This is a comparison of road signs in countries and regions that speak majorly English, including major ones where it is an official language and widely understood (and as a lingua franca).
Among the countries listed below, Liberia, Nigeria, and the Philippines have ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, while the United Kingdom has signed the convention but not yet ratified it. Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are all Southern African Development Community (SADC) members who drive on the left and use the SADC Road Traffic Signs Manual. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) used in the United States has also influenced signing practices in other countries.
Differences between traffic signs in English-speaking countries/regions Australia Bahamas Belize Canada Hong Kong India Ireland Jamaica Liberia Mauritius New Zealand Nigeria Philippines South Africa Malta Singapore United Kingdom United States U. S. Virgin Islands Zimbabwe Drives on... Left Left Right Right Left Left Left Left Right Left Left Right Right Left Left Left Left Right Left Left Speed units km/h mph mph km/h km/h km/h km/h km/h rowspan="1" km/h km/h km/h km/h km/h km/h km/h mph mph mph km/hSign typeface AS1744 (Highway Gothic) Highway Gothic Highway Gothic Highway Gothic or Clearview Transport or Helvetica Multilingual Highway Gothic, Transport or Arial Transport and Motorway Highway Gothic Highway Gothic Transport Highway Gothic or Transport Highway Gothic Highway Gothic or Clearview DIN 1451 Transport Local variety Transport and Motorway Highway Gothic or Clearview Highway Gothic or Clearview DIN 1451
Differences in units
All main countries/regions, except for the United States and the United Kingdom, use the metric system. Some mark this fact by using units on various signs. Note that some smaller English-speaking countries in the Caribbean also use miles per hour.
Advisory speed limit signs in most countries list units, although New Zealand does not. The US lists units in mph. Height, weight, and width restrictions are almost always accompanied by units (tonnes or metres); in the US, the short ton is used with no distinction from metric tonnes. Signs in some parts of Canada near the US border often include both metric and Imperial units, to remind American drivers that they are entering metric countries. No such equivalent exists in the US.British Columbia Manual of Standard Traffic Signs & Pavement Markings The US was, at one time, planning a transition to the metric system. The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 started the process, but the abolition of the United States Metric Board in 1982 significantly hampered conversion. Nevertheless, the MUTCD specifies metric versions of speed limit signs. Furthermore, Interstate 19 in Arizona is partially signed in metric.
Color differences Warning signs
Most warning signs are diamond-shaped and yellow or red-bordered triangular warning signs; some warning signs may be fluorescent yellow-green in order to draw extra attention. There are a few exceptions to this: Pentagonal signs are used in school zones in the United States, Liberia, and many areas in Canada. In the Philippines, pentagonal signs are permanently used for pedestrian crossings. Warning signs may be text-only.
Road works and construction Most countries use orange or yellow diamond-shaped signs or yellow, orange or white red-bordered triangular warning signs for construction zones. Australia and the Philippines use rectangular signs that fit into temporary casings.
Regulatory signs Prohibitory and restrictive signs are classified as regulatory signs. Almost all prohibitory signs use a red circle with a slash. Restrictive signs typically use a red circle, as in Europe. Some may be seated on a rectangular white background. The original MUTCD prohibitory and restrictive signs were text-only (i.e. NO LEFT TURN). Some of these signs continue to be used in the US. Yield signs can be blank or have text with the legend "YIELD" or "GIVE WAY" depending on which country it is. The No Entry / Do Not Enter sign may or may not feature text. In Ireland, an upwards-pointing arrow contained within a slashed red circle is used instead. Some countries have those two signs separated. The Latin American-style do not proceed straight sign may take a different meaning in countries with standard No Entry signs. Typically, it indicates an intersection where traffic cannot continue straight ahead, but where cross-traffic may enter the street from the right (or left). Thus, it is distinguished from a No Entry (for all vehicles) sign.
Mandatory or permitted-action signs
The design of mandatory signs varies widely, since the MUTCD does not specify their use.Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 2009 Edition Rather, the MUTCD's equivalent are classified as regulatory signs. Some countries use simple arrows with the text "ONLY" or its equivalent underneath. This is the US and Australian standard. Some countries use European-style white-on-blue circular signs. These are "Type A Mandatory Signs" as prescribed by the Vienna Convention. Some Latin American and Caribbean countries use red-bordered circular signs, in the same style as regulatory signs. These are "Type B Mandatory Signs" as prescribed by the Vienna Convention. In cases relating to particular types of vehicle traffic (e.g. buses), these signs are identical to some European prohibitory signs.Compare Bicycles Only (Ciclovia) sign in Jamaica: with No Bicycles sign in Continental Europe: Canada uses a unique style of mandatory sign that features a green circle.
