Road signs in Israel

Overview of road signs in Israel
Israeli trilingual road signs

Road signs in Israel are regulated by the Ministry of Transportation in the Division of Transportation Planning, most recently set forth in June 2011.[1]

They generally use the same pattern of colors, shapes, and symbols set out in the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, which are also used in most countries of Europe and the Middle East. Despite this, Israel is not a signatory to this convention.

Language

Signs employ three scripts – Hebrew, Arabic, and Latin – and are written in Hebrew and Arabic, the two official languages of the country, and in English.

The stop sign, however, instead of displaying words in three languages, or even just in English as required by the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, conveys its meaning through the depiction of a raised hand.

Font

Israeli road sign regulations provide for the following fonts to be used: Tamrurim for Hebrew script, Medina for Arabic script, and Triumvirat (a Helvetica derivative) for Latin script as well as numbers.[2] However, these rules are not consistently followed; some signs use Highway Gothic or Clearview for the Latin script.

Warning signs

Signs warning of hazardous conditions or dangerous situations bear a black-on-white symbol inside a red-bordered triangle.

  • Signs giving warnings
  • Uneven road
    Uneven road
  • Sharp right curve
    Sharp right curve
  • Sharp left curve
    Sharp left curve
  • Curve right and then left
    Curve right and then left
  • Curve left and then right
    Curve left and then right
  • Winding road ahead
    Winding road ahead
  • Barriers
    Barriers
  • Barriers
    Barriers
  • Road narrows ahead
    Road narrows ahead
  • Road narrows from right ahead
    Road narrows from right ahead
  • Road narrows from left ahead
    Road narrows from left ahead
  • Barriers
    Barriers
  • Barriers
    Barriers
  • Barriers
    Barriers
  • Intersection
    Intersection
  • Side road on the right ahead
    Side road on the right ahead
  • Side road on the left ahead
    Side road on the left ahead
  • T-intersection
    T-intersection
  • Barriers
    Barriers
  • Staggered crossroads
    Staggered crossroads
  • Staggered crossroads
    Staggered crossroads
  • Roundabout ahead
    Roundabout ahead
  • Traffic signal ahead
    Traffic signal ahead
  • Minor road merging from the right
    Minor road merging from the right
  • Minor road merging from the left
    Minor road merging from the left
  • Merge with major road from the right
    Merge with major road from the right
  • Merge with major road from the left
    Merge with major road from the left
  • Possible traffic congestion
    Possible traffic congestion
  • Traffic congestion ahead
    Traffic congestion ahead
  • Tram crossing ahead
    Tram crossing ahead
  • Railroad crossing ahead
    Railroad crossing ahead
  • Pedestrian crosswalk
    Pedestrian crosswalk
  • Pedestrians nearby
    Pedestrians nearby
  • Bicycle traffic crossing
    Bicycle traffic crossing
  • Stop sign ahead
    Stop sign ahead
  • Dangerous descent
    Dangerous descent
  • Danger of skidding
    Danger of skidding
  • Rock slide zone
    Rock slide zone
  • Rock slide zone
    Rock slide zone
  • Speed breaker
    Speed breaker
  • Two-way traffic
    Two-way traffic
  • Camels
    Camels
  • Farm vehicles crossing
    Farm vehicles crossing
  • Children or school crosswalk
    Children or school crosswalk
  • Road works
    Road works
  • End of road works
    End of road works
  • Flooded road
    Flooded road

Regulatory signs

With the exception of the special shapes used for "Stop" and "Yield" signs (respectively, an octagon and a downward-pointing triangle), signs giving orders are circular and are of two kinds:

