Road signs in Sweden are regulated in ''Vägmärkesförordningen'', VMF (2007:90), and are to be placed 2 metres from the road with the sign 1.6 m from the base for motorized roads. Except for route numbers, there are a maximum of three signs on a pole, with the most important sign at the top. All signs have a reflective layer added on selected parts of the sign as is custom in European countries; most larger signs also have their own illumination. Most signs are based on pictograms, with some exceptions like the prohibition-sign for stop at customs and signal and speed limit signs. If the sign includes text, the text is written in Swedish, except the stop sign, which is written in English ("STOP"). Swedish road signs depict people with realistic (as opposed to stylized) silhouettes.

Major differences between Swedish and general European signs

Like other countries in Europe, Swedish signs follow the

Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals The Convention on Road Signs and Signals, commonly known as the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, is a multilateral treaty designed to increase road safety and aid international road traffic by standardising the signing system for roa ...

. Whereas European signs usually have white background on warning and prohibition signs, the Swedish signs have a yellow/orange colour. This is for the purpose of enhancing the visibility of the sign during the winter, as white signs would be hard to see in the snow. The prohibition signs have a red line across them if there is a symbol on them, not if it is a numeric value. General European prohibition signs do not usually have such a red line. Swedish warning and prohibition signs also have a thicker border than their European counterparts. Traffic signs in Slovenia and Finland are quite similar.

History

Around 1930 some warning signs and prohibitory signs looking like today's signs with yellow background were introduced. The direction indication signs were however yellow with black text. Around 1965, there was a reform where the colour of those were changed to dark blue with white text. Around 1980, Sweden followed the Vienna convention rule that motorways should have a different colour, so green was introduced for them, and medium blue for ordinary roads.

Private road direction sign

The reason there is a sign indicating private road, is because they are not strictly private. A private road is a road that is not maintained by the state or municipality, but by a private person or association. An owner of a private road in Sweden can prohibit cars (but not people) from using the road. But if the state pays support for the maintenance, cars can't be prohibited. This is mostly the case if several families live along the road. Then they must form an association for it. The Swedish word for this kind of road is "enskild", that can be both translated to "private" and "individual". The background of the sign is yellow, indicating that the quality is often less good, and warning signs might be missing. Signs indicating roads owned by companies or leading to companies usually have white background instead.

