Road signs in Thailand

Road signs in Thailand are standardized road signs similar to those used in other nations but much of it resembles road signage systems used in South American countries with certain differences, such as using a blue circle instead of a red-bordered white circle to indicate mandatory actions.^[1] Until the early 1980s, Thailand closely followed American, European, Australian, and Japanese practices in road sign design, with diamond-shaped warning signs and circular restrictive signs to regulate traffic. The Department of Railway maintains a standard on the typeface used in the sign, with custom made type for Thai text, unofficially named "Thang Luang" (อักษรทางหลวง) and a small derivation of FHWA Series fonts ("Highway Gothic") typeface, which is used on American road signage, for Latin text.^[2] In most Bangkok Metropolitan Area's routes, TS Lopburi is still used.

Thai traffic signs use Thai, the national language of Thailand, and distances and other measurements are expressed in compliance with the International System of Units. However, English is also used for important public places such as tourist attractions, airports, railway stations, and immigration checkpoints. Both Thai and romanizations are used on directional signage.

Thailand is a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, but has yet to fully ratify the convention.^[3]

History[edit]

The first year for road signs in Thailand was largely unknown, but it can be dated back as far as the start of the 1920s.^{[citation needed]}

Thailand is the first country in Asia to adopt MUTCD standard yellow diamond warning signs, in 1940.^{[citation needed]} For regulatory signs, rectangular signs were first used and were similar in design to North America,^{[citation needed]} but they have been replaced in the mid-1950s by European-style red-bordered white circle signs.^[4]

In 2004, mandatory signs were switched from South American design to European design.^[5]

Regulatory signs[edit]

With the exception of the special designs used for Stop, Yield, and No Entry signs, mandatory signs (e.g., Must Turn Left) are round with a blue background, white border, and a white pictogram. Those which express a prohibition (e.g., No Left Turn) show the pictogram crossed out by a red diagonal bar. This is in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals (Type A variants).^[6]^[7]

Priority Regulating Signs[edit]

Stop (Thai language)
Stop (Thai and English languages)
Give way (Thai language)
Give way (Thai and English languages)
Give way to oncoming vehicles (used at traffic bottleneck points)

Prohibitory or Restrictive Signs[edit]

No overtaking
No entry
No right U-turn
No left U-turn, Unused
No left turn
No right turn
No changing to left lane
No changing to right lane
No right turn nor right U-turn
No Left Turn nor U-turn, Unused
No cars
No trucks
No motorcycles
No trailers
No tuk-tuks
No tricycle
No bicycles
No carts
No tractors
No animal-drawn carts
No motor vehicles
No tricycle or bicycles and motorcycles.
No motorcycles or moto-rickshaws
No honking
No pedestrians
No parking
No stopping
Stop at checkpoint (e.g.: customs, police)
Stop at checkpoint (e.g.: customs, police) (Thai and English languages)
Speed limit (10 km/h)
Speed limit (20 km/h)
Speed limit (30 km/h)
Speed limit (40 km/h)
Speed limit (50 km/h)
Speed limit (60 km/h)
Speed limit (70 km/h)
Speed limit (80 km/h)
Speed limit (90 km/h)
Speed limit (100 km/h)
Speed limit (110 km/h)
Speed limit (120 km/h)
Weight limit
Weight limit (Thai and English languages)
Maximum width
Maximum width (Thai and English languages)
Maximum height
Maximum height (Thai and English languages)
Maximum vehicle length (Thai language)
Maximum vehicle length (Thai and English languages)
No vehicles conveying dangerous goods

Mandatory Signs[edit]

Go straight
Turn left
Turn right
Keep left
Keep right
Pass on either side
Turn left
Turn right
Turn left or right
Go straight or turn left
Go straight or turn right
Roundabout
Buses only
High occupancy vehicles only
Motorcycles only
Bicycles only
Pedestrians only
Minimum speed limit (30 km/h)
Minimum speed limit (40 km/h)
Minimum speed limit (50 km/h)
Minimum speed limit (60 km/h)
Minimum speed limit (70 km/h)
Minimum speed limit (80 km/h)
Minimum speed limit (90 km/h)

