Road signs in Switzerland and Liechtenstein

The Swiss road signs are defined in the Road Signs Act, which is based on several laws and ordinances. Liechtenstein largely follows the legislation of Switzerland. The principal law for road signs in Switzerland is the Road Signs Act (German: Signalisationsverordnung (SSV), French: Ordonnance du sur la signalisation routière (OSR), Italian: Ordinanza sulla segnaletica stradale (OSStr)).^[3] In Liechtenstein, it is the Road Signalling Ordinance (German: Strassensignalisationsverordnung (SSV)).^[4]

In Switzerland, each canton is responsible for the management and placement of its road signs and complementary panels and they use the whichever of the four official languages of Switzerland is appropriate. In Liechtenstein, German is used.

Distances and other measurements are displayed in metric units in all cases.

In 2003, the ASTRA-Frutiger font replaced the SNV font, which is still used in Liechtenstein.^[5][6]

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  1.01 Bend to right
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  1.02 Bend to left
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  1.03 Double bend, first to right
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  1.04 Double bend, first to left
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  1.05 Slippery road^{[note 1]}
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  1.06 Uneven road
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  1.07 Road narrows on both sides^{[note 2]}
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  1.08 Road narrows on right
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  1.09 Road narrows on left
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  1.10 Steep gradient downwards
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  1.11 Steep gradient upwards
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  1.12 Loose chippings
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  1.13a Danger of falling rocks from the right
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  1.13b Danger of falling rocks from the left
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  1.14 Road works
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  1.15 Level crossing with barrier or gate^{[note 3]}
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  1.16 Railway level crossing without gate or barrier^{[note 3]}
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  1.18 Tramway (Switzerland only)^{[note 4]}
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  1.22 Pedestrian crossing ahead^{[note 5]}
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  1.23 Presence of children
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  1.24 Wild animals crossing
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  1.25 Animals on road
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  1.25 Animals on road
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  1.26 Oncoming traffic
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  1.27 Traffic lights
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  1.30 Other danger^{[note 6]}
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  1.31 Congestion
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  1.32 Bicycle traffic/crossing

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  2.01 Prohibition of all vehicular traffic in both directions
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  2.02 No entry for vehicular traffic
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  2.03 Prohibition of motor vehicles (on three or more wheels except for solo motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles)
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  2.04 Prohibition of motorcycles
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  2.05 Prohibition of bicycles and mopeds
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  2.06 Prohibition of mopeds
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  2.07 Prohibition of large goods vehicles (total weight is larger than 3.5 t)
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  2.08 Prohibition of buses
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  2.09 Prohibition of trailers (of any kind, except for agricultural trailers)
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  2.09.1 Prohibition of trailers with exception for saddle and center axle trailers
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  2.10.1 Prohibition of vehicles carrying dangerous goods
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  2.11 Prohibition of vehicles carrying water pollutants
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  2.12 Prohibition of animals
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  2.13 Prohibition of motor vehicles and motorcycles
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  2.14 Prohibition of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and mopeds
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  2.15 Prohibition of pedestrians^{[note 7]}
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  2.15.1 Prohibition of skiing
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  2.15.2 Prohibition of sledging
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  2.15.3 Prohibition of any kind of vehicle-like transport means (such as rollerblades, scooters, skateboards, etc.)
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  2.16 Maximum weight (gross weight limit)
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  2.17 Axle weight (upper limit, axles closer than 1 meter apart count as one axle)
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  2.18 Maximum width
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  2.19 Maximum height
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  2.20 Maximum length (total length, including trailers)