Warning signs

Warning signs are triangular and have red borders, but in contrast with those of most other countries that use triangular warning signs, Swedish signs have yellow backgrounds, rather than white. More types of warning signs for animals are used than in most European countries, such as moose, deer, wild boar, reindeer, sheep, horse, and cow appearing alongside roads. File:Sweden road sign A1-1.svg, Dangerous curve to left File:Sweden road sign A1-2.svg, Dangerous curve to right File:Sweden road sign A2-1.svg, Dangerous curves ahead, first to left File:Sweden road sign A2-2.svg, Dangerous curves ahead, first to right File:Sweden road sign A3.svg, Steep downhill File:Sweden road sign A4.svg, Steep uphill File:Sweden road sign A5-1.svg, Road narrows on both sides File:Sweden road sign A5-2.svg, Road narrows on right sides File:Sweden road sign A5-3.svg, Road narrows on left sides File:Sweden road sign A7.svg, Unprotected quayside or riverbank File:Sweden road sign A8.svg, Uneven road File:Sweden road sign A9-1.svg, Speed refulcation bump File:Sweden road sign A9-2.svg, Dip File:Sweden road sign A10.svg, Slippery road File:Sweden road sign A11.svg, Loose chipings File:Sweden road sign A12-1.svg, Falling rocks (from) right File:Sweden road sign A12-2.svg, Falling rocks (from) left File:Sweden road sign A13.svg, Pedestrian crossing File:Sweden road sign A14.svg, Pedestrian File:Sweden road sign A15.svg, Children File:Sweden road sign A16.svg, Cyclist and mopeds rides on carrigeway File:Sweden road sign A17.svg, Skiers crossing File:Sweden road sign A18.svg, Equestrian File:Sweden road sign A19-1.svg, Moose File:Sweden road sign A19-2.svg, Wild animals File:Sweden road sign A19-3.svg, Cattle File:Sweden road sign A19-4.svg, Wild horses File:Sweden road sign A19-5.svg, Reindeer File:Sweden road sign A19-6.svg, Sheep File:Sweden road sign A19-7.svg, Wild boars File:Sweden road sign A20.svg, Roadworks File:Sweden road sign A21.svg, End of roadworks File:Sweden road sign A22.svg, Traffic signals File:Sweden road sign A23-1.svg, Low-flying aircraft File:Sweden road sign A24-1.svg, Side winds File:Sweden road sign A25.svg, Two-way traffic File:Sweden road sign A26.svg, Tunnel File:Sweden road sign A27.svg, Dangerous shoulder File:Sweden road sign A28.svg, Crossroad intersection File:Sweden road sign A29-1.svg, Crossroad without priority File:Sweden road sign A29-2.svg, Right way at crocked intersection File:Sweden road sign A29-4.svg, Right way junction from the left or right winding junction from right File:Sweden road sign A29-6.svg, Right way junction from the left or right winding junction from left File:Sweden road sign A29-10.svg, Side road priority on left File:Sweden road sign A29-13.svg, Side road priority on right File:Sweden road sign A29-11.svg, Skewed side road priority on left File:Sweden road sign A29-14.svg, Skewed side road priority on right File:Sweden road sign A30.svg, Roundabout File:Sweden road sign A31.svg, Slow moving vehicles File:Sweden road sign A32-1.svg, Horse drawn-carts File:Sweden road sign A33.svg, Off road-vehicles File:Sweden road sign A34.svg, Traffic congestion File:Sweden road sign A35.svg, Level crossing with barrier File:Sweden road sign A36.svg, Level crossing without barrier File:Sweden road sign A37.svg, Tramway File:Sweden road sign A38 combined.svg, Level crossing countdown File:Sweden road sign A39-1.svg, Single track level crossing File:Sweden road sign A39-3.svg, Multi track level crossing File:Sweden road sign A40.svg, Other hazard File:Sweden road sign A41.svg, Accident

Priority signs

The pedestrian and bicycle crossing signs are priority signs in Sweden, whereas the pedestrian crossing sign is regarded as a special regulation sign in the Vienna convention on road signs and signals. A sign for bicycle crossing is not yet implemented in the Vienna convention. File:Sweden road sign B1.svg, Give way (Yield) File:Sweden road sign B2.svg, Stop File:Sweden road sign B3-1.svg, Pedestrian crossing File:Sweden road sign B4.svg, Priority road File:Sweden road sign B5.svg, End of priority road File:Sweden road sign B6.svg, Priority for oncoming vehicles File:Sweden road sign B7.svg, Priority over oncoming vehicles File:Sweden road sign B8.svg, Bike crossing

Prohibitory signs

Prohibitory signs are round with yellow backgrounds and red borders, except the international standard stop sign that is an octagon with red background and white border and the no parking and no standing signs that have a blue background instead of yellow. File:Sweden road sign C1.svg, Do not enter File:Sweden road sign C2.svg, Closed to all motor vehicles in both directions File:Sweden road sign C3.svg, No motor vehicles File:Sweden road sign C4.svg, No motor vehicles with more than two wheels File:Sweden road sign C5.svg, No motorcycles File:Sweden road sign C6.svg, No towed trailers File:Sweden road sign C7.svg, No trucks File:Sweden road sign C8.svg, No tractors File:Sweden road sign C9.svg, No vehicles transporting dangerous goods File:Sweden road sign C10.svg, No bike File:Sweden road sign C11.svg, No mopeds File:Sweden road sign C12.svg, No horse-drawns File:Sweden road sign C13.svg, No snowmobiles File:Sweden road sign C14.svg, No horses File:Sweden road sign C15.svg, No pedestrians File:Sweden road sign C16.svg, No vehicles exceeding width shown File:Sweden road sign C17.svg, No vehicles exceeding height shown File:Sweden road sign C18.svg, No vehicles exceeding length shown File:Sweden road sign C19.svg, Minimum distance between 2-tracked motor vehicles File:Sweden road sign C20.svg, No vehicles exceeding weight shown File:Sweden road sign C21.svg, No vehicles or combination of vehicles exceeding weight shown File:Sweden road sign C23.svg, No vehicles having a weight exceeding weight on 1 axle File:Sweden road sign C24.svg, No vehicles exceeding weight shown on a tandem axle File:Sweden road sign C26.svg, No turning in a certain direction File:Sweden road sign C27.svg, No overtaking File:Sweden road sign C29.svg, No overtaking by trucks File:Sweden road sign C31-7.svg, Speed limit File:Sweden road sign C28.svg, End of overtaking prohibition File:Sweden road sign C30.svg, End of overtaking prohibition by trucks File:Sweden road sign C34-2.svg, Stop at the sign if the signal shows red
(only applies when driving towards the signal concerned) File:Sweden road sign C34-4.svg, Stop for police control. There are variants (stop for guard) (stop here when waiting for ferry) File:Sweden road sign C35.svg, No parking or waiting File:Sweden road sign C39.svg, No stopping or standing File:Sweden road sign C44.svg, No 2-tracked motor vehicles with studded tires File:Sweden road sign E20-1.svg, Restriction zone.
In this example, this is no parking zone. However, the restriction doesn't apply when the signs inside the zone says otherwise. File:Sweden road sign E21-15.svg, End of the restriction zone

