Road signs in Singapore

Road signs in Singapore closely follow those laid down in the traffic sign regulations used in the United Kingdom, although a number of changes over the years have introduced some slight deviations that suit local road conditions (such as fonts). Road signs in Singapore conform to the local Highway Code under the authority of the Singapore Traffic Police.

The Highway Code of Singapore Traffic Police is tested during the Basic Theory Test and Final Theory Test at either Ubi, Bukit Batok or Woodlands driving schools. The students are then to find either a school or private driving instructor to learn driving itself. Singaporean road signs depict people with realistic (as opposed to stylised) silhouettes.

No official name is given to the typeface used on all official signs, which resembles closely to Enamela Condensed Medium or DIN 1451.

Since the mid-1990s, signs have been placed on a backing board making them square or rectangular and standardised to a width of 600 mm on most roads and 900 mm on expressways. Prior to the 1990s, signs were cut out to their shape (e.g.: round signs were cut to be circular) as in most countries around the world.

Singapore traffic signs use the English Language, one of the four official languages and the main language in the country. The three others – Malay, Chinese, and Tamil, and also Japanese, – are also used for important public places such as tourist attractions, airports and immigration checkpoints.

Warning signs

Warning signs indicate possible dangers or unusual conditions ahead and alert motorists, so they may anticipate the appropriate actions to take. They are usually shaped as triangles with a red border, and mounted on a borderless white backing board, which is similar to the United Kingdom traffic sign.

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  Danger ahead
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  Other dangers; plate beneath will state nature of the danger
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  Restricted Zone ahead
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  Electronic Road Pricing (road toll) gantry ahead
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  Road hump
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  Uneven road
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  Road narrows on right (Left if symbol is reversed)
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  Road narrows on both sides ahead
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  Two-way traffic crosses a one-way road
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  Two-way traffic ahead
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  Lanes merge ahead
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  Double bend first to left (Right if the symbol is reversed)
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  Dual carriageway ends
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  Crossroads
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  Side road on left
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  Side road on right
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  T-junction
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  Traffic merging from left behind
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  Road slippery when wet
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  Staggered junction
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  Steep ascent
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  Steep descent
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  Quayside or river bank ahead
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  Tunnel ahead
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  Traffic signals in use ahead (Commonly used in bends.)
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  Low flying aircraft
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  Roundabout ahead
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  Zebra crossing ahead
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  Bend to the right ahead (left if the symbol is reversed)
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  Advance warning of a height restriction ahead
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  Children ahead - School crossing patrol
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  Animals crossing road ahead
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  Pedestrians on road ahead
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  Elderly or blind people ahead
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  Slow down
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  Maintain a slow speed to anticipate hazards ahead
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  Bridge with low headroom ahead
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  Curve alignment marker (Bend to left; right if chevron is reversed)
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  Sharp deviation to the left (right if chevrons are reversed) Road
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  Extended curve alignment marker / 'Waveline' (Bend to left; right if chevrons are reversed)

Regulatory signs

Regulatory signs either give positive instructions, i.e. Mandatory signs, or indicate a prohibition, i.e. Prohibitionary signs. Many regulatory signs are accompanied by supplementary plates that provide interdependent exceptions to the rule, or indicates additional instruction or information to facilitate understanding of the rule implemented.

Mandatory signs

Mandatory signs are generally circular with a white border and symbol on a blue background. They usually indicate something all drivers must do (e.g. keep left) or a facility available to certain classes of traffic (e.g. pedal cycles only).

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  Ahead only (Turning left and right is prohibited)
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  Turn left ahead (right if symbol is reversed)
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  Turn left (right if symbol is reversed)
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  Keep left (Right if symbol is reversed)
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  Split-way, i.e. motorists can pass to either side, but either side might not reach the same destination
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  Route to be used by pedal cycles only

The exceptions are the octagonal red STOP sign, the temporary STOP and GO signs and the triangular GIVE WAY sign.

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  Stop and give way
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  Give way
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Prohibitory signs

Prohibitory signs, which generally tell drivers what they must not do, are mostly circular and have a red border. The red ring indicates the prohibition; diagonal bars are used only on signs which prohibit a specific manoeuvre, i.e. banned left or right turns and U-turns, or a certain class of vehicle, i.e. lorries.

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  No entry for all vehicular traffic
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  No left turn
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  No right turn
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  No lorries
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  No vehicles with 3 axles or more
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  No vehicles carrying explosives
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  No pedal cycles
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  No waiting
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  No stopping
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  No overtaking
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  No sounding of the vehicle horn
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  No jaywalking
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  No jaywalking in the bus park

Diagonal bars are excluded when restrictions are quantitative in nature, i.e. limits in speed, weight, axle, height, and width.

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  No vehicles over height shown
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  No vehicles over width shown
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  No vehicles over weight shown
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  Maximum speed limit in kilometres per hour (km/h)

Information signs

Information signs are signs that may be mounted to indicate a certain condition or nature of the road ahead that motorists need to take note. They are independent of existing mandatory and prohibitive signs. Such signs are usually white or blue and rectangular in shape.