Other regulatory signs[edit]

Speed limit zone ends
Slow down

General regulatory signs[edit]

Speed limit sign (in Bangkok area)
Speed limit (In city – Bangkok, Pattaya and cities inbound)
Speed limit (Countryside – Bangkok, Pattaya and cities outbound)
Prohibited on Expressways
Prohibited on Expressways
Slow traffic keep left
Right lane passing only
All cars use low gears
Limited visibility, no overtaking
Wrong Way
Right lane only for U-turn
left lane, turn left
Stop and wait for the signal here
Truck weight for rural roads
Truck weight for local highways
car speed rating
car speed rating According to ministerial regulations, the speed of vehicles on designated national highways or rural roads is specified 2021
speed control zone According to ministerial regulations, the speed of vehicles on designated national highways or rural roads is specified 2021

Mandatory signs for bicycle paths[edit]

Stop the car for the bicycle path.
Starting point of the bicycle path
End of the bike path
Bicycle stays to the left

Optional signs[edit]

Let the car on the right go first.
Let the cars in the roundabout go first.
Only trucks with 6 wheels or more.
Sign for additional mandatory hours for bus lanes.
Signs for additional times and required directions.
except buses
Starting point of the public bus lane
The end of the mass transit lane
Starting point of the motorcycle lane
End of the motorcycle lane

Superseded regulatory signs[edit]

These signs have been superseded, but are still around.

Stop
No entry
No tractors
Stop at checkpoint (e.g.: customs, police)
Speed limit (50 km/h)
Go straight
Turn left
Turn right
Keep left
Keep right
Pass on either side
Turn left
Turn right
Turn left or right
Roundabout
End of speed limit
End of overtaking prohibition

Warning signs[edit]

Thai warning signs are diamond-shaped and are yellow and black in colour.^[8]

Curves and Turns[edit]

Curve to left
Curve to right
Sharp curve to left
Sharp curve to right
Double curve, first to left
Double curve, first to right
Sharp double curve, first to left
Sharp double curve, first to right
Winding road, first bend to left
Winding road, first bend to right

Intersections[edit]

Crossroads
Y-junction
Side road junction on left
Side road junction on right
Offset road junction, left and right
Offset road junction, left and right
Skewed side road junction on left
Skewed side road junction on right
Skewed side road junction on left
Skewed side road junction on right
T-junction

Roundabout[edit]

Circle Road

Road narrows[edit]

Road narrows on both sides
Road narrows on left side
Road narrows on right side

Narrow bridge[edit]

Narrow bridge

Lane transitions[edit]

Left lane ends
Right lane ends

Railway crossing[edit]

Railway crossing ahead that is not protected by automatic gates
Railway crossing ahead that is protected by automatic gates
Railway crossing on next side road ahead
Railway crossing (Crossbuck)

Lane width restrictions[edit]

Width restriction ahead (Thai language)
Width restriction ahead (Thai and English languages)

Lane height restrictions[edit]

Height restriction ahead (Thai language)
Height restriction ahead (Thai and English languages)

Hills and Grades[edit]

Steep climb
Steep descent

Lane conditions[edit]

Bump
Bumpy road
Dip
Slippery road
Loose road surface
Falling stone
Slippery road when wet

Opening bridge[edit]

Opening bridge

Lane shiftings[edit]

Shift to left carriageway
Shift to right carriageway
Added lane ahead
Added lane ahead

Lane mergings[edit]

Left merging traffic
Right merging traffic

Divided highways[edit]

Divided road beginning
Divided road end

Turning back[edit]

U turn ahead Right
U turn ahead Left

No Turning back[edit]

No u turn

Two-way traffic[edit]

Two-way traffic

Advance traffic control[edit]

