Road signs in Albania

Albania is a signatory to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. Therefore, road signs do not differ much from the rest of Europe, such as Italy, San Marino, Montenegro and Kosovo. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy regulates them. Albania drives on the right as with the rest of Europe, except for Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom. Although Albania is not a member of the European Union, the road signs largely follow the general European conventions concerning the use of shape and colour to indicate their function.

Typical road signs at the A1 Motorway

Warning signs

Warning signs (Albanian: sinjale paralajmëruese) are used to warn road users of the danger that threatens them in a certain place, or part of the road, and to inform them about the nature of that danger. Warning signs are predominantly red and white in color. They include:

• 
  Deer on road ahead
• 
  Unprotected quayside or riverbank
• 
  Uneven road or series of bumps ahead
• 
  Two-way traffic ahead
• 
  Tram crossing
• 
  Soft verges
• 
  Steep ascent
• 
  Steep descent
• 
  Traffic signals ahead
• 
  Traffic signals ahead (horizontal)
• 
  Slippery road surface
• 
  Roundabout ahead
• 
  Road narrows on both sides
• 
  Road hump ahead
• 
  Pedestrian crossing ahead
• 
  Other danger
• 
  Opening or swing bridge
• 
  Merging traffic
• 
  Low-flying aircraft
• 
  Junction with a minor road
• 
  Level crossing (multiple tracks)
• 
  Level crossing (one track)
• 
  Falling rocks or debris
• 
  Level crossing without barriers ahead
• 
  Level crossing with barriers ahead
• 
  Dangerous crosswinds
• 
  Cyclists ahead
• 
  Curve ahead
• 
  Crossroads with a minor road
• 
  Children
• 
  Crossroads with priority to the right
• 
  Cows on road ahead
• 
  Double curve ahead

Temporary signs

Temporary signs (Albanian: sinjale të përkohëshme) are used to notify road users of a problem they will face while driving in certain place during a limited period of time, such as during construction activities on the road or damaged parts of it. Warning signs are predominantly red and yellow in color. They include:

• 
  Road works
• 
  Road narrows
• 
  Road narrows on left
• 
  Road narrows on right
• 
  Two-way traffic
• 
  Other danger
• 
  Uneven road
• 
  Loose chippings
• 
  Traffic lights

Regulatory signs

Priority signs

Priority signs (Albanian: sinjale të prioritetit) are used to indicate the order in which vehicles shall pass intersection points. They include:

• 
  Give Way
• 
  Stop and give way
• 
  Crossroads with right-of-way from the right
• 
  Give priority to vehicles from opposite direction
• 
  Priority road
• 
  End of priority road
• 
  Crossroads
• 
  Junction with a minor side-road from right
• 
  Junction with a minor side-road from left
• 
  Merging traffic from right
• 
  Merging traffic from left
• 
  Traffic has priority over oncoming vehicles

Prohibition signs

Prohibition signs (Albanian: sinjale të ndalimit) are used to warn of prohibitions imposed on those who want to use the road. They include:

• 
  Restricted vehicular access
• 
  No entry for vehicular traffic
• 
  No overtaking
• 
  Minimum distance
• 
  Maximum speed 50km/h
• 
  No use of horns
• 
  No overtaking by heavy goods vehicles
• 
  No animal-drawn vehicles
• 
  No pedestrians
• 
  No bicycles
• 
  No motorcycles
• 
  No handcarts
• 
  No motor vehicles
• 
  No buses
• 
  No large goods vehicles
• 
  No large goods vehicles over weight shown
• 
  No vehicles with trailer
• 
  No tractors
• 
  No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
• 
  No vehicles carrying explosives or flammable goods
• 
  No vehicles carrying goods which could pollute water
• 
  No vehicles over width shown
• 
  No vehicles over height shown
• 
  No vehicles over length shown
• 
  Maximum weight in tonnes
• 
  Axle weight limit in tonnes
• 
  Derestriction
• 
  End of maximum speed
• 
  End of no overtaking
• 
  End of no overtaking by heavy goods vehicles
• 
  No parking on side where sign is placed.
• 
  No stopping on the side where sign is placed
• 
  Parking space reserved for vehicles used by people with disabilities
• 
  Parking place
• 
  Parking ahead in the direction of the arrow

Mandatory signs

Mandatory signs (Albanian: sinjale të detyrueshme) are used to warn of conditions imposed on those who want to use the road. They predominantly use blue and white. They include:

• 
  Drive straight
• 
  Turn left
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Right turn only ahead
• 
  Left turn only ahead
• 
  Right or left turn only ahead
• 
  Drive straight or turn right
• 
  Drive straight or turn left
• 
  Keep left
• 
  Keep right
• 
  Pass either side
• 
  Roundabout
• 
  Minimum speed
• 
  End of minimum speed
• 
  Snow chains compulsory
• 
  Pedestrian lane
• 
  End of pedestrian lane
• 
  Cycle lane
• 
  End of cycle lane
• 
  Shared path
• 
  End of shared path
• 
  Segregated pedestrian and cycle path
• 
  End of segregated pedestrian and cycle path
• 
  Bridleway
• 
  End of bridleway
• 
  Stop, pay toll
• 
  Stop, police check

Indication signs

Indication signs (Albanian: sinjale shpjeguese) are used to provide additional information to the road's users. They include:

• 
  Hospital
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Pedestrian underpass
• 
  Pedestrian overpass
• 
  Pedestrian ramp
• 
  No through road
• 
  No through road (side road)
• 
  Advisory speed limit
• 
  End of advisory speed limit
• 
  Fast-traffic highway, only motor vehicles allowed
• 
  End of road reserved for motor vehicles
• 
  Tunnel (roads other than motorways)
• 
  Tunnel (motorways)
• 
  Bridge (roads other than motorways)
• 
  Bridge (motorways)
• 
  Bicycle crossing
• 
  Breakdown bay. The background is green on motorway
• 
  Use of lanes on extra-urban roads
• 
  Bus lane on urban road
• 
  Bus lane on urban road
• 
  Use of lanes on motorways
• 
  End of lane. The background is green on motorway
• 
  Increase in the number of lanes. The background is green on motorway
• 
  One-way traffic
• 
  Motorway starts
• 
  Motorway ends
• 
  Advised direction for trucks ahead
• 
  Advised direction for trucks
• 
  First aid
• 
  Repairs
• 
  Telephone (formerly used )
• 
  Petrol station
• 
  Petrol station with LPG
• 
  Bus stop
• 
  Tram stop
• 
  Information centre
• 
  Youth hostel
• 
  Picnic site
• 
  Camping site
• 
  Hotel
• 
  Refreshments
• 
  Restaurant
• 
  Taxi stop
• 
  General speed limit (installed at national borders)
• 
  Primary or secondary road direction
• 
  Intermediate highway location marker with hectometre shown in roman numerals (in the example the sign is placed at the kilometre 24.8 of the road)
• 
  Directions on a motorway
• 
  Exit directions on a motorway
• 
  European road number sign
• 
  Motorway location marker and distance from the exit shown (horizontal version)
• 
  Motorway ahead with a summary of transit restrictions
• 
  Town sign: start of urban area

See also

• Transport in Albania