Stop at customs

The sign "Stop at customs" ("Stopp vid tull") is multilingual and exists in four variants. File:Sweden road sign C33-1.svg, Danish File:Sweden road sign C33-3.svg, Finnish File:Sweden road sign C33-4.svg, German File:Sweden road sign C33-2.svg, Norwegian

Mandatory signs

Mandatory signs are always round blue signs with white border. File:Sweden road sign D1-1.svg, Direction to be followed File:Sweden road sign D2-1.svg, Keep right File:Sweden road sign D2-2.svg, Keep left File:Sweden road sign D2-3.svg, Pass either side File:Sweden road sign D3.svg, Roundabout File:Sweden road sign D4.svg, Track for cycles and mopeds File:Sweden road sign D5.svg, Footpath File:Sweden road sign D6.svg, Compulsory track for pedestrians, cyclists and moped drivers. File:Sweden road sign D7-1.svg, Compulsory track for pedestrians, cyclists and moped drivers. Dual track File:Sweden road sign D7-2.svg, Compulsory track for pedestrians, cyclists and moped drivers. Dual track File:Sweden road sign D8.svg, Track for rider on horseback (and pedestrians) File:Sweden road sign D9.svg, Track for off-road vehicles File:Sweden road sign D10.svg, Beginning of lane reserved for public transport (and cycles and mopeds Class II). File:Sweden road sign D11-1.svg, End of lane reserved for public transport (and cycles and mopeds Class II).

Special regulation signs

File:Sweden road sign E1.svg, Motorway File:Sweden road sign E2.svg, End of motorway File:Sweden road sign E3.svg, Expressway File:Sweden road sign E4.svg, End of expressway File:Sweden road sign E5.svg, Built-up area File:Sweden road sign E6.svg, End of built-up area File:Sweden road sign E7.svg, Pedestrian area File:Sweden road sign E8.svg, End of pedestrian area File:Sweden road sign E9.svg, Residential area File:Sweden road sign E10.svg, End of residential area File:Sweden road sign E11-3.svg, Low-speed road (recommended top speed) File:Sweden road sign E12-3.svg, End of low-speed road File:Sweden road sign E13-5.svg, Maximum recommended speed (in km/h) File:Sweden road sign E14.svg, End of maximum recommended speed (in km/h) File:Sweden road sign E16-1-1.svg, One-way traffic File:Sweden road sign E17-1.svg, Dead end File:Sweden road sign E18.svg, Passing place File:Sweden road sign E19.svg, Parking (max 24 hours on weekdays except weekday before Sunday or holiday). File:Sweden road sign E22.svg, Bus stop File:Sweden road sign E23.svg, Taxi rank File:Sweden road sign E25.svg, Toll road