Traffic signals ahead
Warning signs detect traffic light violations with CCTV cameras 24 hours a day.
Stop ahead (Thai language)
Stop ahead (Thai and English languages)
Give way ahead (Thai language)
Give way ahead (Thai and English languages)
Crossroad Intersection-1
Traffic signal Ahead ntersection-2
Traffic signal Ahead Intersection-3
Railway ahead-1
Railway ahead-2
Pedestrian crossing
Children
School zone (In Bangkok local highway zone)
school zone warning sign (Standard form of the Department of Rural Roads)
crossing warning sign (Standard form of the Department of Rural Roads)
Cattle Crossing
Low-flying aircraft
Other danger (Thai language)
Other danger (Thai and English languages)

No passing zone[edit]

No overtaking zone
No overtaking zone (Thai and English languages)

Lane split, Curve and Hazard markers[edit]

Lane split
Diverge highway

Curve markers
Chervon to The left
Chervon to The right
Curve marker to right
Curve marker to left
Curve marker double arrow
Chevron marker to right
Chevron marker to left
Chevron marker double arrow

Hazard markers
Hazard marker or pass either side
Hazard marker or keep left
Hazard marker or keep right

Alternate merging[edit]

Zipper merge (Thai language)
Zipper merge (Thai and English languages)

Supplementary plates[edit]

City limit reduce speed (Thai language)
City limit reduce speed (Thai and English languages)
Winding road for next --- km
Steep climb for next --- km
Steep descent for next --- km
Use low gear (Thai language)
Use low gear (Thai and English languages)
Speed hump
Rough road for next--- km.
Slippery road
Rain Slippery road
Watch for cars from the left
Watch for cars from the right
--- m.
Two-way traffic
front light
Light signal --- m.
School
School --- m.
School Zone
Sharp Curve
Advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
Advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
Advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
Advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
Sleepy, stopped for a rest.

Superseded warning signs[edit]

These signs have been superseded, but are still around.

Road narrows on both sides
U turn Ahead
U turn Ahead
Stop ahead (old since 1997
School children
No overtaking zone
Advisory speed
Advisory speed
Crossroad Intersection-1
Traffic signal Ahead Intersection-2

Speed camera zone warning signs[edit]

Speed camera zone (60 km/h)
Speed camera zone (80 km/h)
Speed camera zone (90 km/h)
Speed camera zone (100 km/h)
Speed camera zone (110 km/h)
Speed camera zone (120 km/h)

Emergency stop warning sign (Standard form of the Department of Highways)[edit]

Advance emergency stop warning sign at a distance of 2 km.
Advance emergency stop warning sign at a distance of 1 km.
Warning sign for emergency stop lanes in advance at a distance of 500 m.
Warning sign for emergency stop lane ahead.

Warning signs on steep slopes. for heavy trucks (Standard form of the Department of Highways)[edit]

Slope climbing lane warning sign in advance at a distance of 2 km.
Slope climbing lane warning sign in advance at a distance of 1 km.
Slope climbing lane warning sign in advance at a distance of 500 m.
Warning sign of a steep climb lane ahead.
Warning sign at the end of a steep climb lane.

High hanging warning sign (Mast arm) (Standard type of the Department of Rural Roads)[edit]

School Zone
City limit
Railway crossing
Intersections
U turn/curve

Water overflow warning sign (Standard form of the Department of Rural Roads)[edit]

Road closed when flooded (Thai and english languages)
Warning sign on lower level road (Thai and english languages)

Warning signs for safety facilitation and improvement of dangerous points. In the case of installing a vehicle warning device entering an intersection (Standard form of the Department of Rural Roads)[edit]

An intersection sign has traffic when the lights flash.

railway warning sign (Standard road work form for local administrative organizations, Department of Rural Roads)[edit]

Railway warning sign at a distance of 100 meters
Railway warning sign at a distance of 300 meters
Railway warning sign at a distance of 500 meters

Combination signs[edit]