Table Warning Australia Canada Hong Kong Ireland Jamaica Liberia Mauritius New Zealand Nigeria Philippines SADC Malta Singapore Uganda United Kingdom United States Stop sign ahead Yield / Give Way sign ahead Traffic signals ahead Roundabout ahead Two-way traffic ahead or or or Uncontrolled railroad crossing ahead rowspan="1" or (If controlled by stop sign) No railways rowspan="5" The last level crossing in Singapore closed in 2011, and thus train-related traffic signs became obsolete. Level railroad crossing with barriers ahead or No railways Tram / streetcar crossing rowspan="1" rowspan="1" There are no operating tram or streetcar systems in this jurisdiction. rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No trams Railroad crossbuck or rowspan="1" No railways Level crossing (multiple tracks) or rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Not used Not used or rowspan="1" No railways Not used rowspan="1" Crossroads ahead orSigns below used for crossroads with priority.orThe sign below is a uniquely Tanzanian version of the sign above. Junction with a side road ahead Traffic merges ahead Staggered crossroads aheadorThe sign below is a uniquely Tanzanian version of the sign above. Added lane rowspan="1" Similar signs exist as indication signs (signs F-300 – F-308). Divided highway ahead Divided highway ends Lane ends ahead Road narrows ahead orUsed only in New York. Narrow bridge ahead rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Dangerous crosswinds rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Low-flying aircraft or or Steep hill downwards or and Steep hill upwards or and Uneven surface Bump in roador Dip in road rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Ford rowspan="1" or Snow / ice rowspan="1" Fog rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Slippery road surface Loose road surfaceTemporary use only.Temporary use only.Temporary use only.Temporary use only. Dangerous shoulder rowspan="1" Temporary use only. rowspan="1" Temporary use only. Pavement ends rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Gentle curve ahead rowspan="1" Sharp curve ahead Double gentle curve ahead rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Double sharp curve ahead Described by the DPWH as a "reverse turn" sign. Series of curves ahead rowspan="1" ororor Hairpin curve ahead rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Loop curve ahead rowspan="1" Chevron (short turn) rowspan="1" Chevron (sharp turn) School zoneorTop sign used in Victoria. Middle-top sign used in New South Wales. Middle-bottom sign used in Queensland.ororDescribed by the DPWH as a "school children crossing" sign.This is combination advance warning sign (W308 "children") with a supplementary plate (IN11.4), commonly used to warn of school zones in South Africa. There is also a W305 "scholar patrol" warning for guarded pedestrian crossings: or Children / playground ahead or or Pedestrian crossing aheador Pedestrian crossingor or Disabled / elderly pedestrian crossingororor rowspan="1" or Domesticated animalsororor Wild animals rowspan="1" ororororor Cyclists crossing Equestrians rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Emergency vehicles rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Farm vehicles rowspan="1" rowspan="1" or Falling rocks or debrisorUsed only in California. Opening or swing bridge rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Quay or riverbank rowspan="1" or Tunnel ahead rowspan="1" Height restriction ahead oror Width restriction ahead rowspan="1" Temporary use only. rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Length restriction ahead rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Weight restriction ahead rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" RoadworksTemporary use only. rowspan="1" Flagman aheadTemporary use only. rowspan="1" Traffic congestion Other danger rowspan="1"
Regulatory Priority Australia Canada Hong Kong Ireland Jamaica Liberia Mauritius New Zealand Nigeria Philippines SADC Malta Singapore Uganda United Kingdom United States Stop Yield / Give Way or or Yield to oncoming traffic rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Priority over oncoming traffic rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Priority road rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" End of priority road rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1"
Prohibitory signs Australia Canada Hong Kong Ireland Jamaica Liberia Mauritius New Zealand Nigeria Philippines SADC Malta Singapore Uganda United Kingdom United States No entry orTop sign used in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. Bottom sign used in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory. or or or Road closedTemporary use only. or No motor vehicles rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No motorcycles rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No mopeds rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No bicycles No pedestrians or No heavy goods vehicles or or No buses rowspan="1" No trailers rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" or or No farm vehicles rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No animal-drawn vehicles rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No vehicles carrying dangerous goods rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No vehicles carrying explosives or inflammables rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No vehicles carrying water pollutants rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No handcarts rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Maximum speed limit or Speed restriction endsrowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Maximum height Maximum width rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" Maximum length Maximum weight Maximum weight per axleor No left turn or or or rowspan="1" No right turn or or or rowspan="1" No U-turn or or rowspan="1" In Singapore, U-turns are forbidden per default, unless specifically allowed by a sign. While unofficial "U-turn prohibited" signs do exist, they only serve as a reminder, and the prohibition would still have been in place without the sign. No overtaking and Minimum following distance between vehicles Used in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No honking rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No parking or (No standing) No stopping orTop sign used everywhere but New South Wales. Bottom sign used only in New South Wales.
Mandatory or permitted actions Mandatory signs indicating an obligation to turn left do exist, but are not included in the list below since they are functionally mirror versions of signs indicating an obligation to turn right.