Signs giving information

File:Schengen sign Sweden.svg, Sign when entering Sweden from another country File:Sweden road sign G1.svg, Post office File:Sweden road sign G2.svg, Telephone File:Sweden road sign G3.svg, Radio station for road and traffic information File:Sweden road sign G4.svg, First aid File:Sweden road sign G5.svg, Industrial zone File:Sweden road sign H1.svg, Information File:Sweden road sign H2.svg, Workshop area File:Sweden road sign H3.svg, Petrol station File:Sweden road sign H5.svg, Cafe File:Sweden road sign H6.svg, Restaurant File:Sweden road sign H7.svg, Hotel File:Sweden road sign H8.svg, Vila File:Sweden road sign H10.svg, Holiday chalets File:Sweden road sign H11.svg, Camping site File:Sweden road sign H12.svg, Caravan site File:Sweden road sign H13.svg, Park File:Sweden road sign H14.svg, Toilet File:Sweden road sign H15.svg, Bathing File:Sweden road sign H16.svg, Open-air recreation File:Sweden road sign H17.svg, Hiking trail File:Sweden road sign H18.svg, Chair lift File:Sweden road sign H19.svg, Tow lift File:Sweden road sign H20.svg, Golf course File:Sweden road sign H21.svg, Fishing licences on sale here File:Sweden road sign H22.svg, National heritage File:1 4 32 (Swedish road sign).svg, Park and ride File:1 4 40 1 (Swedish road sign).svg, The long turn — mandatory turning manoeuvre for pedal cycles and mopeds. File:Sweden road sign F1-1.svg, Advance direction sign, diagrammatic type File:Sweden road sign F6.svg, Advance direction sign, stack type File:Swedish road sign 1 5 1 4.svg, Lane preselection sign File:1 5 1 51 (Swedish road sign).svg, Lane merge File:1 5 1 5 (Swedish road sign).svg, Lane ends File:Sweden road sign F25-3.svg, Temporary sign, left most lane ends File:Sweden road sign F26-1.svg, Temporary sign, Lane merges with oncoming traffic File:Sweden road sign F26-2.svg, Temporary sign, oncoming traffic merges with this lane File:Sweden road sign F2.svg, Advance direction sign diagrammatic indicating prohibition of left turning File:Sweden road sign F5.svg, Direction sign flag type File:1 5 2 12 (Swedish road sign).svg, Direction to motorway or expressway File:Swedish road sign 1 5 2 13.svg, Sign to specific district or area File:Swedish road sign 1 5 2 14.svg, Sign to place reached by a private road File:Swedish road sign 1 5 2 15.svg, Sign to local amenities File:Swedish road sign 1 5 2 2.svg, Lane assignment type File:Swedish road sign 1 5 2 31.svg, Advance direction sign exit ahead from motorway or expressway File:Sweden road sign F4.svg, Advance direction sign exit ahead from other road than motorway or expressway File:Sweden road sign F7.svg, Direction sign exit sign File:Sweden road sign F27.svg, Number of exit File:Sweden road sign F31-1.svg, Lorries File:Sweden road sign F31-5.svg, Car File:Swedish road sign 1 5 2 54.svg, Airfield File:Swedish road sign 1 52541.svg, Airfield straight ahead File:1 5 2 55.svg, Ferry File:Swedish road sign 1 5 3.svg, Place indication sign File:E4 Swedish road sign.svg, Road number sign European highway File:Sweden road sign F14-3.svg, Main highways (other than European highways) numbered 1-499 File:Sweden road sign F14-4.svg, Road number sign. Direction to a numbered road File:Sweden road sign F15.svg, Road number sign for traffic diversion File:Sweden road sign F13.svg, Confirmatory sign File:Sweden road sign F9.svg, Grouped destinations (i.e. For Pajala and Övertorneå, follow signs for Kiruna) File:Sweden road sign F32.svg, Recommended route for vehicles carrying dangerous goods File:Sweden road sign I1.svg, Tourist route File:Sweden road sign I2.svg, Tourist attraction area File:1 5 32 (Swedish road sign).svg, Landmark File:Swedish road sign 1 5 2.svg, Sign to temporary event File:1 6 1 1 (Swedish road sign).svg, Recommended route for pedal cycles and mopeds File:Swedish road sign 1 6 1 2.svg, Recommended route for pedestrians File:Swedish road sign 1 6 1 3.svg, Disabled persons File:Sweden road sign F35.svg, Stack type design File:Sweden road sign F34.svg, Flag type sign File:Sweden road sign F36.svg, Place indication sign File:Sweden road sign F37.svg, Confirmatory sign File:Sweden road sign F38.svg, Bike track