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  2.30 Maximum speed limit
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  2.30.1 Generally valid speed limit within densely built-up areas; German variant
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  2.30.1 French variant
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  2.30.1 Italian variant
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  2.30.1 Romansh variant
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  2.31 Minimum speed limit
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  2.32 Must turn right
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  2.33 Must turn left
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  2.34 Circumvent the obstacle on the right side
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  2.35 Circumvent the obstacle on the left side
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  2.36 Must continue straight ahead
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  2.37 Must turn right ahead (on motorways: must change to the right road)
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  2.38 Must turn left ahead (on motorways: must change to the left road)
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  2.39 Must turn right or left
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  2.40 Must continue straight ahead or turn right
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  2.41 Must continue straight ahead or turn left
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  2.41.1 Roundabout
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  2.41.2 Mandatory direction for vehicles with dangerous goods
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  2.42 No right turn
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  2.43 No left turn
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  2.44 No overtaking
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  2.45 No overtaking by lorries
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  2.46 No U-turns^{[note 8]}
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  2.47 Minimum distance between large goods vehicles required^{[note 8]}
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  2.48 Snow chains required
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  2.49 No stopping^{[note 9]}
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  2.50 No parking^{[note 10]}
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  2.51 Customs^{[note 11]}
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  2.51 Latin languages variant
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  2.52 Police - must stop
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  2.52 Latin languages variant
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  2.53 End of maximum speed limit
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  2.53.1 End of generally valid speed limit – German variant
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  2.53.1 French variant
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  2.53.1 Italian variant
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  2.53.1 Romansh variant
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  2.54 End of minimum speed
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  2.55 End of no overtaking restriction
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  2.56 End of no overtaking by lorries restriction
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  2.56.1 End of part prohibition e.g. for lorries or buses (on lanes)
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  2.57 End of snow chain requirements
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  2.58 End of previous restriction(s)
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  2.59.1a Start of area with a 30 km/h speed limit
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  2.59.1e Start of area with generally applicable parking restrictions (here with applicable time constraints; Italian variant)
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  2.59.1c Start of parking area
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  2.59.2a End of area with particular speed limit
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  2.59.2e End of area with generally applicable parking restrictions (Italian variant)
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  2.59.2c End of parking area
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  2.59.3b Start of pedestrian area only (Italian variant)^{[note 7][note 12]}
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  2.59.4b End of pedestrian area (Italian variant)
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  2.59.5a Start of home zone^{[note 13]}
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  2.59.6a End of home zone
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  2.60 Bicycle path (also applies to mopeds)
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  2.60.1 End of bicycle path
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  2.61 Pedestrian path
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  2.62 Bridleway
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  2.63 Segregated and mandatory bicycle lane on the left and pedestrian lane on the right
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  2.63.1 Shared bicycle and pedestrian path
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  2.64 Exclusive public bus/transport lane
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  2.65 Mandatory electric indicators above lanes (blocked lane, open lane, change to lane to the right)

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  3.01 Stop^{[note 14]}
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  3.02 No priority/give way^{[note 15]}
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  3.03 Principal road with priority^{[note 16]}
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  3.04 End of principal road
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  3.05 Crossing with a road without priority ahead
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  3.06 Crossroad with priority to the right rule
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  3.09 Give way to oncoming traffic
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  3.10 Priority over oncoming traffic
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  3.20 Level crossing with double flashing lights
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  3.21 Level crossing with single flashing light
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  3.22 Level crossing location
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  3.24 Level crossing location

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  4.01 Motorway
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  4.02 End of motorway
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  4.03 Expressway
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  4.04 End of expressway
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  4.05 Mountain postal road^{[note 17]}
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  4.06 End of mountain postal road
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  4.07 Tunnel^{[note 18]}
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  4.07a Tunnel ahead with distance to tunnel entrance
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  4.08 One-way street
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  4.08.1 One-way street with oncoming bicycle traffic
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  4.09 Dead end
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  4.09.1 Dead end with exceptions (for bicycles and pedestrians)
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  4.10 Water protection area
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  4.11 Pedestrian crossing location
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  4.12 Pedestrian underpass (mandatory)
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  4.13 Pedestrian overpass (mandatory)
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  4.14 Hospital^{[note 19]}
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  4.15 Passing place
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  4.16 Breakdown place for accidental vehicles^{[note 20]}
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  4.17 Parking allowed ^{[note 21]}
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  4.18 Parking with parking disc
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  4.20 Paid parking
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  4.21 Parking garage
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  4.22 Distance and direction to parking area
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  4.23 Distance and direction for particular kinds of vehicles
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  4.24 Escape lane
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  4.25 Park and ride
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  4.25 Indoor park and ride
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  4.25 Park and ride with access to train
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  ... with access to tram
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  ... with access to bus

