5 Groups of Road Traffic Signs Effective from November 1, 2016

The system of road traffic signs according to the National Technical Regulations on Road Traffic Signs at Circular 06 includes 05 groups:

- Prohibition signs;- Mandatory signs;- Warning and hazard signs;- Directional signs;- Auxiliary signs, signs written in text.

Compared to regulations in the National Technical Regulations on Road Traffic Signs at Circular 17/2012/TT-BGTVT, the system of road traffic signs has been reduced to 05 groups (According to the National Technical Regulations on Road Traffic Signs at Circular 17, the road traffic signs system is divided into 06 groups including: prohibition signs, hazard signs, mandatory signs, directional signs, auxiliary signs, and signs used on external route roads. In addition to the 06 groups above, there are signs written in text in a rectangular shape with a blue background and white text used for directions or mandates for rudimentary vehicles and pedestrians).

Prohibition Signs

Prohibition signs indicate forbidden actions. Traffic participants must comply with the prohibitions indicated on the sign. Prohibition signs include 63 signs with codes P (prohibited) and DP (end of prohibition) (according to current regulations, there are only 40 types - 52 prohibition signs). Some new signs are added as follows:

- Sign No. P.107a: No entry for passenger cars;- Sign No. P.107b: No entry for taxi cars;- Sign No. P.108 a: No entry for semi-trailer trucks (at Circular 17, a general prohibition was prescribed for cars, tractors towing trailers, or semi-trailers at Sign No. 108);- Sign No. P.124 (c, d): No left turn and U-turn; No right turn and U-turn;- Sign No. P.124 (e, f): No left turn and U-turn for cars; No right turn and U-turn for cars;- Sign No. P.124 d: No left turn and U-turn for cars;- Sign No. P.127 a: Maximum speed limit at night;- Sign No. P.127 b: Combined maximum speed limit per lane placed beside the road or on a gantry;- Sign No. P.127 c: Combined maximum speed limit per vehicle per lane;- Sign No. P.127d: End of maximum speed limit on combined signs.

Simultaneously, Sign No. 122: Stop at Circular 17 is no longer in the prohibition signs group (at the new standard, it has been moved to mandatory signs - Sign No. R.122: Stop).

Warning and Hazard Signs

Warning and hazard signs are used to alert traffic participants to the nature of potential dangers or precautionary measures on the road. When encountering warning and hazard signs, traffic participants must reduce speed to a necessary level, pay attention, and be prepared to handle situations to prevent accidents.

Warning and hazard signs include 83 signs with code W (current regulations have 47 types - 74 warning signs). New signs added as follows:

- Sign No. W.201 (c, d): Dangerous curve with rollover risk;- Sign No. W.215 (b, c): Bank, deep cliff on the left and right sides;- Sign No. W.216 b: Flood-prone submerged road;- Sign No. W.228 d: Weak roadbed;- Sign No. W.243 (a, b, c): Railway crossing not perpendicular to the road;

Simultaneously, Sign No. 207 l: Intersection with non-priority road at Circular 17 is removed.

Mandatory Signs

Mandatory signs alert traffic participants to mandatory actions that must be observed. Mandatory signs include 65 signs with codes R and R.E (at Circular 17, there are 10 types - 21 mandatory signs). New mandatory signs added as follows:

