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
  • Stop (Thai language)
  • Stop (Thai and English languages)
  • Give way (Thai language)
  • Give way (Thai and English languages)
  • Give way to oncoming vehicles (used at traffic bottleneck points)

Prohibitory or Restrictive Signs
  • No overtaking
  • No entry
  • No right U-turn
  • No left U-turn
  • No left turn
  • No right turn
  • No changing to left lane
  • No changing to right lane
  • No right turn nor right U-turn
  • No Left Turn nor U-turn
  • No cars
  • No trucks
  • No motorcycles
  • No trailers
  • No tuk-tuks
  • No tricycle
  • No bicycles
  • No carts
  • No tractors
  • No animal-drawn carts
  • No motor vehicles
  • No tricycle or bicycles and motorcycles.
  • No motorcycles or moto-rickshaws
  • No honking
  • No pedestrians
  • No parking
  • No stopping
  • Stop at checkpoint (e.g.: customs, police)
  • Speed limit (20 km/h)
  • Speed limit (30 km/h)
  • Speed limit (40 km/h)
  • Speed limit (50 km/h)
  • Speed limit (60 km/h)
  • Speed limit (70 km/h)
  • Speed limit (80 km/h)
  • Speed limit (90 km/h)
  • Speed limit (100 km/h)
  • Speed limit (110 km/h)
  • Speed limit (120 km/h)
  • Weight limit
  • Maximum width
  • Maximum height
  • Maximum vehicle length (Thai language)
  • Maximum vehicle length (Thai and English languages)
  • No vehicles conveying dangerous goods

Mandatory Signs
  • Go straight
  • Turn left
  • Turn right
  • Keep left
  • Keep right
  • Pass on either side
  • Turn left
  • Turn right
  • Turn left or right
  • Go straight or turn left
  • Go straight or turn right
  • Roundabout
  • Buses only
  • High occupancy vehicles only
  • Motorcycles only
  • Bicycles only
  • Pedestrians only
  • Minimum speed limit (30 km/h)
  • Minimum speed limit (40 km/h)
  • Minimum speed limit (50 km/h)
  • Minimum speed limit (60 km/h)
  • Minimum speed limit (70 km/h)
  • Minimum speed limit (80 km/h)
  • Minimum speed limit (90 km/h)

Other regulatory signs
  • Speed limit zone ends

General regulatory signs
  • Speed limit (In city – Bangkok, Pattaya and cities inbound)
  • Speed limit (Countryside – Bangkok, Pattaya and cities outbound)
  • Prohibited on Motorways
  • Prohibited on Expressways

Superseded regulatory signs

These signs have been superseded, but are still around.

  • Stop
  • No entry
  • Stop at checkpoint (e.g.: customs, police)
  • Speed limit (50 km/h)
  • Go straight
  • Turn left
  • Turn right
  • Keep left
  • Keep right
  • Pass on either side
  • Turn left
  • Turn right
  • Turn left or right
  • Roundabout

Warning signs

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

Curves and Turns
  • Curve to left
  • Curve to right
  • Sharp curve to left
  • Sharp curve to right
  • Double curve, first to left
  • Double curve, first to right
  • Sharp double curve, first to left
  • Sharp double curve, first to right
  • Winding road, first bend to left
  • Winding road for next --- km, first bend to left
  • Winding road, first bend to right
  • Winding road for next --- km, first bend to right

Intersections
  • Crossroads
  • Y-junction
  • Side road junction on left
  • Side road junction on right
  • Offset road junction, left and right
  • Offset road junction, left and right
  • Skewed side road junction on left
  • Skewed side road junction on right
  • Skewed side road junction on left
  • Skewed side road junction on right
  • T-junction

Roundabout
  • Roundabout ahead

Road narrows
  • Road narrows on both sides
  • Road narrows on left side
  • Road narrows on right side