Winding road for next --- km, first bend to left
Winding road for next --- km, first bend to right
Narrow bridge - give way to oncoming vehicles (used at traffic bottleneck points)
Steep climb for next --- km
Steep descent for next --- km
Steep descent – use low gear (Thai language)
Steep descent – use low gear (Thai and English languages)
Speed bump
Speed bumpy
Slippery road
Merging traffic - beware cars from the left
Merging traffic - beware cars from the right
Two-way traffic
Traffic signals ahead and front light
Traffic signals ahead and Light signal --- m.
School zone
School 200 m.
Curve marker right with advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
Curve marker right with advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
Curve marker left with advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
Curve marker left with advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
Railway warning sign at a distance of 100 meters and 10.km
Railway warning sign at a distance of 300 meters and 30.km
Railway warning sign at a distance of 500 meters and 50.km

Miscellaneous[edit]

The Department of Highways does not provide signs dealing with some other road and highway situations. Many cities have their own sign standards dealing with these situations.

Elephant crossing

Temporary signs[edit]

Construction signs in Thailand are diamond-shaped and are orange and black in colour.

Survey
Construction ahead
Workers ahead
Construction vehicles ahead
Bridge out ahead with a temporary bridge on a detour on left
Bridge out ahead with a temporary bridge on a detour on right
Diverted traffic to left
Diverted traffic to right
Diverted traffic to left (two lanes)
Diverted traffic to right (two lanes)
Diverted traffic (one lane on left)
Diverted traffic (one lane on right)
Diverted traffic, first to left
Diverted traffic, first to right
Diverted traffic, first to left, 2 lanes
Diverted traffic, first to right, 2 lanes
Diverted traffic, first to left, 3 lanes
Diverted traffic, first to right, 3 lanes
End of left lane (form 1 lane)
End of right lane (form 1 lane)
End of left lane (form 2 lanes)
End of right lane (form 2 lanes)
End of left lanes (form 1 lane)
End of right lanes (form 1 lane)
Curve marker
Curve marker
Flagman ahead
Road construction zone
New road under construction and temporarily opened
New road temporarily opened
Road construction ahead
Bridge construction ahead
Road closed ahead
Reduce speed
Detour left
Detour right
Distance to work zone
Road work ahead
Shoulder work ahead
Construction materials on shoulder
Road impassable ahead
Road flooded ahead
Accident ahead
Curve marker
Curve marker
Curve marker
Road closed --- km
Road impassable --- km
Detour route
Detour
Detour
Road work, next --- km
End road work
Road closed
Road closed to through traffic
Road impassable, no through traffic

Road equipment[edit]

Flashing orange lights
Flashing red lights
Reflective delineator

Highways[edit]

Tolled expressway and highway signs[edit]

Expressways

Thai toll expressway and highway signs are green and are only suitable for toll expressways and highways. No blue signs for toll expressway and highways are required. These antartican toll expressway and restroom signs have a simple code:-

Blue with white signs for expressway names of closed toll systems.

National Highway[edit]

Examples	Information	Number digits
	Main highway route numbers (Northern)	1xxx
	Main highway route numbers (Northeastern)	2xxx
ทางออก EXIT 134	Highway exit numbers	EXIT 101 - 199
	Main highway route numbers (Central)	3xxx
	Main highway route numbers (Southern)	4xxx

National Highway use sign

Examples	Information
	Highways bypassing city centres bear the principal route number marked
	Old Route Plate for Thailand Highway
	Highways enter city centres bear the principal route number marked
	Asian Highway route shield

Highway signs[edit]

Highway code signs	Motorways signs (Toll Roads)	Motorway signs	Rural route signs	Local roads signs
Rectangle-shaped highway shield with highway code signs are black and white	Blue with white letters signs for Motorways (Toll Road).	Green with White letters for Motorways	Rural route signs	Local roads signs

Thai national road shield Further information: Thai highway network § Highway numbering	Motorway Signs (Toll Roads)	Thai Motorway Signs	Rural route signs	Local roads signs