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  4.27 Entry of town/village on main road
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  4.27 Entry of town/village on main road in Liechtenstein
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  4.28 End of town/village on main road^{[note 22]}
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  4.28 End of town/village on main road in Liechtenstein
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  4.29 Entry of town/village on minor road^{[note 23]}
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  4.29 Entry of town/village on minor road in Liechtenstein
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  4.30 End of town/village on minor road^{[note 22]}
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  4.30 End of town/village on minor road in Liechtenstein
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  4.31 Signpost to destination via motor-/expressway route
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  4.32 Signpost to destination via main route
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  4.33 Signpost to destination via minor route
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  4.34 Detour to destination to be followed
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  4.34.1 (Ongoing) detour (for all destinations)
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  4.35 Signpost in table format (indicating direction to Zürich on main route, to Basel via motor-/expressway, and to Luzern on minor route)
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  4.36 Announcement of junction on main road, or on minor road connecting main roads
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  4.37 Announcement of junction on minor road
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  4.38 Announcement of junction on main road with two lanes
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  4.39 Announcement of junction on minor road with two separated lanes
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  4.40 Announcement of junction on main road with restriction for the left route (here: maximal width)
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  4.41 Lane routing on main road
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  4.42 Lane routing on minor road
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  4.45 Signpost for particular vehicle types (here: lorries)^{[note 24]}
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  4.46 Signpost to parking place^{[note 25]}
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  4.46.1 Signpost to park and ride
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  4.47 Signpost to campsite
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  4.48 Signpost to caravan site
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  4.49 Signpost to a company, exhibitions and others (usually found in industrial zones)
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  4.50.1 Recommended path for bicycles
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  4.50.3 Recommended track for mountain bikes
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  4.50.4 Recommended path for vehicle-like transport means, such as rollerblades, scooters, skateboards etc.
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  4.50.5 Signpost indicating directions for a particular type (here for bicycles)
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  4.50.6 Signpost indicating directions for different types
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  4.51.1 Signpost indicating direction for particularly named/numbered route
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  4.51.1 Routing information for bicycle path
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  4.51.1 Routing information for mountain bike track
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  4.51.2 Announcement of a turn for a particular type (here: vehicle-like transport means)
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  4.51.4 End route of a particular type (here for mountain bike route)
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  4.52 Routing information
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  4.53 Announcement of a detour
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  4.54 Announcement of roundabout on main road
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  4.55 Announcement of a branching road with a dangerous situation or restrictions (here: side road to the left 50 m ahead with the warning of the presence of a gated level crossing right after the turn)

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  4.56 European route number
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  4.57 Main road number
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  4.58 Motor-/expressway number
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  4.59 Number for exits
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  4.59.1 Number for junctions

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  4.60 First announcement of next exit
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  4.61 Second announcement of next exit
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  4.62 Start of exit
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  4.63 Exit sign (in German)
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  4.63 Exit sign (in French)
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  4.63 Exit sign (in Italian)
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  4.64 Junction board
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  4.65 Distance board
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  4.66 Announcement of junction
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  4.67 First information about junction ahead
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  4.68 Second information about junction ahead
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  4.69 Routing information above lane
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  4.70 Direction to the next emergency call pillar
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  4.71 Distance to police station (in German)
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  4.71 Distance to police station (in French)
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  4.71 Distance to police station (in Italian)
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  4.72 Kilometer sign
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  4.73 Hectometer sign
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  4.75 Information about road condition of passes and ski resorts
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  4.76 Advance information about road condition and requirements of certain destinations
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  4.77 Information about routing of lanes (reducing from three to two lanes – two lanes from the right join the one lane – left lane is derouted to the other side of the motorway)
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  4.77.1 Lane with restriction (here: maximal speed limit)
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  4.77.2 Use of hard shoulder permitted

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  4.79 Campsite
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  4.80 Caravan site
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  4.81 Telephone
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  4.82 First aid
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  4.83 Roadside assistance
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  4.84 Petrol/gas station (panels 5.01 and/or 5.17 are often added)
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  4.85 Hotel-Motel
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  4.86 Restaurant
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  4.87 Refreshments
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  4.88 Information Center
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  4.89 Youth hostel
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  4.90 Local radio information with MHz frequency for road condition and traffic information channel
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  4.91 Church services (here: Romansh variant)
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  4.92 Fire extinguisher
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  4.93 Generally valid speed limits for different categories of roads in Switzerland
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  4.94 Emergency exit distances
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  4.95 Emergency exit

All signs can be combined with 1 or more supplementary panels. If a supplementary panel is accompanied by the words ausgenommen / excepté / eccettuato (excluding) or gestattet / autorisé / permesso (permitted), it means that the indicated kind of transport (e.g. bicycles (panel 5.31) or tanks (panel 5.37)) is excluded from the regulation of the main sign.