Narrow bridge
  • Narrow bridge
  • Narrow bridge - give way to oncoming vehicles (used at traffic bottleneck points)

Lane transitions
  • Left lane ends
  • Right lane ends

Rail
  • Railway crossing without gates
  • Railway crossing with automatic gates
  • Railway crossing on next side road
  • Railroad crossing

Lane width restrictions
  • Width restriction ahead (Thai language)
  • Width restriction ahead (Thai and English languages)

Lane height restrictions
  • Height restriction ahead (Thai language)
  • Height restriction ahead (Thai and English languages)

Hills and Grades
  • Steep climb
  • Steep climb for next --- km
  • Steep descent
  • Steep descent for next --- km
  • Steep descent – use low gear (Thai language)
  • Steep descent – use low gear (Thai and English languages)

Lane conditions
  • Hump
  • Speed hump
  • Uneven road
  • Dip
  • Slippery road
  • Slippery road
  • Loose road surface
  • Falling rocks

Opening bridge
  • Opening bridge

Lane shiftings
  • Shift to left carriageway
  • Shift to right carriageway
  • Added lane ahead
  • Added lane ahead

Lane mergings
  • Left merging traffic
  • Merging traffic - beware cars from the left
  • Right merging traffic
  • Merging traffic - beware cars from the right

Divided highways
  • Divided road begins
  • Divided road ends

U-turns
  • Hairpin curve to right
  • Hairpin curve to left

Two-way traffic
  • Two-way traffic
  • Two-way traffic

Advance traffic control
  • Traffic lights ahead
  • Stop ahead (Thai language)
  • Stop ahead (Thai and English languages)
  • Give way ahead (Thai language)
  • Give way ahead (Thai and English languages)
  • Pedestrian crossing
  • Children
  • School zone
  • School zone (In Bangkok local highway zone)
  • Animals ahead
  • Low-flying aircraft
  • Other danger (Thai language)
  • Other danger (Thai and English languages)

No passing zone
  • No overtaking zone

Lane split, Curve and Hazard markers
  • Lane split
  • Roadway splits
  • Curve markers
  • Curve marker
  • Curve marker
  • Curve marker
  • Curve marker with advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
  • Curve marker with advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
  • Curve marker
  • Curve marker with advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
  • Curve marker with advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
  • Curve marker
  • Curve marker
  • Curve marker
  • Curve marker
  • Hazard markers
  • Hazard marker
  • Hazard marker
  • Hazard marker

Alternate merging
  • Zipper merge (Thai language)
  • Zipper merge (Thai and English languages)

General warning signs
  • City limit reduce speed (Thai language)
  • City limit reduce speed (Thai and English languages)

Supplementary plates

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

  • Winding road for next --- km
  • Steep climb for next --- km
  • Steep descent for next --- km
  • Use low gear (Thai language)
  • Use low gear (Thai and English languages)
  • Speed hump
  • Slippery road
  • Watch for cars from the left
  • Watch for cars from the right
  • Two-way traffic
  • School
  • Advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
  • Advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
  • Advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
  • Advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)

Superseded warning signs

These signs have been superseded, but are still around.

  • Road narrows on both sides
  • Stop ahead
  • Children
  • No overtaking zone

Speed camera zone warning signs
  • Speed camera zone (60 km/h)
  • Speed camera zone (80 km/h)
  • Speed camera zone (90 km/h)
  • Speed camera zone (100 km/h)
  • Speed camera zone (120 km/h)

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.

