Common transport signs and symbols in Ukraine explained
Common transport signs and symbols in Ukraine are categorized mainly into seven groups: warning signs, priority signs, prohibitory signs, mandatory signs, information signs, service signs, and additional plates.
Warning Signs
These are triangular with a red border and white or yellow background, alerting drivers to hazards or changes in road conditions. Examples include curve warnings, road narrowing, steep ascents/descents, pedestrian crossings, and animal crossings.
Priority Signs
These signs regulate right of way at intersections, including signs like “Main road” indicating priority, “Stop,” and “Yield.”
Prohibitory Signs
These signs restrict certain actions or categories of vehicles such as no entry, no trucks, speed limits, no overtaking, and restrictions on vehicle dimensions.
Mandatory Signs
They instruct drivers on mandatory actions such as directions to proceed (turn left, right, or straight), roundabouts, minimum speed limits, and lanes designated for certain vehicles (like bicycles).
Information Signs
These provide information about road status, directions, and locations like beginning or end of built-up areas, pedestrian zones, motorway starts, or ends.
Service Signs
They indicate the locations of services useful to drivers such as hospitals, gas stations, restaurants, hotels, rest areas, and emergency phones.
Additional Plates
Often used to supplement other signs with extra details like distance, time restrictions, or applicable vehicle types.
Traffic controllers in Ukraine also use specific hand signals to direct traffic in situations like power outages, which drivers need to understand for safe navigation.
All these signs conform broadly to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, using Ukrainian text on signboards. Shapes, colors, and pictograms follow European standards ensuring clarity and safety for drivers in Ukraine.