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  Indication of a U-turn lane, on the lane closest to the road divider or carriageway
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  One way traffic ahead (Turning left and right is permitted)
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  One-way traffic in direction indicated (left)
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  Zebra crossing
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  Pedal cycle crossing
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  Parking Area for all vehicles - owned by HDB
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  Parking Area for Motorcars - Coupon Payment
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  Parking Area for Motorcycles - Coupon Payment
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  No through road
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  No through road on the left ahead
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  No through road on the right ahead
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  Left turn at controlled junction on red light permitted for motorists, as long as the motorist gives way to traffic on the major road and pedestrians crossing the road
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  Reminder to look out & give way to pedestrians crossing when making a right turn
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  Advisory Give-way-to-buses-exiting-bus-bay rule ahead
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  Mandatory Give-way-to-buses-exiting-bus-bay rule ahead
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  Indication of speed limit enforcement cameras
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  Indication of enforcement cameras used at traffic lights
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  Start of Expressway and point from which expressway regulations apply
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  End of Expressway
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  Layout of traffic lanes ahead ("Get in lane")
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  Expressway name and distance marker

Temporary work-zone signs

Temporary work-zone signs are mounted to ensure roads keep a free flow of traffic despite being affected by road works in the vicinity. It closely follows the American MUTCD and Republic of Ireland traffic sign (e.g. orange diamond, orange rectangular or yellow rectangular-shaped signs).

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  Advance sign of road works ahead
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  Indication of road stretch affected by road works
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  Entry to works area
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  Heavy vehicles turning ahead
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  Heavy vehicles turning ahead
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  Layout of lanes ahead
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  Layout of lanes ahead
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  Road narrows on right ahead
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  Temporary mandatory speed limit (40 km/h)
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  Traffic lights in use ahead
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  Bend to right (Left if symbol is reversed)
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  Supplementary plate to specify direction indicated for temporary road rule
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  Single lane traffic
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  Curve Alignment Marker (Bend to direction indicated)
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  Detour for pedestrians in direction indicated (Right)
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  Advance sign of detour ahead
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  Detour in direction indicated at junction (Right)

Directional signs

• Signs indicating destinations reached via expressways has white lettering on a blue background.
• Signs indicating destinations reached via other roads have white lettering on a green background.
• Signs indicating local destinations have black lettering on a white background.
• Signs indicating recreational facilities and landmarks have white lettering on a brown background.

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  On approach to a junction (single direction)
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  On approach to a junction (top white plate indicates the name of the road crossed at the junction)
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  At the junction
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  On approach to a roundabout
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  On approach to exit junctions on an expressway
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  At a numbered exit junction on an expressway
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  Get in lane with respect to the destinations stated above each downward-pointing lane arrow
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  Direction to a local destination
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  Direction to a place of interest
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  Direction to a place of interest, as part of another sign

Road markings

Along the side of the road

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  No parking between 7 am to 7 pm (Daily with the exception of Sundays and Public Holidays)
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  No parking at any time, unless there are signs that specifically indicate seasonal restrictions.
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  No waiting at any time, unless there are signs that specifically indicate seasonal restrictions.
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  Clearway (No stopping) on that side of the road at any time
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  Indication of a zebra crossing ahead. See Zebra Crossing rules below.
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  Edge line (used along roads, not in built-up areas, or divide the road shoulder of an expressway from the inside lane)

Road dividers

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  Keep left of the divider
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  Keep left of the diagonally hatched divider
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  Keep left of the divider; no waiting on either side of the road at any time
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  Keep left of the unbroken diagonally hatched divider; No crossing of the divider
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  Keep left of the divider; no stopping and no crossing of the divider in either direction at any time.
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  Zebra crossing ahead; keep left of the divider. See Zebra Crossing rules below.

Zebra crossing rules

A zebra crossing in Singapore

Two flashing Belisha Beacon are positioned, one on each side of the road, at a zebra crossing, which flashes from 7 pm to 7 am daily, indicating to an approaching motorist of a zebra crossing. Older crossings display the blue square zebra crossing signs on both sides (see above), which are synonymous to the flashing amber beacons, and are valid yet uncommon on the roads. The road markings and road dividers are white zig-zag lines that indicate a zebra crossing in the vicinity, similar to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland Zebra crossing rules.

On approach, regardless of the absence of any pedestrians, all motorists are required to keep left of the divider, prepare to stop and stay in their respective lanes, i.e. no overtaking is permitted.

When pedestrians are present at the side of a zebra crossing, all motorists are obligated to give priority to pedestrians crossing the zebra crossing bars, by stopping before the white line across the lane. No waiting is permitted within the vicinity of the zebra crossing.

A sign indicating a pedestrian crossing or a 'SLOW' painted on the road may be present as well.

See also

• Road names in Singapore

References

• Singapore Official Highway Code (Basic Theory of Driving) Seventh Edition. ISBN 978-981-04-0567-0 . Published 2008 by Pacific Communications Pte Ltd under the authority of the Traffic Police.

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