  • Elephant crossing

Construction signs

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

  • Survey
  • Construction ahead
  • Workers ahead
  • Construction vehicles ahead
  • Bridge out ahead with a temporary bridge on a detour on left
  • Bridge out ahead with a temporary bridge on a detour on right
  • Diverted traffic to left
  • Diverted traffic to right
  • Diverted traffic to left (two lanes)
  • Diverted traffic to right (two lanes)
  • Diverted traffic (one lane on left)
  • Diverted traffic (one lane on right)
  • Diverted traffic, first to left
  • Diverted traffic, first to right
  • Diverted traffic, first to left, 2 lanes
  • Diverted traffic, first to right, 2 lanes
  • Diverted traffic, first to left, 3 lanes
  • Diverted traffic, first to right, 3 lanes
  • End of left lane (form 1 lane)
  • End of right lane (form 1 lane)
  • End of left lane (form 2 lanes)
  • End of right lane (form 2 lanes)
  • End of left lanes (form 1 lane)
  • End of right lanes (form 1 lane)
  • Curve marker
  • Curve marker
  • Road construction zone
  • New road under construction and temporarily opened
  • New road temporarily opened
  • Road construction ahead
  • Bridge construction ahead
  • Road closed ahead
  • Reduce speed
  • Detour left
  • Detour right
  • Distance to work zone
  • Road work ahead
  • Shoulder work ahead
  • Construction materials on shoulder
  • Road impassable ahead
  • Road flooded ahead
  • Accident ahead
  • Curve marker
  • Curve marker
  • Curve marker
  • Road closed --- km
  • Road impassable --- km
  • Detour route
  • Detour
  • Detour
  • Road work, next --- km
  • End road work
  • Road closed
  • Road closed to through traffic
  • Road impassable, no through traffic

Road equipment
  • Flashing orange lights
  • Flashing red lights
  • Reflective delineator

Superseded signs

These signs have been superseded, but are still around.

  • Accident ahead

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 shield
Further information: Thai highway network § Highway numbering
Motorway 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]

  • Informational signs
  • Destination
  • Distance sign
  • River sign
  • Province border signs
  • Canal name on BMA Roads
  • Intersection name on Highways
  • Intersection name on Rural Roads
  • Intersection name on BMA Roads
  • Pedestrian crossing
  • Hospital
  • Hospital
  • Hospital
  • Hospital
  • Hospital
  • One-way street (left)
  • One-way street (right)
  • Dead end
  • U-turn
  • Expressway begins
  • Expressway ends
  • Bus lane begins
  • Bus lane
  • Handicapped
  • Bus lane ends
  • High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane
  • Weigh station
  • Weigh station
  • Weigh station
  • Weigh station
  • Weigh station
  • Weigh station
  • Rest area
  • Rest area
  • Advance scenic area distance
  • Scenic area exit direction (left)
  • Scenic area exit direction (right)
  • Road name
  • Bicycles lane
  • Bicycles and motorcycles keep left
  • Expressway (EXAT)
  • Airport (Access road from Highways)
  • Airport (Access road from Motorways/Major Roads)
  • Airport (Access road from Toll Motorways/Expressways)
  • Bus terminal
  • Ferry pier
  • Ferry port
  • Railway station
  • Restroom
  • Petrol station
  • NGV station
  • LPG station
  • EV station
  • E85 petrol station
  • B20 petrol station
  • General information (Rural roads)
  • General information (Rural roads)
  • Directional guide signs on Highways (to the left lane)
  • Directional guide signs on Highways (through lanes)
  • Directional guide signs on Toll Motorways (to the right lane)
  • Directional guide signs on Rural Roads (right turn lane)

Kilometer signs
  • Kilometer signs
  • Kilometer sign on Highways [Type A]
  • Kilometer sign on Motorways [Type A]
  • Kilometer sign on Motorways (Toll Roads) [Type A]
  • Kilometer sign on Highways [Type B]
  • Kilometer sign on Rural Roads
  • Kilometer sign on Rural Roads [Type B]
  • Kilometer sign on Expressways
  • 100 Meter sign on Highway
  • 100 Meter sign on Motorways
  • 100 Meter sign on Motorways (Old Sign)

Exit number signs
  • Exit number signs
  • Exit number plaques on Highways / Motorways
  • Exit number plaques on Toll Motorways

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.
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