- Sign No. R.122: Stop;- Sign No. R.302 c: Right turn around obstacle;- Sign No. R.403 a: Road for cars;- Sign No. R.403 b: Road for cars and motorcycles;- Sign No. R.403 c: Road for buses;- Sign No. R.403 d: Road for personal cars;- Sign No. R.403 e: Road for motorcycles;- Sign No. R.403 f: Road for motorcycles and bicycles;- Sign No. R.404 a: End of road for cars;- Sign No. R.404 b: End of road for cars and motorcycles;- Sign No. R.404 c: End of road for buses;- Sign No. R.404 d: End of road for personal cars;- Sign No. R.404 e: End of road for motorcycles;- Sign No. R.404 f: End of road for motorcycles and bicycles;- Sign No. R.411: Right-of-way on each lane to follow;- Sign No. R.412 a: Lane for passenger cars;- Sign No. R.412 b: Lane for personal cars;- Sign No. R.412 c: Lane for trucks;- Sign No. R.412 d: Lane for motorcycles;- Sign No. R.412 e: Lane for buses;- Sign No. R.412 f: Lane for cars;- Sign No. R.412 g: Lane for motorcycles and bicycles;- Sign No. R.412 h: Lane for bicycles;- Sign No. R.412 i: End of lane for passenger cars;- Sign No. R.412 j: End of lane for personal cars;- Sign No. R.412 k: End of lane for trucks;- Sign No. R.412 l: End of lane for motorcycles;- Sign No. R.412 m: End of lane for buses;- Sign No. R.412 n: End of lane for cars;- Sign No. R.412 o: End of lane for motorcycles and bicycles;- Sign No. R.412 p: End of lane for bicycles;- Sign No. R.415: Combined lane signs by vehicle type;- Sign No. R.420: Start of populated area;- Sign No. R.421: End of populated area;- Sign No. R.E.9 a: No parking in the area;- Sign No. R.E.9 b: No parking during specific hours in the area;- Sign No. R.E.9 c: Parking area;- Sign No. R.E.9 d: Maximum speed restriction in the area;- Sign No. R.E.10 a: End of no parking in the area;- Sign No. R.E.10 b: End of no parking during specific hours in the area;- Sign No. R.E.10 c: End of parking area;- Sign No. R.E.10 d: End of maximum speed restriction in the area;- Sign No. R.E.11 a: Tunnel;- Sign No. R.E.11 b: End of tunnel.

Directional Signs

Directional signs are used to guide directions or provide necessary instructions to help traffic participants navigate and control vehicles safely. Directional signs on roads that are not highways include 90 signs with code "I" (current regulation: 47 types - 71 directional signs). New signs added as follows:

- Sign No. I.408 a: Partial parking on the sidewalk;- Sign No. I.419 b: Boundary marker on external route;- Sign No. I.422 b: Historic site on external route;- Sign No. I.423c: Start of pedestrian road;- Sign No. I.433 (b, c, d): Camping site, mobile inn;- Sign No. I.433 e: Hostel;- Sign No. I.444 (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m): Location directional signs;- Sign No. I.445 (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h): Road condition descriptive signs;- Sign No. I.447 (a, b, c, d): Overpass directional signs;- Sign No. I.448: Rescue lane or emergency exit lane;- Sign No. I.449: Road name sign.

Removed directional signs:

- Sign No. 403(a, b): Road for cars, motorcycles;- Sign No. 404(a, b): End of road for cars, motorcycles;- Sign No. 411: Right-of-way per lane on multi-lane roads divided by road markings;- Sign No. 412(a, b, c, d): "Dedicated lane for each vehicle type";- Sign No. 420: Start of populated area;- Sign No. 421: End of populated area.

Auxiliary Signs, Text Signs

Auxiliary signs typically accompany main signs: warning signs, prohibition signs, mandatory signs, and directional signs, to provide additional clarification, except for sign No. 507 "Turn direction" which is used independently. Auxiliary signs include 31 signs with codes S, SG, and SH (current regulation: 09 types - 19 auxiliary signs). New signs added as follows:

- Sign S.H,3 (a, b, c): Direction of sign effect;- Sign No. S.510: Caution slippery road with ice;- Sign No. S.G,7: Camping site;- Sign No. S.G,8: Hostel location;- Sign No. S.G,9 b: Parking guidance for drivers using public transport;- Sign No. S.G,11 a; S.G,11 c: Number of lanes and directions for each lane;- Sign No. S.G,12 a; S.G,12 b: Non-traffic lanes;- Sign No. S.H,6: Exception.

Text signs are only used when prescribed sign types cannot apply.

More details can be found in Circular 06/2016/TT-BGTVT replacing Circular 27/2015/TT-BGTVT and Circular 17/2012/TT-BGTVT.

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