UNITED

NATIONS
E
Economic and Social Distr.
GENERAL
Council
TRANS/WP.1/2003/3/Rev.4
23 April 2004

ENGLISH
Original: ENGLISH,
FRENCH and RUSSIAN

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE

INLAND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE

Working Party on Road Traffic Safety

AMENDMENTS TO AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1968 CONVENTIONS

ON ROAD TRAFFIC AND ON ROAD SIGNS AND SIGNALS
AND THE 1971 EUROPEAN AGREEMENTS SUPPLEMENTING THEM

Proposals for amendments to the 1968 Vienna Convention

on Road Signs and Signals

Note by the secretariat

This document is a compilation of the proposals for amendments to the Vienna

Convention on Road Signs and Signals definitively adopted by the Working Party on Road
Traffic Safety (WP.1) at its forty-third session.
An explanatory memorandum can be found at the end of this document for the
proposals submitted.

* * *
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I. Proposed amendments to the 1968 Vienna Convention on

Road Signs and Signals

A. Amendments to the main text of the Convention

ARTICLE 1 (Definitions)

Insert a new subparagraph (e) bis to read:

“(e) bis. “Cycle lane” means a part of a carriageway designated for cycles. A cycle lane is
distinguished from the rest of the carriageway by longitudinal road markings.”

Insert a new subparagraph (e) ter to read:

“(e) ter. “Cycle track” means an independent road or part of a road designated for cycles,
signposted as such. A cycle track is separated from other roads or other parts of the same road
by structural means.”

ARTICLE 7

Replace the existing Article 7 by the following:

“1. It is recommended that domestic legislation provide that, in order to make them more
visible and legible at night, road signs, in particular danger warning signs, regulatory signs and
direction signs shall be lighted or retroreflective, provided that this does not result in road users
being dazzled.

2. Contracting Parties may also allow the use of fluorescent materials; in this case they shall
define which signs may make use of these materials.

3. Domestic legislation should draw up rules for the use of lighted, retroreflective and
fluorescent signs. It should also specify the situations in which each class of retroreflective
materials shall be used.

4. Dark or light graphic elements of different colours in the signs may be differentiated by
means of contrasting light or dark narrow strips respectively.

5. Nothing in this Convention shall prohibit the use, for conveying information, warnings or
rules applying only at certain times or on certain days, of signs which are visible only when the
information they convey is relevant.”
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ARTICLE 8
Paragraph 3
Amend to read:

“3. Nothing in this Convention shall prohibit the addition, mainly in order to facilitate the
interpretation of signs, of an inscription in a rectangular panel below the sign or in a rectangular
panel containing the sign; such an inscription may also be placed on the sign itself, if this does
not make the sign more difficult to understand for drivers who cannot understand the
inscription.”

ARTICLE 13 (Provisions applying generally to the signs described in Annex 1,

Sections C and D to this Convention)

Paragraph 2

Amend to read:
“2. Regulatory signs placed level with or shortly after a sign indicating the beginning of a
built-up area shall mean that the rule applies throughout the built-up area, unless a different rule
is notified by other signs on certain sections of the road in the built-up area.”

ARTICLE 13 bis (Special regulation signs)

Insert a new paragraph 2 bis to read:

“2 bis. Sign E, 11a shall be used for tunnels of 1,000 m or more and in cases provided for by
domestic legislation. For tunnels of 1,000 m or more, the length shall be included either in the
lower part of the sign, or on an additional panel H, 2, as described in Annex 1, section H. The
name of the tunnel may be indicated according to Article 8, paragraph 3 of this Convention.”

ARTICLE 26 bis
Paragraph 1
Amend to read:

“1. The marking of lanes reserved for certain categories of vehicles, including cycle lanes,
shall be by means of lines which should be clearly distinguished from other continuous or broken
lines on the carriageway, notably by being wider and with less space between strokes.”

ARTICLE 29
Paragraph 2

Amend the first sentence to read:

“2. If road markings are painted, they shall be yellow or white; however, blue may be used
for markings showing places where parking is permitted but subject to some conditions or
restrictions (limit of duration, payment, category of user, etc.). …”

Paragraph 4
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Amend to read:

“4. Road markings intended for moving vehicles shall be easily recognized in good time by
drivers. They must be visible during the day and at night. It is recommended that such markings,
especially in areas where lighting is insufficient, be retroreflective.”

Insert a new article 29 bis to read:

ARTICLE 29 bis

“1. When permanent road markings are to be modified for a specific period, in particular
because of road works or diversions, temporary markings shall be applied in colours different
from the colours used for permanent markings.

2. Temporary markings shall take precedence over permanent markings and road users are
required to conform to them. When the simultaneous presence of permanent and temporary road
markings could be a source of confusion, the permanent markings shall be covered over or
removed.

3. Temporary markings shall preferably be retroreflective and may be supplemented by

beacons, cats eyes or reflectors with a view to improving traffic guidance.”

