Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Road Signs

One of the biggest things about driving here is that the road signs are different from the USA. Most of the signs are standardized across Europe but each country does have a few extra.
Diamond signs indicate priority while red triangles are warnings. Red circles are restrictions and blue circles are requirements. Squares and rectangles provide guidance. Black lines through a sign means the traffic condition is finished.
At least the stop sign is the same over here. It pretty much ends after that. Here are some of the most important ones:


Among the most important signs are the priority and end-of-priority diamonds. The yellow diamond shows that you have the right of way. Any cars entering from crossroads have to yield before entering a priority road.
A number in a red circle is the maximum speed limit. In this case 60 kilometers per hour. Lines through the number on a white circle is the end of the speed limit.
A blue circle shows the minimum allowable speed. I'm not sure why this sign is even posted. Most people tend to treat the maximum speed signs as 'optional' so I don't get the point of the minimum speed signs.
This sign shows a dead end street. There is no outlet at the end of the road.

No parking.


No passing.


Do not enter.



Right of way over oncoming traffic. Whom ever is driving in the same direction as the red arrow has to yield.
Here's the roundabout traffic sign. When entering a roundabout you have to yield to traffic and do not signal. However, you have to signal when you are leaving the circle.
This sign shows that the main road bends to the right. Even when the main road turns you still have to signal. However, the cars leaving the main road, and exiting a side road, are not required to signal. Odd!
Here's the "skiing house sign". Some friends and I could never figure out what this one was. It turns out that this posted for residential areas. The driving commissars love to take drivers in to residential areas because the maximum speed is only 20 km per hour (12.5 mph). I'll need to keep this in mind when I take my driving exam.

Update:  Link to Czech driving rules in English. 

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