Nordic traffic signs present relevant differences between countries despite an apparent uniformity and standardisation. Most Nordic countries refer to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, and it has been adopted by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The convention has not been adopted by Iceland.
The main differences relate to
Country | Motorways | Expressways | Primary roads | Secondary roads | Regional destinations | Local destinations | Tourist signs | Temporary Detour |
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outside urban area | ||||||||
Denmark | Aarhus | N/A | Skanderborg[c 1] | N/A | Stadion | Himmelbjerget | Nakskov | |
Faroe Islands | ||||||||
Finland | HELSINKI HELSINGFORS |
LAPPEENRANTA | PORVOO BORGÅ |
N/A | KYMINLINNA | Kirjasto | Hiidenkivi | TURKU |
Greenland | ||||||||
Iceland | ||||||||
Norway | Nannestad | Lillestrøm | Trondheim | N/A | Sykehus | Kvitsand | ||
Sweden | GÖTEBORG | STOCKHOLM | FALUN | N/A | NORRMALM | Vårdcentral | Långe Erik | |
Åland | n/a | n/a | LÅNGNÄS | n/a | KLINTEN | Centralsjukhuset | Bomarsund | KATTBY |
In Finland, Sweden and Åland, destinations on direction signs are written in capital letters. In Danmark and Norway both capital and lowercase are used.
See also: Priority signs |
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Stop | ![]() |
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Give way | ![]() |
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Priority road | ![]() |
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End of priority road | ![]() |
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Give way to oncoming traffic | ![]() |
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Priority over oncoming traffic | ![]() |
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Stop ahead | ![]() |
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Give way ahead | ![]() |
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Denmark | Estonia | Finland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden |
In Denmark and Norway, warning signs are mostly triangular, with black symbols on a white background with a red border. Finnish, Icelandic and Swedish signs have yellow backgrounds, rather than white. Yellow background is also used on warning signs that are used only temporarily in Norway. On Svalbard, a unique warning sign with a black background and white symbol is used for polar bears.
Denmark | Faroe Islands | Finland | Greenland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden | Åland | |
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Go straight | ![]() |
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Turn right | ![]() |
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Go straight or turn right | ![]() |
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Roundabout | ![]() |
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Keep right / Keep left | ![]() |
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May pass on either side | ![]() |
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Route for vehicles carrying dangerous goods | ![]() |
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Minimum speed limit | ![]() |
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End of minimum speed limit | ![]() |
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Denmark | Faroe Islands | Finland | Greenland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden | Åland | |
Footpath (pedestrians only) | ![]() |
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Cycle path (pedal cycles only) | ![]() |
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Shared pedestrian and cycle path | ![]() |
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Segregated pedestrian and cycle path | ![]() |
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Bridle path | ![]() |
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Denmark | Finland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden |
Denmark | Faroe Islands | Finland | Greenland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden | Åland | |
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One-way street | ![]() |
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NOTUSED | |||
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Bump | NOTUSED | |||||||
Pedestrian crossing | ![]() |
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Cyclist crossing | ![]() |
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Living street | ![]() |
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Pedestrian zone | ![]() |
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Bus lane | ![]() |
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Tunnel | ![]() |
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NOTUSED | |||
Expressway | ![]() |
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Motorway | ![]() |
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Denmark | Faroe Islands | Finland | Greenland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden | Åland |
Denmark | Faroe Islands | Finland | Greenland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden | Åland | |
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No through road | ![]() |
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Hospital | ![]() |
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NOTUSED | ||||
First aid | ![]() |
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Bus stop | ![]() |
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Taxi stand | ![]() ![]() |
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Parking | ![]() |
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Parking garage | ![]() |
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Lane configuration | ![]() |
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Escape lane | NOTUSED | |||||||
Emergency lay-by | ![]() |
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Advisory speed | ![]() |
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National border | ![]() |
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National speed limits | ![]() |
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Denmark | Faroe Islands | Finland | Greenland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden | Åland |
Under the Vienna Convention the begin and end built-up area signs imply a change between built-up area and rural traffic rules including speed limit. In many European Countries the dark background with light coloured text version of the sign is intended for information only.[3] Poland uses white text on a green background (E-17a/E18a) to show the political boundary of a place as information and uses the black on white pictogram version (D-42/D-43) to designate the change of traffic rules.[4]
Denmark | Faroe Islands | Finland | Greenland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden | Åland | |
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Entrance to built up area | ![]() |
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Leaving built up area | ![]() |
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Entrance to locality | NOT USED |
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Leaving locality | NOT USED |
NOT USED |
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NOTUSED | |||
Denmark | Faroe Islands | Finland | Greenland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden | Åland |
Denmark | Faroe Islands | Finland | Greenland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden | Åland | |
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Customs | NOT USED |
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Police | NOT USED |
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NOT USED |
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Toll | NOT USED |
NOT USED |
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NOTUSED | ||
Other Control | ![]() |
NOT USED |
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Same as "police" but with suitable text | ||
Denmark | Faroe Islands | Finland | Greenland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden | Åland |