B. Amendments to the Annexes to the Convention

Annex 1, section C, sub-section II (Descriptions)

Paragraph 9. (Prohibition or restriction of standing and parking)
Delete subparagraph (c) (vii)

Annex 1, section D, sub-section II (Descriptions)

Paragraph 3. (Compulsory roundabout)
Amend to read:

“3. Sign D, 3 ‘COMPULSORY ROUNDABOUT’, shall notify drivers that they must follow
the direction at the roundabout indicated by the arrows. If the roundabout is indicated by the
sign D, 3 together with the sign B, 1 or B, 2, the driver in the roundabout has priority.”

Annex 1, section E, sub-section II (Descriptions)

Paragraph 9. (Signs notifying the entry or exit from a tunnel where special rules apply)

Replace the existing subparagraphs by the following:

“(a) Sign E, 11a ‘TUNNEL’ indicates a section of road passing through a tunnel and on which
special traffic rules apply. It is placed at the point from which these rules apply.

(b) In order to warn road users in advance, sign E, 11a may be placed in addition at a suitable
distance before the point where the special rules apply; such sign shall show, either in its lower
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part, or on an additional panel H, 1, as described in section H of this Annex, the distance

between the point at which it is set up and the point from which these special rules apply.

(c) Sign E, 11b ‘END OF TUNNEL’ may be placed at the point from which the special rules
no longer apply.”

Insert a new paragraph 14 to read:

“14. Signs indicating a stopping place in case of emergency or danger

Sign E, 17 “EMERGENCY STOPPING PLACE” indicates a place which shall only be used by
drivers for stopping or parking in case of emergency or danger. If this stopping place is
equipped with an emergency telephone and/or an extinguisher, the sign shall bear the symbols F,
14 and/or F, 15 either in its lower part or on a rectangular panel placed below the sign. This sign
has two models, E, 17a and E, 17b.”

Annex 1, section F, sub-section I (General characteristics and symbols)

Subparagraph 2

Amend the last sentence to read:

“2. … The symbol shall be black or dark blue, except symbols F, 1a, F, 1b, F, 1c and
F, 15, which shall be red. The symbol F, 14 may be red.”

Annex 1, section F, sub-section II (Descriptions)

Paragraph 2. (Miscelleanous symbols)
Add the new symbols F, 14 and F, 15 below:
“F, 14 ‘EMERGENCY TELEPHONE’”

“F, 15 ‘EXTINGUISHER’”

Annex 1, section G, sub-section V (Indication signs)

Insert a new paragraph 11 to read:

“11. Signs indicating emergency exits

(a) The signs G, 23a and G, 23b indicate the location of emergency exits.
(b) The signs G, 24a, G, 24b and G, 24c are examples of signs to indicate the direction
and distance of the nearest emergency exits. In tunnels, they shall be placed at a maximum
distance of 50 m apart and at a height of 1 to 1.5 m on the sidewalls.
(c) The signs G, 23 and G, 24 have a green ground and the symbols, arrows and distance
indications are white or of a light colour.”
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Annex 3 (REPRODUCTION IN COLOUR OF SIGNS, SYMBOLS AND PANELS REFERRED

TO IN ANNEX 1)

Reproduction below of the new signs and symbols introduced in the above proposed
amendments:

E, 17 a E, 17 b

F, 14 F, 15

G, 23a G, 23b

G, 24a G, 24b

G, 24c
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II. EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM (Justification of the proposed amendments)

Article 1

Since cyclists are a particularly vulnerable category of users, it is proposed to introduce

into the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals new measures to improve and
favour their safety. In addition to this article, these measures also concern Article 26 bis below.

In this context, it is proposed to add definitions of the concepts of “cycle lane” and
“cycle track” (subparagraphs (e) bis and (e) ter) corresponding to the two forms of adaptation of
the infrastructure for cycle traffic. These two definitions will at the same time be incorporated
into the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic which is the subject of a separate amendment.

Article 7

The aim of the proposed amendment is to reinforce conditions of visibility and legibility
of road signs by recommending the use of retroreflective materials and by permitting the use of
fluorescent materials for signs to be specified by domestic legislation.

Article 8, paragraph 3

The serious accidents in several European tunnels in 1999 and 2001 revealed the
importance of clear and harmonized signs at the entrance to and inside tunnels in order to
provide better information to help drivers to adopt appropriate behaviour, particularly in the
event of an incident. In order to reinforce safety in tunnels, it is proposed to introduce a number
of measures in this Convention to improve and reinforce signs at the entrance to and inside
tunnels. In addition to this article, these measures concern Article13 bis, Annex 1 (section E,
sub-section II; section F, sub-sections I and II, section G, sub-section V) and Annex 3.

The proposed amendment to this article has as its aim the addition of the word “mainly”,
so as to permit other particulars to be included on panels covered in this article, such as, for
example, the names of tunnels, and indications intended only to facilitate interpretation of the
signs.