Other signs

File:Sweden road sign A21.svg, End of road works File:Swedish road sign 6 1 5.svg, Limited access on side marker File:Swedish road sign 6 1 6.svg, Limited access marker File:Swedish road sign 6 1 7.svg, Limited access arrow marker File:Swedish road sign 7 1 1.svg, Marking for sharp bends, bridge parapets, abutment, walls, tunnel mouths etc. Arrow marker File:Swedish road sign X1.png File:7 1 5 white.svg, Exit

Additional panels

File:Sweden road sign J3-1.svg, High voltage cable File:Sweden road sign T2.svg, Distance to File:Sweden road sign T3.svg, Stop and give way at specified distance ahead File:Sweden road sign T4.svg, Lateral clearance File:Sweden road sign T5.svg, Total weight File:Sweden road sign T6.svg, Times the restriction applies. Weekday; Weekday before Sunday or public holiday in brackets; Sunday and public holiday in red. File:Sweden road sign T7-1.svg, Parking permitted for specified period between times shown File:Sweden road sign T7-2.svg, No parking between times indicated File:Sweden road sign T9.svg, Blind persons crossing or in the vicinity of the road File:Sweden road sign T10.svg, Deaf persons crossing or in the vicinity of the road File:Sweden road sign T14.svg, All way stop File:Sweden road sign T21-1.svg, Parking configuration File:Sweden road sign T21-2.svg, Parking configuration File:Sweden road sign T21-3.svg, Parking configuration File:Sweden road sign T21-4.svg, Parking configuration File:Swedish road sign 11 0 405.svg, Parking garage File:11 1 1 (Swedish road sign).svg, Length of stretch of road beginning at specified distance from sign File:11 1 2 (Swedish road sign).svg, Length of stretch of road beginning at sign File:11 7 1 (Swedish road sign).svg, Prohibition effective in both directions of the sign File:11 7 2 (Swedish road sign).svg, Prohibition end at sign File:11 7 3 (Swedish road sign).svg, Prohibition effective in the direction of arrow File:Swedish road sign 11 9 1.svg, Parking, effective in both directions of the sign File:Swedish road sign 11 9 2.svg, Parking ends at sign File:Swedish road sign 11 9 3.svg, Parking, effective in direction of arrow File:Swedish road sign 11 13 11.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (lorry) File:Swedish road sign 11 13 12.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (lorry) File:Swedish road sign 11 13 2.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (handicapped) File:Swedish road sign 11 13 31.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car) File:Swedish road sign 11 13 32.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car) File:Swedish road sign 11 13 41.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (bus) File:Swedish road sign 11 13 42.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (bus) File:Swedish road sign 11 13 5.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (motorbike) File:Swedish road sign 11 13 6.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (bike) File:Swedish road sign 11 13 71.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (caravan) File:Swedish road sign 11 13 72.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (caravan) File:Swedish road sign 11 13 81.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car + caravan) File:Swedish road sign 11 13 82.svg, Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car + caravan) File:Swedish road sign 11 17 1.svg, Soft verges File:Swedish road sign 11 17 3.svg, Forestry vehicle crossing ahead File:11 18 1 (Swedish road sign).svg, Direction sign File:11 18 61 (Swedish road sign).svg, Direction sign File:Swedish road sign 11 18 62.svg, Direction sign File:Swedish road sign 11 23 1.svg, Direction of priority road at intersection File:11 24 1 (Swedish road sign).svg, Two-way traffic on cycle and moped track A Supreme Court case has clarified that if there are multiple individually framed additional panels for a road sign, they add information to the road sign, not to each other. The two panels in the case was Avgift (fee) and the other 4 hours 9-18, which means that there is mandatory fee anytime and maximum 4 hours 9 am-6pm.HÖGSTA DOMSTOLENS DOM meddelad i Stockholm den 18 augusti 2017 Mål nr T 3174-16
(in Swedish)

