Road signs in Portugal

Various road signs in Porto Salvo.

Road signs in Portugal are governed by the Road Signage Regulation (Portuguese: Regulamento de Sinalização do Trânsito) of the Portuguese Republic.^[1] The country is an original signatory to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.^[2]

They are installed along the road on the right side of the road and are subdivided into warning signs (group A), regulatory signs (groups B-D), subdivided into priority, prohibition, obligation and specific prescription signs, indication signs (groups H-T), subdivided into information signs, pre-signalling, direction, confirmation, location identification, supplementary signs, additional signs and temporary signs (groups AT and TC). The typefaces used on road signs are derived from the British Transport and Motorway typefaces.

Warning signs

Dangerous curve to right
Dangerous curve to left
Double curve, first to right
Double curve, first to left
Bump
Dip
Uneven road
Steep hill downwards
Steep hill upwards
Road narrows on both side
Road narrows on left
Road narrows on right
Slippery road
Loose chippings
Dangerous shoulder on right
Dangerous shoulder on left
Unprotected quayside or riverbank ahead
Falling rocks
Opening or swing bridge
Ice or snow
Sidewinds
Reduced visibility
School
Elderly people crossing
Pedestrian crossing
Pedestrians
Cyclist crossing
Cyclists
Equestrians
Domestic livestock
Wild animals
Iberian lynxes crossing
Frogs crossing
Tunnel
Low-flying aircraft
Traffic signals ahead
Roadworks
Crossroad without priority
Two-way traffic
Level crossing with gates or barriers
Level crossing without gates or barriers
Tramway
Other dangers
Traffic queues likely
Accident
Blind spot
Farm machinery

Priority signs

Give way
Stop
Priority road
End of priority road
Priority for oncoming traffic
Priority over oncoming traffic
Roundabout ahead
Crossroad with priority
Side road with priority on left
Side road with priority on right
Merging traffic on left
Merging traffic on right

Prohibition signs

No entry
No vehicles both directions
No motor vehicles
No dangerous goods
No lorries/trucks
No lorries/trucks over 3.5 tonnes
No motorcycles or mopeds
No mopeds
No cycles or mopeds
No agricultural vehicles
No animal-drawn vehicles
No hand-carts
No pedestrians
No equestrians
No trailers
No trailers over 2 tons
No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
No vehicles carrying explosives
No vehicles carrying polluted water
No buses
No motor vehicles
No lorries and trailers
No motor vehicles and animal-drawn vehicles
No trucks and animal-drawn vehicles
No pedestrians, mopeds, animals, and handcarts
No bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles
No trucks and buses
Axle limit
Weight limit
Length limit
Width limit
Height limit
Driving vehicles distance
No right turn
No left turn
No U-turn
Maximum speed limit
No overtaking
No overtaking by lorries
No overtaking by motorcycles
No parking
No standing or parking
No hooting
Customs
Toll
National speed limit
End of maximum speed limit
End of overtaking prohibition
End of overtaking by lorries prohibition
End of no overtaking by motorcycles
End of no parking
End of hooting prohibition

Mandatory signs

Turn right
Turn left
Straight ahead
Turn left ahead
Turn right ahead
Straight ahead or turn left
Straight ahead or turn right
Turn left or right
Pass on right
Pass on left
Roundabout
Trucks only
Heavy vehicles only
Motorcycles only
Buses only
High-occupancy vehicles only
Cycles only
Pedestrians only
Equestrians only
Domesticated animals only
Pedestrians and cycles only
Pedestrians to the right and cycles to the left
Minimum speed limit
Snow chains on tires
Headlights on
End of trucks only
End of heavy vehicles only
End of motorcycles only
End of buses only
End of bicycles only
End of pedestrians only
End of equestrians only
End of domesticated animals only
End of pedestrians and cycles only
End of pedestrians to the right and cycles to the left
End of minimum speed limit
End of snow chains on tires
Headlights off
End of high-occupancy vehicles only

Information signs

Parking
Hospital
One way
No thru road
Advisory speed limit
Pedestrian crossing
Cyclist crossing
Bus stop
Tram stop
Motorway
Expressway
Escape lane
U-turn permitted
General speed limit
Tunnel
Living street
End of living street
Chevron left/right
Multiple chevron left/right
Curve to the (T)
Barrier

Additional signs

Distance
Distance for stop sign

Indication signs

Information signs

Next direction
Direction of exit
Lateral direction
Diverse lane usage
No parking zone
Agrotourism
Hostel/motel
Airport
Information centre
Radio station
European Union member country border limit
Via Verde

Pre-signaling sign

Directions at the intersection (with various distances)
Directions at the roundabout
Directions at the intersection
Guide to the left turn point
Dead end

Direction, confirmation and location signs

Direction at the intersection
Directions via the airport/aerodrome
Tourist attractions/points of interest (urban areas)
Directions (urban areas)
Direction confirmation sign
Start of locality
End of locality
Start of locality (World Heritage Site)
End of locality (World Heritage Site)
Panel with distance for the next exit
River name

Influences

The design of road signs in Angola is largely similar to that used in Portugal, although they are transitioning to the SADC design.^[3]
Road signs in Macau are predominantly based on the pre-1994 Portuguese signage design.^[4]

References

^ Portugal. (1999). Código da estrada; Regulamento do Código da estrada; Novo Regulamento de sinalização do trânsito : Decreto-lei no. 114/94, de 3 de maio alterado pelo Decreto-lei no. 2/98, de 3 de janeiro. Livraria da Universidade. ISBN 972-8130-52-X. OCLC 44255926. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
^ "20. Convention on Road Signs and Signals - United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
^ "Decreto Presidencial n.º 209/17 de 25 de setembro". Lex.AO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 September 2024.
^ Regulamento de Trânsito Rodoviário de Macau (Macau Road Traffic Regulation)

[1] Portugal. (1999). Código da estrada; Regulamento do Código da estrada; Novo Regulamento de sinalização do trânsito : Decreto-lei no. 114/94, de 3 de maio alterado pelo Decreto-lei no. 2/98, de 3 de janeiro. Livraria da Universidade. ISBN 972-8130-52-X. OCLC 44255926. Retrieved 29 August 2020.

[2] "20. Convention on Road Signs and Signals - United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2022-12-09.

[3] "Decreto Presidencial n.º 209/17 de 25 de setembro". Lex.AO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 September 2024.

[4] Regulamento de Trânsito Rodoviário de Macau (Macau Road Traffic Regulation)

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Road signs in Europe
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