Road signs in the countries of South America such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela mostly follow road signs used in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and Central American countries. Signs are mostly based on the United States' Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), sharing many similarities in design to road signs used in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central American countries.
Of the countries in South America, only Suriname and French Guiana, a French overseas territory, use European-style road signs based on the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, including triangular red-bordered warning signs as in mainland Europe. Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Venezuela are the only four South American countries that have signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.[1] Chile is also the only country in South America that has ratified this convention.
The vast majority of South American countries use yellow diamond-shaped warning signs as well as in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America. Recognizing the differences in standards across Europe and the Americas, the Vienna Convention considers these types of signs an acceptable alternative to the triangular warning sign.[2] However, UN compliant signs must make use of more pictograms in contrast to more text based US variants. Indeed, most American nations make use of more symbols than allowed in the US MUTCD.
Overview
editArgentina
editBolivia
editRoad signs in Bolivia are regulated by the Manuales Técnicos para el Diseño de Carreteras standard which is based on the United States' MUTCD (FHWA), Central America's Manuales Técnicos para el Diseño de Carreteras (SICA), Colombia's Manual de Señalización Vial (Ministry of Transport), and Chile's Manual de Carreteras.[3] Signs share many similarities in design to road signs used in the United States, Central America and neighboring Chile.
Brazil
editColombia
editRoad signs in Colombia are regulated in the Manual de Señalización Vial standard, which is developed by the Ministry of Transport and based on the United States' MUTCD.[4][5][6] Many regulatory signs are based on European signs, i.e. the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, while many warning signs are based on U.S. and Canadian signs, i.e. on MUTCD.
Ecuador
editRoad signs in Ecuador are regulated in the Manual Básico de Señalización Vial[7][8][9] and Reglamento Técnico Ecuatoriano. RTE INEN 004-1:2011. Señalización vial.[10] Signs are similar in design to those used in the United States.
Ecuador signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals on November 8, 1968 but has yet to fully ratify it.[11]
Guyana
editRoad signs in Guyana generally follow the same design as those used in the United States and are based on the MUTCD with the exception that some signs are reversed since the country drives on the left.[12] However, most of current signs found in Guyana, are non-compliant with MUTCD standards.[13][14] Metric speed limit signs in km/h are found in Guyana, while in the United States such signs with speed limits in km/h are extremely rare, usually seen near the borders with Canada and Mexico, both of which use the metric system.
Paraguay
editRoad signs in Paraguay are regulated in the Manual de Carreteras del Paraguay standard developed by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Spanish: Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Comunicaciones).[15]
Peru
editRoad signs in Peru are regulated by the Manual de Dispositivos de Control del Tránsito Automotor para Calles y Carreteras,[16] developed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Peru. This standard is based on the United States' Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) developed by the Federal Highway Administration,[17] Colombia's Manual de Señalización Vial and Chile's Manual de Señalización de Tránsito.[18] As a result, road signs in Peru are similar in design to those used in the United States on one side and in neighbouring Chile and Colombia on the other side.
Suriname
editRoad signs in Suriname are particularly modelled on the Dutch road signs since Suriname is a former Dutch colony, although traffic drives on the left.
Venezuela
editRoad signs in Venezuela are regulated in Manual Venezolano de Dispositivos Uniformes para el Control del Tránsito and are based on the United States' MUTCD.[19]
Table of traffic signs
editWarning
edit Argentina |
 Bolivia |
 Brazil |
 Chile |
 Colombia |
 Ecuador |
 Guyana |
 Peru |
 Uruguay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stop sign ahead | .svg)
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.svg)
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| Yield / Give Way sign ahead | .svg)
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Not used | 
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? |
| Traffic signals ahead | 
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| Roundabout ahead | 
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| Two-way traffic ahead | 
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| Uncontrolled railroad crossing ahead | 
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| Level railroad crossing with barriers ahead | [b] |
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| Tram / streetcar crossing | .svg)
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N/A [c] |
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N/A [c] |
N/A [c] |
 [d] |
Not used | N/A [c] |
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| Railroad crossbuck | 
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| Level crossing (multiple tracks) | 
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.svg){kind=small}
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? | 
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Not used | |
| Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador | Guyana | Peru | Uruguay | |
| Crossroads ahead | .svg)
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 .svg)
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| Junction with a side road ahead | .svg)
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| Traffic merges ahead | 
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| Staggered crossroads ahead | ? | 
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 | rowspan="1" style="background: #EEE; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; " class="table-Unknown" | ?
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| Added lane | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 
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 | rowspan="1" style="background: #EEE; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; " class="table-Unknown" | ?
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? | |
| Divided highway ahead | .svg)
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? | 
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? | 
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| Divided highway ends | .svg)
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? | 
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? | 
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| Lane ends ahead | .svg)
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| Road narrows ahead | .svg)
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or
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| Narrow bridge ahead | 
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| Dangerous crosswinds | 
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? | 
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| Low-flying aircraft | 
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? | 
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| Steep hill downwards | .svg)
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.svg)
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| Steep hill upwards | .svg)
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 | rowspan="1" data-sort-value="" style="background: #ececec; color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | Not used
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| Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador | Guyana | Peru | Uruguay | |
| Uneven surface | 
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| Bump in road | .svg)
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| Dip in road | .svg)
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| Slippery road surface | 
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| Loose road surface | 
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| Dangerous shoulder | ? | 
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? |
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? |  | rowspan="1" style="background: #EEE; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; " class="table-Unknown" | ?
