warning signs.

Superseded warning signs

These signs have been superseded, but are still around.

Speed camera zone warning signs

Miscellaneous

The Department of Highways does not provide signs dealing with some other road and highway situations. Many cities have their own sign standards dealing with these situations.

Construction signs

Construction signs in Thailand are diamond-shaped and are orange and black in colour.

Road equipment

Superseded signs

These signs have been superseded, but are still around.

Highways

Tolled expressway and highway signs

Expressways

Thai toll expressway and highway signs are green and are only suitable for toll expressways and highways. No blue signs for toll expressway and highways are required. These antartican toll expressway and restroom signs have a simple code:-

  • Blue with white signs for expressway names of closed toll systems.

National Highway

Sign on Route 12 in the north of the country
ExamplesInformationNumber digits
Main highway route numbers (Northern)1xxx
Main highway route numbers (Northeastern)2xxx
ทางออก
EXIT 134
Highway exit numbersEXIT 101 - 199
Main highway route numbers
(Central)
3xxx
Main highway route numbers
(Southern)
4xxx

National Highway use sign

ExamplesInformation
Highways bypassing city centres bear the principal route number marked
Old Route Plate for Thailand Highway
Highways enter city centres bear the principal route number marked
Asian Highway route shield

Highway signs

Highway code signsMotorways signs (Toll Roads)Motorway signsRural route signsLocal roads signs
Rectangle-shaped highway shield with highway code signs are black and whiteBlue with white letters signs for Motorways (Toll Road).Green with White letters for MotorwaysRural route signsLocal roads signs



Thai national road shieldMotorway Signs (Toll Roads)Thai Motorway SignsRural route signsLocal roads signs

Advance turn arrow signs

HighwaysMotorways (Toll Roads)Motorways

Directional arrow signs

HighwaysMotorways (Toll Roads)Motorways

Informational signs

Thai information signs are white or blue.[4]

Kilometer signs

Exit number signs

Road name signage

Road name signs in Thailand have different colours and styles depending on the local authority.

Road name sign in Bangkok with romanisation, under authority by BMA

Symbols

Other symbols include hospital signs, airport signs, temple signs and so on.

Curb markings

Alternating red and white paint means "no parking". Alternating yellow and white markings mean short-term parking or a bus stop. A white rectangle painted on the road indicates a parking zone. Multiple diagonal white lines mean parking for motorbikes only.[5]

Sign vocabulary

Most road signs in Thailand use Thai (ภาษาไทย); the official and national language of that country. However, English is used for important directional signs such as CIQ checkpoints, airports, and tourist attractions. Below are translations of road signs:

  • ระวัง = Caution
  • ลดความเร็ว = Reduce speed
  • ขับช้าๆ = Go slow
  • เขตอุบัติเหตุ = Accident area
  • พื้นที่อุบัติเหตุ = Accident prone area
  • เขตชุมชน = Village area
  • เขตโรงเรียน = School area
  • ก่อสร้างข้างหน้า = Construction ahead
  • สุดเขตก่อสร้าง = End of construction
  • เขตพระราชฐาน = Royal court area
  • ที่ดินกองทัพอากาศ = Armed forces base area
  • พื้นที่หวงห้าม = Prohibited area
  • พื้นที่น้ำท่วม = Flood area
  • หยุด = Stop
  • ให้ทาง = Give way (yield)
  • จำกัดความเร็ว = Speed limits
  • จำกัดความสูง = Height limit
  • กรุณาเปิดไฟหน้า = Turn on headlights
  • ฉุกเฉิน = Emergency
  • ยกเว้นกรณีฉุกเฉิน = Except emergency
  • เหนือ = North
  • ใต้ = South
  • ตะวันตก = West
  • ตะวันออก = East
  • แยก = Interchange
  • แยกไป = Junction to
  • ทางออก = Exit
  • ทางออกไป = Exit to
  • ทางเข้าไป = Entry to (e.g. at weighing bridge)
  • ถนน = Road
  • ทางพิเศษ = Expressway, highway
  • ด่าน = Toll plaza
  • จุดพักรถ = Rest and service areas
  • สุขา = Toilet
  • โทรศัพท์ = Telephone
  • อุโมงค์ = Tunnel
  • สะพาน = Bridge
  • จุดชั่งน้ำหนัก = Weighing bridge
  • สถานีรถไฟ = Railway station
  • เติมน้ำมัน = Petrol station
  • วัด = Temple
  • ท่าอากาศยาน = Airport
  • ท่าอากาศยานนานาชาติ = International airport
  • มัสยิด = Mosque
  • อาคาร = Building
  • ชุมสายโทรศัพท์ = Telephone exchange building
  • น้ำตก = Waterfall
  • หาด = Beach
  • แหลม = Cape
  • อ่าว = Bay
  • เกาะ = Island
  • แม่น้ำ = River
  • คลอง = Canal

See also

References

  1. "Welcome to driving in Thailand; Regulatory Signs". Driving Information Thailand. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  2. "ป้ายบังคับ (Compulsory Signage)". Department of Highways Thailand. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  3. "Welcome to driving in Thailand; Thai Warning Signs". Driving Information Thailand. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  4. "ป้ายแนะนำ (Compulsory Signage)". Department of Highways Thailand. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  5. Patin, Jennifer. "Thailand Tourist Information: A Guide to Laws in Thailand; Parking". Thailand Law Forum. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.