  • Mandatory signs (e.g. "Turn right only") bear a white symbol on a blue disk.
  • Prohibitory signs (e.g. "No left turn") take the form of a black-on-white symbol inside a red-bordered circle, sometimes with the addition of a red slash through the symbol.
  • Mandatory signs
  • Go straight or turn right
    Go straight or turn right
  • Go straight or turn left
    Go straight or turn left
  • Go straight
    Go straight
  • Turn right
    Turn right
  • Turn left
    Turn left
  • Turn right or left
    Turn right or left
  • Go straight or make right U-turn
    Go straight or make right U-turn
  • Go straight or make left U-turn
    Go straight or make left U-turn
  • Compulsory right U-turn
    Compulsory right U-turn
  • Compulsory left U-turn
    Compulsory left U-turn
  • May pass on either sign
    May pass on either sign
  • Pass on the right
    Pass on the right
  • Pass on the left
    Pass on the left
  • Start of motorway
    Start of motorway
  • End of motorway
    End of motorway
  • Minimum speed limit
    Minimum speed limit
  • Road for motor vehicles only
    Road for motor vehicles only
  • Start of traffic calming area
    Start of traffic calming area
  • End of traffic calming area
    End of traffic calming area
  • Traffic recession area
    Traffic recession area
  • End of traffic recession area
    End of traffic recession area
  • Cycle lane
    Cycle lane
  • End of cycle lane
    End of cycle lane
  • Pedestrian path
    Pedestrian path
  • Cycle path
    Cycle path
  • Shared pedestrian and cycle path
    Shared pedestrian and cycle path
  • Segregated pedestrian and cycle path
    Segregated pedestrian and cycle path
  • Toll lane or toll road
    Toll lane or toll road
  • End of toll lane or toll road
    End of toll lane or toll road
  • Signs giving orders
  • Give way
    Give way
  • Stop
    Stop
  • Roundabout
    Roundabout
  • Stop (manual control)
    Stop (manual control)
  • Go (manual control)
    Go (manual control)
  • Yield to oncoming traffic
    Yield to oncoming traffic
  • Priority over oncoming traffic
    Priority over oncoming traffic
  • Priority road
    Priority road
  • End of priority road
    End of priority road
  • Closed to all vehicles
    Closed to all vehicles
  • No entry
    No entry
  • Barriers
    Barriers
  • Barriers
    Barriers
  • Cars and motorbikes prohibited
    Cars and motorbikes prohibited
  • No trucks weighing over 10 tonnes
    No trucks weighing over 10 tonnes
  • Vehicles transporting hazardous materials prohibited
    Vehicles transporting hazardous materials prohibited
  • Cars prohibited
    Cars prohibited
  • Motorbikes prohibited
    Motorbikes prohibited
  • Tractors and work vehicles prohibited
    Tractors and work vehicles prohibited
  • Animals prohibited
    Animals prohibited
  • Bicycles prohibited
    Bicycles prohibited
  • Pedestrians prohibited
    Pedestrians prohibited
  • Pedestrians, bicycles, work transport and animals prohibited
    Pedestrians, bicycles, work transport and animals prohibited
  • No vehicles weighing over 6 tonnes
    No vehicles weighing over 6 tonnes
  • No vehicles higher than 4.6 meters
    No vehicles higher than 4.6 meters
  • No vehicles wider than 2.1 meters
    No vehicles wider than 2.1 meters
  • No driving lessons zone
    No driving lessons zone
  • End of no driving lessons zone
    End of no driving lessons zone
  • No overtaking
    No overtaking
  • End of no overtaking
    End of no overtaking
  • Overtaking is prohibited for large vehicles
    Overtaking is prohibited for large vehicles
  • End of no overtaking for large vehicles
    End of no overtaking for large vehicles
  • Urban area
    Urban area
  • End of urban area
    End of urban area
  • Speed limit (50 km/h)
    Speed limit (50 km/h)
  • Speed limit (50 km/h)
    Speed limit (50 km/h)
  • End of speed limit (50 km/h)
    End of speed limit (50 km/h)
  • No right turn ahead
    No right turn ahead
  • No left turn ahead
    No left turn ahead
  • No right U-turn
    No right U-turn
  • No left U-turn
    No left U-turn
  • Parking prohibited
    Parking prohibited
  • Parking and stopping prohibited
    Parking and stopping prohibited
  • End of parking prohibition
    End of parking prohibition
  • Parking of trucks weighing over 10,000 kg prohibited
    Parking of trucks weighing over 10,000 kg prohibited
  • End of parking prohibition of trucks weighing over 10,000 kg
    End of parking prohibition of trucks weighing over 10,000 kg
  • Customs
    Customs

Information signs

Signs giving information are generally rectangular (sometimes pointed at one end in the case of direction signage).

Highways in Israel are classified as:

  • National (single-digit number)
  • Inter-city (two digits)
  • Regional (three digits)
  • Local (four digits)

Route-marker signs are also color-coded:

  • Freeways (Blue)
  • Expressways (Red)
  • Regional routes (Green)
  • Local roads (Black, formerly Brown)

Most directional signs to towns and cities are:

  • white-on-blue (freeways)
  • white-on-green (other main roads)
  • black-on-white (local destinations)
  • white-on-brown (tourist destinations: landmarks, historical sites, nature reserves, etc.).

The sign for permitted parking features a white-on-blue "P" for "parking" enclosed by the Hebrew letter Het ("ח") for "hanaya" (Hebrew: חניה), which also means "parking").

The sign informing users that they are on a priority road is a white-edged yellow "diamond" (i.e. a square turned through 45°).

  • Information signs
  • National Freeway (1 digit)
  • National Freeway which is also an Inter-City Expressway (1 digit)
    National Freeway which is also an Inter-City Expressway (1 digit)
  • National Inter-City Expressway (1 digit)
    National Inter-City Expressway (1 digit)
  • Inter-City Expressway (2 digits)
    Inter-City Expressway (2 digits)
  • National Expressway (2 digit)
    National Expressway (2 digit)
  • Regional roads (3 digits)
    Regional roads (3 digits)
  • Local roads (4 digits)
    Local roads (4 digits)
  • Freeway sign
    Freeway sign
  • Major road sign
    Major road sign
  • Local destination sign
    Local destination sign
  • Tourist destination sign
    Tourist destination sign
  • Street sign
    Street sign
  • Entry to toll
    Entry to toll
  • Parking (sign can be two-sided)
    Parking (sign can be two-sided)
  • Handicapped parking
    Handicapped parking
  • Pedestrian crossing
    Pedestrian crossing
  • Exit sign
    Exit sign
  • One-way traffic
    One-way traffic
  • Border sign
    Border sign
  • No through road
    No through road
  • No through road on right
    No through road on right
  • No through road on left
    No through road on left
  • Tunnel
    Tunnel
  • End of tunnel
    End of tunnel

References

  1. ^ Traffic Sign Sheet, Ministry of Transportation, July 2012
  2. ^ "הנחיות לתכנוןשילוט בדרכים בין-עירוניות מהדורה2016" (PDF). gov.il.

External links

  • Media related to Road signs in Israel at Wikimedia Commons
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