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? | |
| Pavement ends | ? | 
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? |
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| Gentle curve ahead | -right.svg)
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| Sharp curve ahead | .svg)
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| Double gentle curve ahead | .svg)
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| Double sharp curve ahead | .svg)
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| Series of curves ahead | .svg)
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| Hairpin curve ahead | ? | 
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Not used |
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| Loop curve ahead | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 
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 | rowspan="1" style="background: #EEE; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; " class="table-Unknown" | ?
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? | |
| Chevron (short turn) | 
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? | ? | ? | .svg)
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? |
| Chevron (sharp turn) | .svg){kind=small}
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? | ? | ? | ? | ? | rowspan="1" style="background: #EEE; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; " class="table-Unknown" | ? | ? | |
| Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador | Guyana | Peru | Uruguay | |
| School zone | .svg)
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| Children / playground ahead | .svg)
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.svg)
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.svg)
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| Pedestrian crossing ahead |  
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.svg)
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| Pedestrian crossing |
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? | 
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.svg) | rowspan="1" data-sort-value="" style="background: #ececec; color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | Not used
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| Cyclists crossing | .svg)
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.svg)
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| Falling rocks or debris | 
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or
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| Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador | Guyana | Peru | Uruguay | |
| Opening or swing bridge | 
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? | 
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? | ? | ? |  | rowspan="1" style="background: #EEE; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; " class="table-Unknown" | ?
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| Quay or riverbank | ? | 
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? |
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? | 
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rowspan="1" style="background: #EEE; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; " class="table-Unknown" | ? | ? | |
| Emergency vehicles | .svg)
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? | Not used | ? | 
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? |
| Farm vehicles | .svg)
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or
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| Domesticated animals | .svg)
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.svg)
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| Wild animals | .svg)
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.svg)
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? |  | rowspan="1" style="background: #EEE; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; " class="table-Unknown" | ?
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| Equestrians | .svg)
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? | Not used | ? | ? | ? |  | rowspan="1" style="background: #EEE; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; " class="table-Unknown" | ?
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| Tunnel ahead | 
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Not used |
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.svg)
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? |
| Height restriction ahead | 
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| Width restriction ahead | 
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| Length restriction ahead | ? | 
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? | 
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rowspan="1" style="background: #EEE; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; " class="table-Unknown" | ? | ? | |
| Weight restriction ahead | ? | 
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 | rowspan="1" style="background: #EEE; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; " class="table-Unknown" | ?
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? | |
| Roadworks [g] |
? | 
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.svg)
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| Flagman ahead [g] |
? | 
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? |
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 | rowspan="1" style="background: #EEE; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; " class="table-Unknown" | ?
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? | |
| Other danger | 
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? |
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? | Not used | Not used | 
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? |
| Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador | Guyana | Peru | Uruguay |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ In the US, "roundabout" and "traffic circle" are used interchangeably, along with "rotary". See Roundabout terminology.
- ^ No distinction between controlled and uncontrolled railroad crossings is made.
- ^ a b c d There are no operating tram or streetcar systems in this jurisdiction.
- ^ Only used in the Cuenca Tramway, see this photo. The design of a tram road sign is the same as in Spain.
- ^ Text varies.
- ^ Used only in California.
- ^ a b Temporary use only.
References
edit- ^ "United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
- ^ "Part I: Convention on Road Signs and Signals – Annex 3" (PDF). United Nations. p. 83.
- ^ "Manuales Técnicos para el Diseño de Carreteras" (PDF). www.abc.gob.bo (in Spanish).
- ^ "Anexo 7. Concepto Técnico N° 17 SM-32236-09" (PDF). www.movilidadbogota.gov.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ Saboya López, Adriana del Pilar (2015-05-09). "Normativa y Señalización de los Cruces Férreos en Bogotá". Normativa y Señalización de los Cruces Férreos en Bogotá (in Spanish).
- ^ "T-011-22 Corte Constitucional de Colombia". www.corteconstitucional.gov.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ "manual de señalizacion | PDF | Semáforo | Autobús". Scribd. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ https://dspace.utpl.edu.ec/bitstream/123456789/11467/1/Carpio%20Reyes%20Henrry%20Omar.pdf
- ^ "Manual Basico de Senalizacion Vial | PDF | Semáforo | Peatonal". Scribd. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ "Reglamento Técnico Ecuatoriano. RTE INEN 004-1:2011. Señalización vial. Parte 1: Señalización Vertical" (PDF). www.obraspublicas.gob.ec (in Spanish). Instituto Ecuatoriano de Normalización. 2011. p. 204. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ "United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
- ^ "INVITATION TO TENDER Ref: GYSBI_ITT 102/102022" (PDF). gysbi.gy.
- ^ KNews (2018-09-30). "The Infrastructure Ministry has missed the point on the East Coast road". Kaieteur News. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ "Better traffic management required". Guyana Chronicle. 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ "MANUAL DE CARRETERAS DEL PARAGUAY – Asociación Paraguaya de Carreteras" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-01-16.
- ^ "Manual de Dispositivos de Control del Tránsito Automotor para Calles y Carreteras" (PDF). carp.pe (in Spanish). Lima: Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones del Perú. 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ https://cdn.www.gob.pe/uploads/document/file/1014949/Manual-Senalizacion-Turistica-Peru.pdf
- ^ https://repositorio.pucp.edu.pe/index/bitstream/handle/123456789/173103/elementos%20de%20la%20teor%C3%ADa%20del%20tr%C3%A1fico%20vehicular.pdf?sequence=1
- ^ "Manual Venezolano de Dispositivos Uniformes para el Control del Tránsito (MVDUCT) – Gaceta Oficial N° 39.590 del 10-01-2011 – Instituto Nacional de Transporte Terrestre (INTT)" (in Spanish). 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2024-01-16.