Traffic light signals

Note: tip-down triangles indicates blinking/flashing light. File:9 1.svg, Standard & arrow Red: Stop.
Red + yellow: The light is turning to green.
Green: Proceed.
Yellow: Stop, but only if safe to do so. File:9 1 gulblink.svg, Flashing yellow: Traffic light malfunction or out of service. File:9 2.svg, Cycles and moped lights. File:9 3.svg, Pedestrian lights.
Red: Don't walk.
Green: Walk. File:Swedish road sign 10 1.svg, Public transport lights.
"S": Stop.
"S" + "–": The light is turning to "I" / arrow.
"I" (or arrow): Proceed (for indicated direction).
"–": Stop, but only if safe to do so. File:11 1 12.svg, Lane-control signals.
Red cross: Lane closed.
Yellow arrow(s): Lane closed ahead, change to indicated lane(s).
Green arrow: Lane open. File:12 1 1.svg, Lights at level crossing.
Flashing reds: Stop.
Flashing white (optional): Signals are operational. File:Sweden road sign SIG16.svg, Light signals at opening or swing bridges, ferries, airfields, emergency service stations etc.
Flashing reds: Stop. File:12 3.svg, Flashing yellow(s), accompanied with a sign: Drive with extra caution.

Road markings

File:Swedish road sign 4 1 1.svg, Centre line File:4 1 2.svg, No overtaking line File:4 1 3.svg, Warning line File:4 1 4 1.svg, Centre line and no overtaking line File:4 1 4 2.svg, Centre line and warning line File:4 1 4 3.svg, Warning line and no overtaking line File:4 1 4 4.svg, Double no overtaking line File:4 1 5.svg, Reversible lane markings (lane that may be used for alternating direction of traffic flow) File:4 1 6.svg, Guide line File:4 1 7.svg, Reserved lane line File:4 1 8.svg, Bike lane marking File:4 1 9 1.svg, Broken edge line File:4 1 9 2.svg, Continuous edge line File:4 2 1.svg, Stop line File:4 2 2.svg, Give way line File:Swedish road sign 4 2 3.svg, Zebra crossing File:Swedish road sign 4 2 4.svg, Bike crossing File:Swedish road sign 4 3 1.svg, Lane selection arrows File:Swedish road sign 4 3 2.svg, Deflecting arrow File:Swedish road sign 4 3 3.svg, Obstruction marking; no crossing on or over that marking File:Swedish road sign 4 3 4.svg, Text conforming bus and taxi lane, text conforming stop line File:Swedish road sign 4 3 5.svg, Parking bay File:Swedish road sign 4 3 6.svg, Standing and parking prohibited File:Swedish road sign 4 3 7 1.svg, Parking prohibited File:Swedish road sign 4 3 7 2.svg, Parking prohibited File:Swedish road sign 4 3 8.svg, Bike and moped route File:Swedish road sign 4 3 9.svg, Advance warning of obligation to give way File:Swedish road sign 4 3 10.svg, Wheelchair persons

Signals by police officers

File:Sweden road sign P6.svg, Control File:Sweden road sign P7.svg, Advance direction sign control File:Swedish road sign 13 3.svg, 13.3.1 Slow down
13.3.2 Follow the police car and pull up behind it when it stops
13.3.3 Slow down
13.3.4 Drive off the road and stop in front of the police car

Retired signs

File:Sweden road sign A20 (gammal).svg, Road works (1951-1967) File:Sweden road sign B2 (gammal).svg, Stop (1951–1975) File:Hastighetsbegränsning upphör.svg, Derestriction (1951-1967) File:Swedish Go Left sign (1931-1951).svg, Turn left (1937-1951) File:Swedish Go Right sign (1931-1951).svg, Turn right (1937-1951) File:Swedish Keep Left sign (1937-1951).svg, Keep left (1937-1951) File:Tätortsskylt, gammal.svg, Built-up area, slow down (1937-1955) File:Sweden road sign E9 (gammal).svg, Residential area (1998-2007) File:Sweden road sign E10 (gammal).svg, End of residential area (1998-2007)

References

External links

Swedish Transport Agency
{{Traffic signs Sweden Signs Traffic signals Driving in Sweden