Article 13, paragraph 2

According to amendments to the 1968 Convention on Road Signs and Signals which
entered into force on 30 November 1995, there are four signs to indicate the beginning of a built-
up area (E,7 a, E,7 b, E,7 c et E,7 d). On the sign E,7b, the name of the built-up area does not
appear while it is indicated on the other three.

The purpose of the proposed amendment is therefore to bring the coverage of the sign
E,7b into line with that of the other three by replacing “giving the name of” with “indicating the
beginning of” in Article 13, paragraph 2 in order to identify the point as from which the rules
applicable to the built-up area as a whole may be indicated, using the appropriate signs.
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Article 13 bis, paragraph 2 bis (new)

For obvious safety reasons, it is essential that the special requirements applicable in
tunnels and as defined in article 25 bis of the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic should be clearly
understood and complied with. In view of the fact that these rules are valid only if the tunnel
carries a special sign (sign E,11a), it is proposed that it should be mandatory to install this sign at
the entrance to all tunnels of 1,000 m or more (domestic legislation may also prescribe it for
shorter lengths). Once tunnels in all Contracting Parties carry a simple standard sign, which in
all States signifies the same traffic regulations, drivers - particularly in international traffic - will
no longer have any hesitation as to the behaviour they should adopt. Safety in tunnels will thus
be reinforced.

Article 26 bis

The amendment consists of adding cycle lanes to the lanes which may be marked on the
carriageway for certain categories of vehicles.

Article 29

Paragraph 2

The current provisions of Article 29, paragraph 2, of the 1968 Convention on Road Signs
and Signals state that blue may be used for markings on the carriageway showing places where
parking is permitted or restricted. The scope of this provision does not match that of paragraph
9, (c), (vii) of Annex 1, section C, sub-section II, which states that blue bands at a height of
approximately 2 m on lampposts, trees, etc., bordering a carriageway, or lines on the kerb, may
notify the fact that the duration of parking is limited but parking is not subject to payment.

The aim of the proposed amendment is the further clarification of the use of blue
markings to indicate that although parking is permitted in the places so marked, it is nevertheless
subject to some conditions or restrictions (limit of duration, payment, category of user, etc.). At
the same time this amendment involves the deletion of subparagraph (c) (vii) of paragraph 9 of
Annex 1, section C, sub-section II (also see below).

Paragraph 4

The aim of the proposed amendment is to reinforce the visibility of road markings and to
specify the conditions in which these markings must be made visible.

Article 29 bis (new)

The aim of the proposed amendment is to introduce into the Convention provisions which
can currently be found in the Annex to the Protocol on Road Markings, Additional to the
European Agreement supplementing the Convention (6. Ad Article 29 of the Convention,
“Additional paragraphs to be inserted immediately after paragraph 2 of this Article”), concerning
the visibility and legibility of temporary road markings. Its objective is to extend its application
to all Contracting Parties to the Convention and to specify the conditions in which these
temporary road markings should be placed on the roadway.
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Annex 1, section C, sub-section II, paragraph 9

The proposal is to delete subparagraph (c) (vii) which becomes unnecessary because
of the proposed amendment to Article 29.2.

Annex 1, section D, sub-section II, paragraph 3

The lack of precision of the existing wording of paragraph 3 leaves the way open for
differing interpretations of the rules of priority to be applied at roundabouts. Sign D, 3 is
addressed to drivers entering the roundabout. However, neither the Convention on Road Traffic
nor the Convention on Road Signs and Signals define the priority rules which apply to drivers
already in the roundabout. The aim of the amendment proposal is therefore to make it legally
clear that the driver in the roundabout has priority over drivers entering the roundabout when the
sign B, 1 or B, 2 is displayed at the approaches together with sign D, 3.

Annex 1, section E, sub-section II, paragraphs 9 and 14

The aim of the amendment proposed in paragraph 9 is to define in greater detail the
meaning of sign E, 11a “TUNNEL” as well as the conditions for its use at the entry of a tunnel
and, if necessary, as an advance sign before the tunnel entry.
As regards the proposed amendment to paragraph 14, its aim is to introduce a new sign,
already used by a number of countries, to indicate a stopping place, taking the form of a
widening of the carriageway (lay-by), which drivers must only use in case of emergency or
danger. This sign may be supplemented by an indication of the presence of an emergency
telephone (symbol F, 14) and/or an extinguisher (symbol F, 15).

Annex 1, section F

Sub-section I

The aim of the proposed amendment is to introduce two new symbols, red in colour,
linked to notions of danger or emergency. The symbol F, 15 (extinguisher) must always be red.
The symbol F, 14 (emergency telephone) may be black or red. This proposal should be linked
with that of sub-section II.

Sub-section II

The aim of the proposed amendment is to add the two new symbols referred to in
sub-section I and in section E, sub-section II, paragraph 14 above.

Annex 1, section G, sub-section V

The aim of the proposed amendment is to harmonize signs indicating emergency exits
which are of primordial importance in tunnels.

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