Panel 5.31 for bicycles also applies to mopeds with a designed maximum speed of 20km/h.

• Generally applicable supplementary panels
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  5.01 Distance (to which the meaning of a sign applies)
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  5.02 Distance and direction
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  5.03 Range of validity (the range for which a danger, regulation, restriction, or an indication is valid)
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  5.04 Repetition (of an already valid regulation, restriction, or an indication; continues before and after the sign)
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  5.05 Start panel (indicates the start of a regulation for static traffic)
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  5.06 End panel (indicates the end of a regulation for static traffic)
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  5.07 Direction indicator

• Supplementary panels for particular signs
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  5.09 Indication of the routing of a principal road (aka a road with priority)
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  5.10 Indicates exceptions of prohibition of stopping
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  5.11 Indicates exceptions of prohibition of parking
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  5.12 Turn signal (Switzerland only)
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  5.13 Black ice on road (or slippery snow on road)
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  5.14 Handicapped people
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  5.15 Width of lane/road
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  5.16 Shooting noise
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  5.17 Distance to second next petrol/gas station (Switzerland only)

• Kinds of transport means
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  5.20 Light motor cars
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  5.21 Heavy motor cars
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  5.22 Large goods vehicles (lorries; total weight is larger than 3.5 t)
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  5.23 Lorries with trailer
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  5.24 Articulated lorries
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  5.25 Bus
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  5.26 Trailer
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  5.27 Caravan/Living trailer
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  5.28 Mobile motor home
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  5.29 Motor bikes
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  5.30 Mopeds
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  5.31 Bicycle
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  5.32 Mountain bikes
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  5.33 Bicycle pushing
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  5.34 Pedestrians
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  5.35 Trams or streetways
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  5.36 Tractors
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  5.37 Tanks
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  5.38 Groomers
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  5.39 Cross-country skiing
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  5.40 Skiing
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  5.41 Sledging
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  5.50 Airplanes/Airfield
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  5.51 Car transfer on train (Switzerland only)
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  5.52 Car transfer on ferry (Switzerland only)

• Special panels
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  5.53 Industrial and commercial area
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  5.54 Customs declaration only with Sichtdeklaration / dédouanement à vue / dichiarazione a vista (combined with 2.01 on lanes: only for vehicles of this type)
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  5.55 S-Traffic (combined with the term ausgenommen / Excepté / eccettuato (excluding) and below the sign 2.07 indicates an exception for vehicles with corresponding signs attached to them)
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  5.56 Hospital with emergency department (emergency department open 24 hours)
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  5.57 Emergency phone
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  5.58 Fire extinguisher

A number of road markings are used in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The road markings themselves give instructions to drivers, but they may at times also be accompanied by signs giving the same or additional instructions.

Working traffic light signals (not turned off or not flashing yellow) take precedence over priority signs, road markings, and general road rules. A yellow flashing traffic light signals a need for special caution, and the general road rules, priority signs, and road markings must be applied and followed (including in particular stop signs or give way signs and all other priority signs, as well as direction indications). White traffic lights are addressed to public transport only.

Traffic signals containing direction indications apply only for the (lane with) corresponding direction(s) – traffic is required to follow the indicated direction. All traffic light rules apply to bicycles and mopeds as well, but can be exclusively addressed to them by showing a bicycle icon.

When parking in a Blue Zone, it is mandatory to set and display a blue parking disc with the time of arrival according to the Blue Zone Rules. Parking in a blue zone space is limited to 1 hour unless otherwise indicated. No part of a parked vehicle, including bumpers, may protrude outside the marked parking space.

Blue disks are available in various places, such as police stations, hotels, tourist offices, newsstands, the local Gemeinde/Town hall, garages and gas stations.

The disc must be set to the exact time, or to the next half-hour mark if the exact time is not printed on the disc.

From 6:00 p.m. Saturday to 9:00 a.m. Monday, blue-zone parking is free and no blue disc is needed.

In blue zones marked with a 4-digit area code, parking is free for those with a valid parking permit for that specific area code. For those without the corresponding parking permit, regular Blue Zone parking rules apply.

• Comparison of European road signs

• Official Swiss Road Signs