Sign families: shapes and colours

Read a sign at a glance

There are hundreds of signs, but you don't need to memorise them all. The shape tells you the family, and the colour tells you the type of message. With these few rules you can understand a sign you've never seen.

1. The shape gives the family

Four main shapes: the triangle warns of danger, the circle gives an order (prohibition or obligation), the square gives information, and the arrow shows a direction.

Danger signs — the triangle

A red-bordered triangle. On a white background the danger is permanent; on a yellow background it is temporary (roadworks, accident, event). A danger sign gives no order — it warns you of a risk ahead.

Permanent danger (white)

Temporary danger (yellow)

Regulatory signs — the circle

Round signs give an order. A red border means a prohibition; a blue background means an obligation. A bar (black or red) marks the end of the rule. The rule generally applies from the sign onward.

Prohibition (red border)

End of prohibition (bar)

Obligation (blue)

End of obligation

Information signs — the square

Squares or rectangles, most often on a blue background. They give useful information (parking, pedestrian crossing, services) or a caution, without imposing a strict order.

Parking

Pedestrian crossing

First-aid post

Direction signs — the arrow

Arrow-shaped, they guide you to your destination. The colour shows the route type: green for major cities, blue for motorways, white for local roads, yellow for a temporary route.

To major cities (green)

To the motorway (blue)

Local road (white)

Colour summary

Red = danger or prohibition. Blue = obligation or information. Yellow = temporary. Green = direction to major cities.